Mets ace Jacob deGrom didn't let a rare early lead go to his head on Thursday, spinning a devastating slider to Padres catcher Francisco Mejia for strike three that nearly resulted in the young backstop on his back side at home plate at Citi Field.

After the Mets put up four runs in the first, deGrom shut down the Padres in order in the second. The final out came when Mejia lost his balance -- and his helmet -- swinging through deGrom's 90.8-mph slider. Mejia made almost a full rotation in the batter's box as his helmet tumbled off, but he just caught himself before hitting the dirt as deGrom and the Mets walked off the field.

New York eventually topped San Diego, 4-0, to earn the series victory.