While Edwin Diaz’s debut with the Los Angeles Dodgers didn’t get off to the start that both sides would have liked, getting the save on Tuesday night had to have felt good.

Diaz’s longtime friend, Kiké Hernández, spoke about his save in Tuesday night’s NLDS Game 3 matchup and how proud he is of him.

“This year, it was a very difficult year,” Hernández said. “It’s very easy to put the year aside, and he worked his a— off to get to this point.”

His save came after Los Angeles only had one inning of run support when Hernández and his regular postseason hero teammate, Freddie Freeman, both homered in the third.

Los Angeles held on to the lead for the rest of the night, and Diaz was assigned to closing duties.

At first, things didn’t get off to a great start, as he gave up a leadoff double to Ozzie Albies. But then, he settled in and got the next three batters to hit out.

For Diaz, it was his first save since August.

During the offseason, Diaz signed a three-year $69 million deal with the Dodgers to become the anchor of the bullpen.

Since then, it hasn’t gone as they had both hoped, as Diaz has struggled to stay healthy and finished the regular season with an 8.68 ERA, converting seven of eleven save opportunities.

After his most recent injury stint concluded between August and September, Diaz adjusted his pitching mechanics — resulting in him making five appearances out of the bullpen, giving up only one hit, zero runs, and striking out nine batters.

“For him, it was one slight mechanical adjustment that he needed to do, that he didn’t realize,” Hernández said.