The Mets needed seven pitchers to get through 10 innings in their 9-7 win on Friday night against the Miami Marlins and a few guys stood out in particular.

With two outs in the fifth and the tying run at second base, A.J. Minter entered for Freddy Peralta in just his second appearance for New York since he returned from the injured list. Minter looked in mint form, striking out two over his inning of work to give him four strikeouts in two innings this season.

And although the Mets’ bullpen has been one of their saving graces this year, having Minter back in the fold after more than a year away from the team has already been a game-changer.

“Huge, especially when you’re facing a lineup like the Marlins where there’s a lot of left-handed hitters on a night where you’re probably trying to stay away from your other lefty, which is [Brooks] Raley,” manager Carlos Mendoza said about Minter’s role. “For me, to be able to continue to play the matchups in those middle innings without having to worry about what’s gonna happen when the next at-bat comes in.

“Those guys, they’re in a good place and for us to have those guys every time they’re available, we’re gonna be pretty good back there.”

Minter was originally signed two offseasons ago to be New York’s left-handed setup man in front of Edwin Diaz. And while the lefty will certainly get some late-inning work at some point this season to help bridge the gap to closer Devin Williams, Mendoza is fine with getting Minter’s feet wet a little before throwing him into the deep end.

Plus, on a night where the Mets were trying not to use Raley, the perfect situation for Minter arose.

Speaking of Raley, the veteran left-hander also checked into the game, striking out the final batter of the seventh inning for his only out of the night – exactly how Mendoza planned it.

“Today was a day like if he was in the game it was gonna be for a batter or two,” the skipper said. “I was trying to avoid that situation, but the game called for [it]. With two outs, tying run on second base, there was a lefty coming up and that was it right there.”

But perhaps the most important outing of them all was from Austin Warren who kept the game tied in the 10th inning with a 1-2-3 inning, including a strikeout. Warren’s appearance allowed New York to win it in the bottom half on MJ Melendez’s two-run homer.

In his second season with the Mets after a cup of coffee with the big league team in 2025, Warren has been dynamite. In fact, in 56 career appearances, the reliever has a 2.48 ERA and has been a godsend for New York after not cracking the Opening Day roster.

“Huge, and today [was] another example there,” Mendoza said about the job Warren has done. “Extra innings, runner at second base and the situation is not too big for him and he goes out there and just makes pitches and slows the game down, doesn’t try to do too much, sticks to what makes him who he is.

“[He’s] not afraid to spin the baseball and then uses the fastball effectively when he needs to and he got a huge three outs for us.”

On the other side, Tobias Myers had a rough eighth inning after allowing a game-tying two-run homer to Owen Caissie. In a bit of a surprise move, Myers will reportedly be optioned to the minors after the game as the Mets need a fresh arm for Saturday’s game after using seven pitchers on Friday.

A corresponding move has yet to be made.

“At this level, whatever it takes day in and day out,” Mendoza said. “We’ll worry about tomorrow, tomorrow and I’m glad that the boys came through today.”

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