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

The Reds had the infield drawn in with one out and runners on second and third. Soto, running on contact, broke from third base on Luis Torrens’ sharp grounder to second baseman Matt McLain and slid headfirst across the plate just ahead of Tyler Stephenson’s swipe tag for the go-ahead run in a 3-2 victory over the Reds at Citi Field.

“Any way I can help the team to win a ballgame is great,” Soto said after the Mets snapped a three-game skid by winning for only the 11th time in 31 games. “The hitting is not going my way right now, but I am trying my best to help the team in defense, running, any way I can do it.”

The RBI was a needed contribution from Torrens — even as he is set to receive decreased playing time, with Francisco Alvarez set for recall from Triple-A Syracuse on Monday, according to an industry source.

Torrens has produced a paltry .609 OPS this season.

But he has reached base six times over his past three games.

“Those couple days off during the All-Star break I feel did a lot of good for me,” Torrens said through an interpreter. “The most important thing is when you are able to go out there and help the team.”

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 with one out brought in the run.

Ryne Stanek got the final three outs for the save.

The afternoon was a slog for the Mets, who 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.

“We have got guys that are going through it right now and you have to find a way to create runs, just put extra pressure on the defense, trying to take the extra 90 feet when you can,” Mendoza said. “I thought we did that today … you have just got to find a way to get the job done.”

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.

“I got out there and felt a little out of sync in the beginning and was able to correct it,” Peterson said. “I threw quite a few pitches in the first three innings (58) and just wanted to be efficient going forward.”

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

Soto said his winning sprint from third base in the eighth was all about momentum.

“Just keep your feet moving,” he said. “Make sure whenever the swing is coming, your foot is landing and be ready to go.”