Jose Reyes makes big contribution as Mets beat Marlins

10:33 PM ET

MIAMI — Jose Reyes isn’t washed up yet. At least he gave that distinct impression on Friday.

Playing at Marlins Park for the first time since he was traded away in a fire sale after the 2012 season, Reyes scored twice and drove in another run as the New York Mets beat the Miami Marlins, 5-3.

The Mets (51-44) pulled within a half-game of the Marlins (52-44) for the second wild-card spot.

The Mets are giving ample playing time to Reyes to determine what he has left at age 33. The early returns as the Mets arrived at Marlins Park were not resoundingly positive. Installed as the leadoff hitter upon joining the team on July 5, Reyes entered the series opener in Miami hitting a modest .213 with a .269 on-base percentage in 12 games.

The hope has been that Reyes’ speed atop the order will help manufacture runs on a team that has relied on homers to generate the majority of its offense.

Sure enough, Reyes had a game-opening double against left-hander Adam Conley on Friday. He then stole second and scored on Yoenis Cespedes’ sacrifice fly. The Mets took a 2-0 lead in the fourth when Travis d’Arnaud scored on Reyes’ two-out single. And a half-inning after Christian Yelich’s two-run homer against Logan Verrett in the sixth tied the score, the Mets retook the lead when Reyes had a leadoff single and ultimately scored on another sacrifice fly from Cespedes.

James Loney added a two-run homer in the ninth to provide a 5-2 cushion. Jeurys …

continue reading in source espn.go.com