Mandatory Credit: Vincent Carchietta-USA TODAY Sports

Edwin Diaz made his trumpeted return to the Mets on Tuesday, after spending time on the bereavement list for the passing of his grandfather in Puerto Rico. Diaz flew down to the island on Friday.

In Diaz’s time off the Mets bullpen was rattled without their closer. New York lost back-to-back games without their top relief option available. But with a 2-0 lead in the ninth inning, about to face the heard of the Philadelphia lineup, Diaz was back ready to record his first save of the season.

“Really happy for Edwin,” Brandon Nimmo said. “We’re really glad to see him back. Obviously wanted him to take all the time he needed, but extremely happy to see him back today. He came up huge in a clutch situation.”

Diaz had his work cut out for him. In the bottom of the ninth he was set to face the top three in Philadelphia’s lineup of Kyle Schwarber, J.T. Realmuto, and Bryce Harper. If any reached base his situation didn’t improve with Nick Castellanos and Rhys Hoskins on deck.

But Diaz remained steadfast. His vicious slider was working all night. He recorded all three outs via the strikeout and all were on swings and misses of his slider.

Diaz’s ninth wasn’t without drama. Realmuto singled with one out and Castellanos singled with two outs to put the tying run on base. A brief mound visit settled Diaz back in and he threw five consecutive sliders to Hoskins. Not a single one touched his bat. Incredible focus to put on that performance just days after losing someone so close to him.

“It’s a little bit tough, but that’s my job,” Diaz said. “When I came to the game, I just let everything go away. I just kept my focus on the game.”

Ultimately no one might have been happier than manager Buck Showalter who was able to turn to his closer.

“A lot easier (to manage) than it was last night,” Showalter said.

Diaz had 32 saves for the Mets last season and has found his comfort zone as a top closing option in baseball since his disastrous 2019 with the franchise.

“Doing that job for a living, that’s why they’re so valuable,” Showalter said. “When you’re facing that part of the order and to be able to come out of it unscathed? As I’ve watched him, he’s really evolved.”