CINCINNATI — The shackles came off and Justin Verlander aced it.

Simply, the Mets needed this kind of performance.

A hurting starting rotation found its ace Wednesday night, bringing temporary relief to a team skidding in the wrong direction.

In his second start off the injured list, Verlander provided the Mets with seven strong innings in a 2-1 victory over the Reds at Great American Ball Park that halted the team’s three-game losing streak.

The victory was only the Mets’ fourth in their last 16 games.

Verlander, at 91 pitches, returned to the mound for the seventh inning and recorded three straight outs to punctuate his night.

Overall he allowed one earned run on two hits (none after the first inning) with seven strikeouts and two walks.

Adam Ottavino and David Robertson combined to pitch the final two innings scoreless on a night the Mets wasted opportunities by leaving 12 runners on base.

The Mets welcomed the 104-pitch outing from Verlander.

Last Thursday, in his first start off the IL — he missed five weeks rehabbing from a strained teres major muscle — he was removed after 79 pitches in Detroit. In that start he allowed consecutive homers in the first inning, but finished with four scoreless frames.

On this night, Verlander surrendered an RBI double to Jake Fraley in the first inning, but escaped with a 1-0 deficit as Francisco Alvarez threw out Tyler Stephenson on a delayed attempt to steal second base. Jonathan India’s single leading off got the Reds’ rally started.

Pete Alonso’s second homer in as many nights tied it 1-1 in the second. The blast was Alonso’s 13th this season, which leads the major leagues.

Alonso began the night tied for first in homers with the Dodgers’ Max Muncy.

Brandon Nimmo delivered an RBI single in the fourth that gave the Mets a 2-1 lead. Luis Guillorme stroked a two-out double against Hunter Greene and Alvarez’s walk extended the inning before Nimmo singled in the run.

Nimmo also singled in the third inning, but was running when Francisco Lindor hit a line drive to third base that turned into a double play.

Verlander received defensive help in the fourth and fifth innings. In the fourth, Brett Baty leaned over the railing in front of the third-base dugout to grab Nick Senzel’s pop-up for the final out.

In the fifth, Jeff McNeil’s sliding catch deprived Henry Ramos of a hit. Verlander retired 10 straight batters to complete his night.

The right-hander averaged 94.4 mph with his four-seam fastball, topping out at 96.9.