Edwin Díaz made his highly anticipated return to the mound Wednesday, pitching the ninth inning and securing his fifth save of the season in the Dodgers' 4-2 victory over the Mariners. The outing marked his first appearance since undergoing elbow surgery in April.
Despite allowing a pair of doubles, Díaz limited the Mariners' damage, benefiting from a three-run lead. Most notably, his fastball registered at 96.9 mph, a significant increase from his early-season struggles and a positive sign following his recovery from a procedure to remove loose bodies from his elbow.
Díaz's entrance to his iconic walk-out music, "Narco" by Timmy Trumpet, was met with a standing ovation from the home crowd at Dodger Stadium. The pitcher had been sidelined for three months, and his return was a welcome sight for the Dodgers as they head into the latter part of the season. This performance marks the first save for Díaz since his absence, and the team hopes it signals a resurgent closing stretch for the pitcher they signed in the offseason.