IS SEVEN SENT

A three-game losing streak was all Mets ace Jacob deGrom needed as motivation to right the ship in a season that is moving farther from the team playing what owner Fred Wilpon once called “meaningful games” in October.

DeGrom needed 25 pitches to navigate a scoreless first inning against the Cardinals, but settled down to hurl 6.2 innings in the Mets’ 7-3 victory. It was deGrom’s seventh straight victory.

“He puts thought into it, what’s going on on the mound. He kind of settled down after (the first inning), went back to work and competed, as he always does,” Terry Collins said. “Jake, when he’s out there, it’s all business. He doesn’t want to make any mistakes.”

The Cardinals (46-48) had seven hits off deGrom, who finished with 110 pitches (76 strikes), while walking one and striking out three. DeGrom might have finished the night with no runs against him, but after Luke Voit was initially called out on strikes in the seventh, what would have been the final out of the frame, first base umpire Joe West said Voit fouled the ball into the dirt. The Mets players came back onto the field and Voit resumed his at-bat, promptly roping an RBI double.

DeGrom (11-3) left to a loud ovation from the 32,228 at Citi Field. The bullpen managed to give the Flushing Faithful a small scare in the eighth, when Jerry Blevins walked pinch hitter Adam Wainwright, one of the Cardinals’ aces, to load the bases with two outs. But Addison Reed whiffed Voit to end the threat.

Reed was summoned by Collins in the top of the 8th inning with the bases loaded and two outs. He struck out Voit to squash the threat and preserve the Mets’ four-run lead.

Cespedes’ first-inning, RBI single. The left fielder broke out of an offensive slump in the cleanup spot and got the Mets on the board with the first of three runs in that frame.

DeGrom. The ace right-hander didn’t have his best stuff, but earned his seventh straight win by grinding through 6.2 innings.

STAT oF THE DAY METS VS. CARDINALS

DeGrom’s seven-game win streak is the longest of his career.

UNSUNG HERo

Jose Reyes. The shortstop went 2-for-4 with two RBI and pushed his average to .231.

Mike Leake. After retiring leadoff batter Michael Conforto in the first, the Cardinals starter wilted and gave up seven runs (four earned) over two innings. Today, 12:10 p.m.,Lance Lynn (8-6, 3.40) vs. Seth Lugo (4-2, 4.50); TV: SNY