After the Mets used Edwin Diaz for the ninth inning Sunday and failed to score in the bottom of the inning there was little question about who was next.
Enter Reed Garrett, who is quickly emerging as a 21st century “Vulture” with his penchant for scooping up wins.
The right-hander helped the Mets survive in a 4-2 victory over the Cardinals in 11 innings at Citi Field.
Garrett pitched a scoreless 10th and allowed the automatic runner (unearned) to score in the 11th on Brendan Donovan’s single before the Mets scored three in the bottom of the inning, winning on Mark Vientos’ homer.
Garrett (5-0) is tied for the major league lead in wins.
“I wish I could take credit for all these wins, but it shows how good we are at fighting back,” Garrett said.
Garrett noted the oddity of beginning consecutive innings with an automatic runner already at second base.
“I feel like it’s do or die from the start,” he said. “Even though it’s an unearned run you are doing everything you can to strand him.”
Francisco Lindor, whose blast in the sixth tied it 1-1, owns a .314/.375/.608 slash line with four homers over his last 13 games.
After a sluggish start batting left-handed he is 12-for-37 (.324) with six extra-base hits over his last 10 games batting lefty. He began the season 4-for-50 (.080) batting left-handed.
David Peterson pitched two perfect innings with five strikeouts for Single-A St. Lucie in his first rehab start since undergoing surgery in November to repair a hip labrum.
The left-hander is eligible for a return from the injured list on May 27.
Tylor Megill is expected to pitch Thursday for Double-A Binghamton in his second rehab start.
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The right-hander pitched two scoreless innings on Saturday for Single-A Brooklyn in his first appearance since he was placed on the IL with a right shoulder strain.
Kodai Senga is scheduled to throw live batting practice Monday, the next step in his progression from a right shoulder strain. He will likely throw 20-25 pitches.
Left-hander Danny Young was selected from Triple-A Syracuse and Josh Walker was optioned.