Luis Severino dominates as Mets hang on for nail-biting win over Marlins

MIAMI — Luis Severino needs to get disappointed more often.

Last month, after learning he wouldn’t get to face the Yankees in the Subway Series, the Mets right-hander had one of his sharpest performances of the season, against the Cubs. 

And Saturday, after he was again denied the wish of facing his former team — the Mets plan to start lefties Jose Quintana and Sean Manaea against the Yankees this week instead — Severino was again super. 

The Mets needed every bit of it on a day their lineup was virtually silenced in a 1-0 victory over the Marlins at loanDepot park.

Severino, with his four-seam fastball humming — it averaged 96.9 mph (up nearly a full mph from his average this season) — allowed only two hits over six shutout innings with seven strikeouts, three walks and a hit batter. Severino hit 99-mph with a fastball in his final inning.

“I always have a little extra in the tank when I need it,” Severino said.

The outing was his best since his gem against the Cubs on June 23 in which he struck out 10 and didn’t walk a batter over six shutout innings. Before that start, Severino had been switched in the rotation, preventing him from pitching against the Yankees.

“I think we should play another [Subway] series,” Severino said.

Behind Severino on this day, the Mets (50-47) received a scoreless inning apiece from Jose Butto, Dedniel Nunez and Edwin Diaz.

Diaz, returning to the scene of his biggest meltdown this season, retired all three batters he faced for the save.

In a game here May 18, the right-hander squandered a four-run lead in the ninth and the Mets lost in the 10th inning.

Afterward, the struggling Diaz was removed from the closer’s role as he looked to regain his confidence.

Marlins starter Rodney Munoz frustrated the Mets over five innings, allowing three hits and three walks with a hit batter. Munoz allowed the game’s only run.

Pete Alonso’s double leading off the fourth helped the Mets score that run.

After Alonso doubled to left, Mark Vientos got plunked and DJ Stewart walked to load the bases.

Francisco Alvarez hit a grounder that Xavier Edwards gloved and flipped to second base for the second out, with Alonso scoring.

But the Mets couldn’t expand on the 1-0 lead, as Jeff McNeil hit a line drive off the bat at 101.1 mph that first baseman Josh Bell snared to end the inning.

Alonso’s throwing error in the bottom of the inning gave the Marlins a rally, with runners on first and second and one out, but Severino navigated the threat by turning Nick Gordon’s comebacker into a fielder’s choice and striking out Edwards.

The Marlins also had threatened against Severino in the first when Bell walked with two outs and Jake Burger singled. But Severino retired Jesus Sanchez to escape.

Manager Carlos Mendoza visited the mound after Severino walked Otto Lopez in the sixth to put runners on first and second with two outs.

Severino was allowed to remain in the game and — after throwing a wild pitch — struck out Gordon to end the inning.

“I was pretty confident that I was going to leave him out there, but I wanted to get his take,” Mendoza said. “I saw the [velocity], he was still holding up and the way he was executing pitches. I knew he wanted it and I wanted to make sure that was the case. As soon as I got there he was like, ‘Give me this one.’ ”

Severino said he could tell Mendoza’s intentions by the way the manager was walking to the mound and his facial expressions.

“I knew he wasn’t going to take me out,” Severino said.

Mendoza said he’s proud of the manner in which Severino has performed this season, serving as the Mets ace.

Injuries derailed Severino in his final seasons with the Yankees.

“He’s had to work really hard, especially everything he’s been through the past couple of years,” Mendoza said. “For him to be in this position now, and we’re going to continue to need him. He’s continuing to put in the work and we’re just proud of him.”