The Mets’ lead, at one point a commanding six runs, was down to one.
The Padres posted a four-run top of the eighth that prompted Edwin Diaz to begin getting ready in the bullpen and plenty of nerves to spread around Citi Field.
But four pitches later came an exhale.
To begin the bottom of the eighth, Luis Torrens got a 2-1, 98 mph fastball from fireballer Jeremiah Estrada and smoked it 403 feet to center, just clearing the wall for his third home run of the season and some valuable insurance.
“Huge,” manager Carlos Mendoza said of his catcher’s swing after an 11-6 win over the Padres. “You could feel it in the dugout as soon as he hit that ball, the reaction from the guys.
“Now you’re up two, kind of shut down a little of the momentum they had going into the ninth.”
The Mets added on from there, turning four more hits and a walk into three additional runs, but Torrens’ stroke got the frame started.
Just eight games into his Mets tenure, Torrens has been a revelation.
After his 2-for-4 afternoon, his OPS is up to 1.148, which only trails John Buck (1.244) and Todd Pratt (1.163) among Mets catchers through their first eight games with the team.
The Mets picked up the 28-year-old from the Yankees’ system in a May 31 trade that led to Omar Narvaez being designated for assignment.
Torrens, who also has played far superior defense, has four extra-base hits in eight games; Narvaez had two in 28.
Torrens’ emergence also forced the Mets to DFA Tomas Nido once Francisco Alvarez returned.
Torrens has been remarkable, but a reminder of how short a time he has been around the Mets came in the ninth.
Alvarez was subbed in to catch the last inning, Mendoza said, in case Diaz was asked to pitch.
Torrens has yet to catch the closer.
Kodai Senga felt fine after throwing a 30-35 bullpen session Saturday, Mendoza said.
The right-hander, who has yet to debut this season due to a shoulder strain and several setbacks, is expected to throw a fourth bullpen session Wednesday.
“Hopefully,” Mendoza said, the next step would be facing hitters.
About three hours before first pitch, Mendoza was on the field having a catch with his sons, Adrian and Andres.
It was a nice Father’s Day for the first-time major league manager.
“It means a lot. It’s a privilege,” Mendoza said. “What a blessing that I get the opportunity to come to work and have my kids, now that they’re at an age where they know how to behave.
“But it’s special, something I will never forget.”
Padres star Manny Machado and manager Mike Shildt were ejected in the sixth inning.
Machado disagreed with a strike-three call, slammed his bat on the dirt and had a few words for home-plate umpire Adam Beck before getting tossed.
Machado then got in Beck’s face to argue until Shildt replaced him, which led to Shildt’s hook.
Harrison Bader (2-for-4 with an RBI double and a steal) has seven extra-base hits and 13 RBIs over his past 17 games.