NEW YORK — Carlos Mendoza said that the Mets do not want a cloud hanging over them in the aftermath of Edwin Diaz's suspension for violating MLB's rules on illegal foreign substances.
For that reason, Diaz did not appeal the punishment and immediately began serving his suspension on Tuesday night. The Mets did not get any better news on Starling Marte, who has a deep bone bruise on his right knee and landed on the 10-day injured list. Mendoza said it will be "four weeks before he's a player for us."
Until then, the Mets will be mixing and matching both late in games out of the bullpen and in the outfield.
In the first game of the Subway Series on Tuesday night, the Mets found the ideal way to make the absences of Diaz and Marte moot. The Mets offense belted four home runs off Gerrit Cole, including two from Mark Vientos, and erupted for 12 hits to storm past the Yankees, 9-7, in front of a sold-out crowd of 42,824 fans at Citi Field.
"It starts with having really good hitters," Mendoza said. "I like how they are preparing. I like the way we're game-planning. Credit to the hitting coaches, obviously, being on the same page with all of the position players. A lot of veterans being very vocal with our game-planning and executing."
The win ensured that the Mets would grab a series win or split in their last seven series. They improved to 37-38 - one game under .500 for the first time since May 12.
Handling Edwin Diaz's absence
Mendoza said the Mets are going to have to be creative to endure this 10-game stretch without Diaz or another replacement for him in the bullpen.
Diaz will be eligible to return ion June 6 against the Pirates in Pittsburgh. After Thursday's off day, the Mets will begin a stretch of 17 straight games before the All-Star break.
"I'm pretty sure we will have to shuffle some things here, but you just got to take it one game at a time, see where you are at bullpen wise and then go from there," Mendoza said. "The good thing is we got depth. We got people with options and we'll get through it."
The Mets have five players with minor-league options available in their pitching staff. In the bullpen, Dedniel Nuñez, Danny Young and Reed Garrett each carry options. The Mets can also send either Tylor Megill or David Peterson down.
On Tuesday, with an off day looming on Thursday, Mendoza was not afraid to empty his reserve after David Peterson could only get through 4⅓ innings.
First, Nuñez tossed 2⅔ innings with one run (no earned runs) allowed on one hit, with two strikeouts. Then, in the eighth, Mendoza used three separate relievers. Adam Ottavino had opened the inning with a seven-run lead but gave up a pair of baserunners. Danny Young gave up an RBI single and a walk before Garrett came on with the bases loaded to face Aaron Judge.
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A grand slam that drifted over the right-center field wall got the Yankees back within 9-7, but it did not deter Garrett in the big spot as he retired four straight batters to seal the victory.
"(He) continued to trust his pitches, continued to stay on the attack, (didn't) let the moment get too big," Mendoza said. "Obviously he gave one up to a pretty good hitter there in a pretty big spot. I was telling him, 'That's where you want to be: right there."
Mets offensive breakthrough
Before Tuesday's game, Mendoza said that he feels good about who the Mets have to replace Marte in right field.
Tyrone Taylor got his shot on Tuesday and drove in the opening run of the game on an RBI single through the left side. Mendoza said that McNeil could also see some time in the outfield, while DJ Stewart remains an option.
The Mets also selected the contract of Ben Gamel from Triple-A Syracuse.
"Depending on the matchup, we'll continue to mix and match there," Mendoza said. "We'll get through it. Guys will step up. Marte is a big loss for us, but we feel good with what we have there."
It will be a team effort to make up for the production of Marte, who was slashing .278/.328/.416 with seven home runs and 30 RBI. However, Marte has posted a -9 outs above average in the outfield this season, one of the worst marks in MLB.
McNeil appeared to bounce out of his recent struggles, with a pair of opposite-field singles and two runs against the Yankees.
But most of the Mets' damage came from the bottom of the lineup, with Vientos ripping two home runs, and Harrison Bader adding another off Cole. Nimmo ripped a two-run shot off the Yankees ace and added an RBI in the sixth inning.
The Mets built up enough of a lead to ensure that their short-handed bullpen would not unravel.
"It's just the vibes. The vibes and the energy," Vientos said. "Just coming in here, everybody's happy. Everybody's listening to music, getting along, having conversations. We're not just worried about the game. It's just like, 'Hey, let's have fun. Let's have fun doing this and then we go in the game and let's go play."
