NEW YORK — It's an ovation usually reserved for ace starting pitchers and balls that clear the fence, but Dedniel Nuñez earned that reception from the Citi Field crowd on Wednesday night.
The 28-year-old right-hander entered the game with the Mets holding a two-run lead and exited following seven straight outs between the sixth and eighth innings and the home side in even better shape.
As Carlos Mendoza took the ball, Nuñez raised his hands and looked toward the sky as the fans rose to their feet.
"It was incredible," Nuñez said through Mets interpreter Alan Suriel. "It was something that I couldn't believe. Obviously when you're watching it on TV, you see it, the fans give applause to guys who have actually done in a lot in the show, but to be on the other end and to see how the fans kind of embraced me in that moment, it was really special."
Nuñez's performance against the Marlins might have been his most supreme among his 10 major-league appearances as he recorded seven straight outs and picked up five strikeouts to help the Mets storm off with a 10-4 win in front of 19,803 fans on Wednesday night.
The victory helped the Mets improve to 29-37.
Dedniel Nuñez's domination
With Edwin Diaz's return from the 15-day injured list scheduled for Thursday, Nuñez made his case to remain with the Mets loud and clear in his last opportunity. Nuñez took advantage of the free-swinging Marlins to strike out a career-high five batters. In his 10 relief appearances this season, he has recorded three or more strikeouts in six.
After using 25 pitches to get through the sixth and seventh innings, Nuñez exited emphatically after striking out Jake Burger on a slider away.
"Go out there in a pretty big spot in the game when we needed to shut them down and come in, attack the zone, stuff-wise, (it was) electric," Mendoza said. "Heavy fastball, slider, threw some splits there. For him to go out there for the third up and get Burger, it was huge for us."
The journeyman, who was a Rule 5 pick by the Giants in 2020 before undergoing Tommy John surgery in 2021, has appeared to unlock some of his potential with the Mets. He has used a high-90s fastball and buckling slider to strike out 24 batters in 15⅔ innings, while posting a 2.30 ERA and 0.83 WHIP in his first major-league action.
"Every day is a new opportunity," Nuñez said. "Even if you have success, you have to go out the next day and if you get that opportunity, you have to take advantage of that opportunity because the day before doesn't matter. That's already happened."
Who to keep? Nuñez or Danny Young
Before Wednesday's game, Mendoza agreed that the Mets had a harsh decision in front of them when it comes to the bullpen with Diaz on the way.
Nuñez and Young have both been two of the most effective Mets relievers of late. Nuñez threw 29 pitches during Wednesday night's sterling outing, while Young, the lefty side-armer, threw 15 across a scoreless inning that spanned two frames on Tuesday.
Both Nuñez and Young hold minor-league options. Reed Garrett is the only other Mets bullpen arm that can be sent down without having to clear waivers. According to multiple reports, it is Young that will be sent down to Syracuse following Wednesday's game.
"Obviously Danny Young coming in and facing lefties with runners on and getting big outs (Tuesday)," Mendoza said prior to the gam. "Their ability to take the ball back-to-back days. Nunez providing length, multiple innings, so it's gonna be a tough one here."
Young would have continued to give the Mets an additional left-hander, alongside Jake Diekman. In nine outings this season, Young, who favors his sweeper and sinker, has notched a 2-0 record with one earned run allowed across nine innings with 12 strikeouts.
Edwin Diaz's return as the closer
When Diaz comes back from a right shoulder impingement, he immediately will be inserted back into the closer role.
"For us to make a run at this, we're gonna need Edwin Diaz to be Edwin Diaz, so we've been trying to piece it together for the past month or so," Mendoza said. "He feels good physically, mentally, so comfortable in going back to him as closer."
Mendoza said that while Diaz has been recovering since being placed on the injured list back on May 29, the right-handed reliever has pored over film with pitching coach Jeremy Hefner to get better shape on his slider and command with his fastball.
After allowing one earned run across 9⅔ innings in his first 10 outings and pinning down each of his first four save chances, Diaz has given up 10 earned runs and blown four out of his five save opportunities in his last 10 outings. His ERA sits at 5.40 in 20 innings.
Mendoza said he has seen more conviction from Diaz in recent days, which gives the Mets manager confidence moving forward.
"You can tell he was feeling a little bit, but the past couple of days and then watching him pitch, even though he's facing minor league hitters, you can tell that he's in a good spot and ready to go," Mendoza said.
