NEW YORK — Jose Reyes turned a little trickler into a lot of trouble.
Reyes extended his hitting streak to a career-high 25 games with an infield single that set up Miami’s big inning, and the Marlins stretched the New York Mets’ home losing skid to a month with a 4-2 win Tuesday night.
“That’s good I got on base,” Reyes said. “It’s not easy to get a hit.”
Reyes beat out a nubber up the first base line, helping the Marlins score four times in the fourth. He has the longest hitting string in the majors this year.
Booed again at Citi Field, the former Mets All-Star shortstop was all smiles after the game.
“It is what it is,” he said. “I’m good. They can do whatever they want here.”
Giancarlo Stanton hit a sacrifice fly after being activated from the disabled list for the Marlins.
On the day the Mets unveiled the logo to host the 2013 All-Star game and attached the insignia to the center-field scoreboard, they lost their eighth in a row at home. Their previous win in the park came July 7 against the Cubs.
Daniel Murphy homered for New York. Jason Bay, stuck in a 2-for-41 rut, singled and scored the Mets’ other run.
Mets manager Terry Collins indicated Bay’s stay as the full-time left fielder was coming to an end. A three-time All-Star, Bay signed a $66 million, four-year deal with the Mets before the 2010 season.
Beset by injuries since joining the Mets, Bay is hitting just .157 with five home runs and 11 RBIs in 134 at-bats.
“I’m trying to be a realist with all that’s happened,” Bay said. “I’m not always the best option.”
“This didn’t blindside me. I’ve had some time to digest this,” he added. “I don’t want to be a distraction.”
Carlos Zambrano (7-9), recently moved to the bullpen, got four outs for the win. Steve Cishek, the sixth Miami pitcher, closed for his seventh save.
Marlins starter Wade LeBlanc, pitching on his 28th birthday, left after allowing a leadoff homer to Murphy in the fifth that made it 4-1. LeBlanc made his second start of the season in the majors, and manager Ozzie Guillen said before the game that the left-hander would throw about 85 pitches. Murphy’s homer came on LeBlanc’s 85th pitch.
“I’m keeping the team in the game. But I’d like to do it for more than four innings,” he said.
LeBlanc has mostly been in the minors this season and pronounced it a good day “anytime you can spend a birthday in the major leagues.”
Reyes already has done more damage than he did in his return to Citi Field in late April, when he went 1 for 12 as the Mets swept Miami. Before this series opener, he said he had no regrets about signing a $106 million, six-year deal during the offseason with the disappointing Marlins.
Reyes hustled ahead of a hurried, wide throw by Jonathon Niese (8-6), and later scored. Reyes became the first reigning NL batting champion to have a 25-game hitting streak since Rogers Hornsby in 1922, the Marlins said in citing the Elias Sports Bureau.
Justin Ruggiano began the Miami fourth with an infield hit, Reyes singled and Carlos Lee had an RBI single. Stanton drove in a run and John Buck hit a two-out, two-run double for a 4-0 lead.
Murphy’s homer brought Chad Gaudin in from the bullpen. The Mets added a run in the fifth when Bay, pinch-hitter Ike Davis and Andres Torres singled.
NOTES: Miami has not homered in seven straight games. … Niese has pitched at least six innings in 12 straight starts. … Marlins 2B Donovan Solano made a terrific sliding catch near the stands on the seventh straight foul ball hit by Scott Hairston in the first. … Lee and Mets SS Ruben Tejada each have 12-game hitting strings. … Luis Castillo has the longest hitting streak in Marlins history at 35 games in 2002. … Niese is 1-5 against the Marlins.
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