Carlos Mendoza offered a smile and a laugh when the question was presented. Yes, the Mets manager said, Edwin Diaz was available to pitch a second straight day after coming off the injured list because of a right shoulder impingement. This was a few hours before the Mets and Padres opened a three-game series at Citi Field, well before Diaz would close out a 2-1 victory in emphatic fashion, sending the Mets to their ninth win in 13 games. Edwin Diaz celebrates after locking down the save in the ninth inning of the Mets 2-1 win over the Padres. JASON SZENES FOR THE NEW YORK POST Hes feeling good, Mendoza said at the time. Lately, so are the Mets. With a split of the final two games of the series, they will have gone five consecutive series without losing one. Explore More They have now won three straight games in Queens for just the second time this year, and they have their closer back. This looked like the 2022 version of Diaz, overpowering hitters with his blazing fastball and sharp slider, shaking off a leadoff single, and coming back from 3-1 down in the count to blow away Jake Cronenworth. Hes resembled a different pitcher since coming off the Injured List on Thursday, picking up his first save in 39 days. His velocity is up he hit 100 mph for the first time this season on Friday and his command has improved. Hes back and were going to need him, Mendoza said. Designated hitter Jesse Barfield Jersey J.D. Martinez drove in the Mets two runs in the win. Robert Sabo for NY Post Said Diaz: I feel great, I feel happy. I think Im making better pitches because Im feeling way better than before. I have to continue doing what Ive been doing right now and well be in a good place. It was an eventful ninth inning. Jurickson Profar singled on the ninth pitch he saw from Diaz, then pinch-runner Jose Azocar stole second. But Diaz struck out Manny Machado, Jeff McNeils sliding play preserved the lead and Diaz got Cronenworth to waive at a 3-2 slider to end it. Before the Cronenworth at-bat, Francisco Alvarez came out to the mound to give Diaz a breather and a pep talk. Brandon Nimmo celebrates after scoring on J.D. Martinezs extra-base hit during the Mets win. Robert Sabo for NY Post The young catcher told him: I got a lot of trust in you. Just follow me and make pitches and well be fine, Diaz said. The Mets have hardly been dominant of late. Thursday, they were two outs from dropping a series to the lowly Marlins before J.D. Martinezs walk-off two-run homer. And Friday, Martinezs third-inning, two-run double was all the offense they could muster. They managed just one hit the rest of the way, befuddled by Padres knuckleballer Matt Waldron. Delivering insights on all things Amazins Sign up for Inside the Mets by Mike Puma, exclusively on Sports+ Thank you By clicking above you agree to the and . Enjoy this Post Sports+ exclusive newsletter! It didnt matter. Sean Manaea and four relievers held down Machado, Fernando Tatis Jr. and the Padres, as the Mets crept to within six games of .500 at 31-37. San Diego came in hot, having won five of its last six games that included a sweep of the As, but the NL West team managed just five hits against the Mets. So far on this homestand, they have allowed just 11 runs acro s four games. Sean Manaea delivered a good start for the Mets. JASON SZENES FOR THE NEW YORK POST Its a different whole bullpen, honestly. Different team, Martinez said, referring to the addition of Diaz. I keep saying it, hes the anchor back there in the pen. If we can just get him the ball, thats a lot of games we can win. If he comes back and does what hes done the last couple of days, its going to be fun, a fun little run. The Mets broke through in the third with two outs. Brandon Nimmo, in the midst of a 3-for-22 stretch, singled through the hole into right field and Martinez laced a two-run double down the right-field line. The Padres got one back in the fifth on Jackson Merrills sixth home run of the year. It was the lone blemish over the first five frames against Manaea, who fanned seven in that span and allowed just two other singles. Manaea only lasted one hitter into the sixth. After Luis Arraezs single leading off the frame, Mendoza went to his bullpen. Adam Ottavino, Jake Diekman, Sean Reid-Foley and Diaz did the rest, as the Mets recent momentum continued to build. Emmanuel Ramirez Jersey