The Dodgers came into Citi Field as the one team in baseball with more problems than the Mets.
And Jason Pridie made things even worse.
After Ike Davis was intentionally walked in the sixth inning, Pridie delivered a three-run homer that gave the Mets the lead and powered them to a 6-3 victory last night.
“I’m not insulted,” Pridie said of the free pass to Davis that brought him to the plate with two on. “I know when Ike Davis is at plate and Jason Pridie’s behind him, the odds are you want to pitch to Jason Pridie.”
It was a move that didn’t pay off for Don Mattingly and the Dodgers, who have to deal with numerous setbacks and an ownership situation that almost makes the Mets’ look stable.
The team recently was taken over by Major League Baseball as team owner Frank McCourt and his wife go through a messy divorce. And now there are questions about whether the Dodgers will be able to make payroll this month.
Mattingly doesn’t believe the team has been impacted by the off-field issues.
“It really hasn’t,” Mattingly said before the game. “I know that people probably don’t believe that, but it really hasn’t had any effect, I don’t think, on our club at all. We went into spring training and the divorce was going on last year, so there was a lot of that last year.”
But that was before the payroll issue came up.
“I haven’t felt the need to say, ‘You guys aren’t going to get paid,’” Mattingly said. “I think everybody knew that situation really wasn’t a concern for anyone. No matter what’s going on above you, it doesn’t change anything.”
At least the Mets don’t have to worry about that just yet.
“It has not affected the way we do our job,” Mets manager Terry Collins said. “It’s not even been talked about. I know Don is facing the same things. It doesn’t faze me at all. It doesn’t change anything.”
The Mets were able to win their second straight with a decent start from Jon Niese, who lasted 5 2/3 innings and left trailing 3-2.
But Carlos Beltran doubled down the right field line with one out in the sixth, and after Jason Bay grounded out, the Dodgers decided to walk Davis, who had homered earlier in the game. Pridie followed with his third homer of the season.
“This is his chance to prove that he belongs,” Collins said of Pridie, who started in center field last night and could remain in the majors even after Angel Pagan returns if Willie Harris and Scott Hairston continue to struggle. “He’s gotten some big hits for us and grasped this opportunity.”
The Mets will need more of that from players like Pridie if they hope to stay competitive.
Collins got good work out of his bullpen, as Ryota Igarashi (2-0) earned the win and Francisco Rodriguez pitched a scoreless ninth for his second consecutive save.
Niese gave up three straight singles with one out in the first, including one to Andre Ethier, who extended his hitting streak to 30 games.
The Mets produced enough offense, with a pair of triples and a double from Jose Reyes, as well as the big blast from Pridie.
“I’ve always said I have just enough power to be dangerous to myself,” Pridie said. “Sometimes I get into a home run swing that has hurt me in the past.”
Last night, it was the Dodgers who were left feeling the pain.
dan.martin@nypost.com