Devin Williams recorded his first save as a New York Mets player on Monday night, closing out a 4-2 victory over the St. Louis Cardinals at Busch Stadium. The right-hander needed just 12 pitches, 10 of them strikes, for a perfect ninth inning. The performance highlighted the Mets' reliance on their new closer early in the season.
Williams, acquired by the Mets this offseason, quickly demonstrated his value in a familiar venue near his hometown of Hazelwood, Missouri. Despite not having his changeup at peak form, he retired the Cardinals without issue. 'It’s great to get the first one,' Williams said. 'And for it to go as smoothly as it did was awesome.' He added that his mentality remains consistent, whether closing or pitching the eighth: 'I’m out there to get three outs and either end the game or pass it to the next guy.' The outing coincided with his son's birthday, marking the boy's first time seeing Williams earn a save at Busch Stadium, about 20 miles from home. Mets manager Carlos Mendoza praised the pitcher's elite talent. 'He’s elite,' Mendoza said. 'And when he’s on his game, when he’s at his best, he’s pretty tough. It was just good to see him out there getting the first one out of the way.' Former teammate Freddy Peralta, now a Mets starter after six seasons together in Milwaukee, lauded Williams' changeup as the best in the league, crediting his fastball pairing and strategic use. The save capped a solid effort from the Mets bullpen, which has allowed only four earned runs over its first four games. Williams noted an adjustment period for his changeup early in the season but expressed confidence in improving.
