Díaz earns 1st Dodgers postseason save -- something that was no guarantee a month ago

ATLANTA -- The Dodgers were already envisioning the trumpets sounding before Edwin Díaz slammed the door in their most meaningful games when they inked the closer to a three-year, $69 million deal last December. He was brought in to anchor their 'pen ahead of their bid for the fifth three-peat in World Series history.

But as recently as mid-September, when Díaz was on the IL for the second time this season, there was some doubt surrounding his spot in the postseason bullpen -- let alone whether the Dodgers would hand him the ball in a save situation.

Each time Díaz took the mound after returning from injury, he regained another inch of trust from the Dodgers. After he pumped triple-digit heat in Game 2 of the NL Division Series, manager Dave Roberts had seen all he needed to call on Díaz in the bottom of the ninth inning with a two-run lead in Game 3.

There were no trumpets at Truist Park, of course. But after giving up a loud leadoff double to Ozzie Albies, Díaz retired his final three batters to convert the save and lock down a 3-1 victory, which gave the Dodgers a 2-1 edge in the NLDS.

L.A. is one win away from reaching the NL Championship Series for the third straight year.

• Dodgers-Braves NLDS Game 4 FAQ

"We needed that win big," Díaz said. "They just gave me the opportunity to be in that position, and I just did my job. So I'm really happy, you know? I'm thankful for that. They put a lot of trust in me during my process, and today it paid off."

Díaz's regular season was marred by injuries -- loose bodies in his right elbow that required surgical removal in April and neck inflammation in August -- as well as poor performance. He recorded an 11.85 ERA and blew four saves in 16 appearances before his second IL stint.

Once he was healthy again in late September, Díaz looked like a different pitcher. He ended the regular season with five scoreless outings, all in lower leverage. His Game 2 appearance did not come in a high-leverage spot either, but as manager Dave Roberts likes to say, every postseason inning is in leverage.

So Díaz was deployed for the ninth inning in Game 3.

"I've said all along that once he starts throwing the baseball like he's capable of," Roberts said, "I have no problem putting him in the ninth to finish a game."

Díaz fell behind 2-1 to Albies, giving up a double with an exit velocity of 104.4 mph to create stress from the start. But knowing that he had some cushion to work with, Díaz just focused on the batters in front of him.

"I wasn't trying to pay attention much to the runner, because if that run scored, we still have a one-run lead," he said. "So my attention went straight to the hitters. I was trying to make pitches, get weak contact."

Albies moved over to third with one out when Michael Harris II grounded out at the conclusion of an eight-pitch battle. But Díaz stranded him, getting Mauricio Dubón to fly out in foul territory and inducing a tough grounder from Mike Yastrzemski that Mookie Betts was able to handle for the final out.

It was Díaz's first save since Aug. 14.​

More NLDS Game 3 coverage:

• Dodgers' HR barrage continues with October Kiké's return, Freddie avenging robbery
• Yamamoto-Sale duel doesn't disappoint, and other takeaways from NLDS Game 3
• Rojas exits NLDS Game 3 mid-AB with lower back pain, unlikely to play in Game 4
• Batting 5th, Ohtani reaches base twice but is still searching for swing

Roberts will continue to approach the ninth inning by committee for now, but having an experienced right-hander in Díaz to complement left-hander Tanner Scott gives the Dodgers a strong set of options at the back end of the 'pen.

"I've been in this position before, so I know what I have to do to be successful," Díaz said. "And that's what I did today: just stayed calm, trying to go pitch by pitch. Don't anticipate anything. Just trust my stuff, myself -- and get the outs."