NEW YORK – Jose Reyes flailed at R.A. Dickey's knuckleballs to no avail. He also fought the sun on his old home turf and lost that matchup, too.
Reyes' 26-game hitting streak came to an end against Dickey, and the Miami Marlins lost to the New York Mets 6-1 Thursday after winning the first two games of the three-game series.
Reyes went 0 for 4, twice stranding a runner on third, to end the longest hitting streak of his career and the best in the majors this season.
"It's over. I have an opportunity to start a new one tomorrow," Reyes said. "I have to give some credit to Dickey. He was unbelievable. It's not easy to face Dickey. I'll take a 26-game hitting streak any day. It was a good run."
Dickey (15-3) gave up five hits, struck out 10 and walked none in his fourth complete game this season, helping the Mets end their nine-game losing skid at home.
"Very sad day, overall," manager Ozzie Guillen said of the Marlins, who finished their 11-game road trip 4-7.
Miami now heads home to face former teammate Hanley Ramirez for the first time since he was traded to the Los Angeles Dodgers in July.
The Mets took the lead in the fourth inning when David Wright led off with a high fly to shallow left. Reyes ranged back from shortstop but lost the ball in the blazing afternoon sun, turning away as the ball deflected off him for a double. Fans who've booed the former Mets star since he left for Miami in the offseason gave the play a rousing cheer.
Two outs later, Andres Torres doubled.
"As soon as the ball came down I knew he was in trouble," Guillen said.
Said Reyes: "It's embarrassing, of course. ... I had it and the last moment the ball got in the sun."
Struggling in his first season with the Mets, Torres homered off Josh Johnson (7-8) in the sixth and got an RBI triple in the eighth after umpires went to replay to review whether the ball had left the park.
"If that swing's back, we're going to score a lot more runs," Mets manager Terry Collins said.
Josh Thole hit a pair of RBI singles and Wright added another for the Mets. New York scored four of its runs with two outs in winning at home for the first time since July 7.
Dickey turned in his third straight stellar outing — he allowed only two earned runs combined in his previous two starts — after going through a monthlong rough patch. He was 12-1 at the All-Star break but just 2-2 in six starts afterward. That leveling off coincided with the Mets' fall from the NL wild card race.
Pitching in 89-degree heat, perfect weather for his fluttery pitch, Dickey threw the eighth complete game of his career.
"He's got the feel for it back, again," Collins said. "All I can tell you is I hope the next eight starts are like this one."
Other than Justin Ruggiano, who homered off Dickey in the fourth to tie it 1-all, the Marlins had little success against a pitcher who became a first-time All-Star at 37 years old.
"Nothing close, nothing close," Reyes said.
Johnson came in 8-1 with a 2.59 ERA in 15 starts against the Mets. But the Marlins ace was not able to match Dickey. He allowed eight hits and three runs in six innings. He had given up just two runs in his previous three starts.
Torres added on with his second homer of the season in the sixth. The beleaguered center fielder, hitting .239 coming in, reached base all four times Thursday.
His drive in the eighth hit off the orange line at the top of the wall in right field. Umpires went to the video room to see if it hit above the line and the play stood. Jordany Valdespin had reached on first baseman Carlos Lee's error to start the inning.
Lee singled leading off the second to extend his hitting streak to 14 games. Mets shortstop Ruben Tejada also extended his hitting streak to 14.
NOTES: Marlins 2B Nick Green threw his bat into the Miami dugout while flailing at a knuckleball in the second inning. Seconds after it disappeared into the dugout, it was hurled back onto the field, drawing laughs from fans. ... Marlins OF Logan Morrison (right knee inflammation) was advised by Dr. Richard Steadman in Colorado to rest for three weeks and then do rehab instead of surgery. Morrison will be reevaluated in three weeks. ... The band MercyMe will play a concert after the Mets and Braves play Friday night. Matt Harvey (1-2) is scheduled to make his first home start for New York. Paul Maholm (9-7) pitches for Atlanta.
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