Juan Soto’s gutsy baserunning pays off in huge spot as Mets sneak by Reds to avoid sweep

Juan Soto bolted without hesitation, using his legs more so than his bat to help a Mets team in dire need of a run in Sunday’s eighth inning.

The Reds had the infield drawn in with one out and runners on second and third.

Luis Torrens’ sharp grounder to second baseman Matt McLain didn’t deter Soto, who broke from third and slid headfirst across the plate just ahead of Tyler Stephenson’s swipe for the go-ahead run in a 3-2 victory over the Reds at Citi Field.

The Mets snapped a three-game losing streak in winning for only the 11th time in 31 games.

With the Mets ahead 2-1 with two outs in the eighth and the tying run at first base, manager Carlos Mendoza summoned Edwin Díaz.

But Díaz walked Elly De La Cruz and allowed an infield single to Austin Hays before drilling Spencer Steer with a fastball to force in the tying run.

After Soto walked leading off the bottom of the inning and reached third on Jeff McNeil’s double, Torrens’ grounder brought in the run.

Ryne Stanek got the final three outs for the save.

The afternoon was a slog for the Mets, who had only one extra-base hit and watched Francisco Lindor extend his hitless drought to 21 at-bats.

Also, Pete Alonso was absent from the starting lineup due to a right hand contusion but entered the game in the seventh as a defensive replacement at first base for Mark Vientos.

David Peterson, five days removed from his first All-Star game appearance, gave the Mets six superb innings in which the Reds managed only an unearned run against him.

The lefty allowed four hits, one walk and had a hit batsman with four strikeouts over 93 pitches.

Luisangel Acuña’s throwing error allowed the Reds to score an unearned run in the first.

TJ Friedl led off the game with a grounder that Acuña fielded and threw low and wide of first base.

Vientos, in his third career start at first, couldn’t glove it.

Consecutive singles from Matt McLain and De la Cruz ensued to give the Reds a 1-0 lead before Peterson stabilized by getting Hays to ground into a double play.

Brandon Nimmo’s RBI single in the third tied it 1-1.

Acuña’s sacrifice bunt moved Tyrone Talor to second following a leadoff single.

Nimmo then delivered for his 54th RBI this season.

Acuña smashed an RBI double in the fifth that gave the Mets a 2-1 lead.

Brett Baty stroked a leadoff single and stole second with one out before Acuña’s shot to left brought in the run.

But Acuña was left stranded as Nimmo struck out and Andrew Abbott retired Lindor.