But the series ended and the Mets certainly didn’t look like the better team, especially after Sunday’s thud of a performance, an 8-2 loss that went kablooey in the eighth inning after Pete Alonso made a horrendous throw at first that allowed the go-ahead run to score, tilting a tight game.

A few months from now, the Mets might be the better team and they’re so talented, that an October stage should be their ultimate proving ground. The 29-18 Mets lost two of three, but still have a better record than the Yankees (27-19).

Soto moving to Queens for a 15-year, $765-million deal gave a forever jolt to the rivalry. Never had a player anywhere close to his  stature left the Yankees for the Mets. He instantly gave a good team an even bigger, better vibe.

But he’s got to do more. He’s batting .246 with eight home runs and 20 RBI. His .822 OPS over a slow start — for him — shows how high his floor is. His first foray into the Subway Series as a Met was, to say the least, a disappointment.