Chris Woodward screamed as he ran toward first base, urging the ball over the fence. The Mets utility man had no prior experience with a game-ending home run.

“I told it to get up,” Woodward said. “I’ve never done it before. I’ve got game-winning hits but I never got to run around the bases.”

Woodward’s pinch-hit homer with one out in the 11th inning gave New York a 3-1 victory over the San Diego Padres last night.

“I’ve said from Day One how important he is to our ball club,” Mets manager Willie Randolph said. “He’s been a gem, as far as I’m concerned.”

Woodward, who is hitting .314, homered on an 0-1 pitch off Chris Hammond after Mike Piazza, dropped to sixth in the order for the first time since May 12, 1993, singled with one out. It was the second game-ending homer this season for the Mets, who moved above .500 at 47-46. Cliff Floyd hit the first on June 11.

Braden Looper (3-4) pitched two innings for the win.

The NL West-leading Padres dropped to 7-8 in July even though stars Mark Loretta and Phil Nevin returned to the lineup.

Floyd homered off the scoreboard in right-center in the fifth, the Mets first baserunner against Brian Lawrence and tying the game 1-1. Khalil Greene connected for a homer off Kris Benson to open the top of the fifth.

Then the Mets fell flat, leaving seven runners on base after the sixth inning. They had runners on first and second with one out in the seventh, eighth, and ninth innings but failed to score against the Padres’ bullpen.

“When you leave guys out there it gets to be a little bit frustrating,” Randolph said, “but you can’t think about that as you go along.”

In the seventh, Doug Mientkiewicz grounded into a double play, and in the eighth Mike Cameron grounded into a fielder’s choice and Carlos Beltran flied out. In the ninth, pinch-hitter Jose Offerman popped out and Miguel Cairo struck out.

Benson allowed five hits and two walks in seven innings, striking out four. Three of the hits were by Greene.

“Tonight was the hottest game I ever pitched in as far as sweating,” Benson said of the extremely humid night. “You just try to keep the game within reach so the guys can win.”

Lawrence had lost three straight starts coming in, but he was perfect for the first four innings and his only real mistake was Floyd’s 23rd homer.

He was pulled after giving up two hits in the seventh and made a deliberate walk to the Padres dugout, scratching his head. Lawrence gave up five hits, walked none, and struck out four.

“Unfortunately, he’s pitched well but we haven’t done too much for him,” Greene said.