Luis Torrens' clutch throw, ability to control running game helps Mets get much-needed series win

Holding onto a 3-2 lead Thursday night, Edwin Diaz entered the game in the ninth inning to get the save and help the Mets earn their first series win in nearly a month. Things felt like they were about to go south after Brewers' Christian Yelich singled with one out and stole second base on a 1-1 pitch to Brice Turang.

The call on the field was safe, but Luis Torrens and Francisco Lindor knew right away. Both players pointed toward the dugout for a challenge and it was eventually overturned for the second out.

Diaz then struck out Turang to end the game for the much-needed victory. After the game, manager Carlos Mendoza praised Torrens' ability to control the running game and his history of coming up with big plays defensively.

"We know teams are going to be aggressive against Diaz, right, and usually they get great jumps," Mendoza said. "But for Luis not to give up. I don't think this is the first time. I remember one in Miami early in the year when he got a caught stealing, ended up being a huge play to win a game. Today, that's the same case there.

"Even though the runner gets a huge jump, he's not going to give up. Just having the ability to transfer, the exchange, the quickness, and then being able to put that much on the throw and then just put it right there. It doesn't get any better. Obviously, you got to give credit to Lindor, letting the ball travel as deep as possible. It's kind of like a team effort there between Luis and Lindor. But going back to Luis, just pretty impressive with how quickly he gets rid of the baseball and how much he's able to put on that throw, the carry and the location, too."

Torrens also complimented Lindor for getting the tag on Yelich to complete the play.

"It was phenomenal," Torrens said. "I think the ability he has to showcase the little things is what's really able to display a type of play like that."

The catcher entered the game with four Catcher's CS Above Average, per Baseball Savant, tied for second best in the MLB behind Boston's Carlos Narvaez (five). Overall, he's now caught 10 runners trying to steal this season (16 stolen bases allowed). When asked what's the most critical thing to make that play happen, Torrens said it comes down to two things.

"I think just throwing it as accurate as possible there," Torrens said.

He added: "I think Sugar got the ball off in good enough time, and I think that was the biggest part of that play."

Diaz praised Torrens for coming through with the big throw and reiterated that he's been "trying to be quicker to the plate" and called it a "huge accomplishment," adding that he was very happy with the advanced stats after the game.

With the win, New York is now 50-38 on the season, 1.5 games back of the Phillies for first place in the NL East. They'll hope to carry the momentum from Thursday's series-clinching win into the Subway Series this weekend with the recently struggling Yankees.

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