New York Post

Callaway believes in Reyes despite batting 0-for-2018

- By HOWIE KUSSOY

Jose Reyes and David Wright may never play together again, but the forever-intertwine­d teammates still share so much in common — including the fact neither one of them has a hit this year.

Reyes went 0-for-4 with a strikeout in Sunday’s 3-2 win over the Brewers, and is now 0-for-16 this season, with one walk.

The 34-year-old hit a pop-up with the bases loaded to end the third inning, and also hit into a fielder’s choice with two runners on, in the fifth.

Though Reyes — playing on a one-year deal in the third season of his second stint in Queens — hasn’t reached base in his past 14 at-bats, manager Mickey Callaway believes the veteran infielder will recover.

“I think Reyes brings energy. I love having him around,” Callaway said. “It’s hard, he led the team in plate appearance­s last year and now he’s not getting to play very much, so he’s having to go through this transition. ... He’ll figure it out. He’s a good player.”

Last season, Reyes was batting .191 on June 25, but ended the year hitting .246 with 15 home runs, along with a team-high seven triples and 24 stolen bases.

Callaway used five relievers to record the final 11 outs, and has only had a starter throw into the seventh inning once this season. Mets relievers have thrown nearly 54 innings in 14 games.

“I think at some point we’re gonna have to do the game where we send some guys out and bring some guys up, but you really can’t do anything about it,” Callaway said. “You have to win games, you have to make sure everyone’s rested, but you can’t make your starters pitch deeper in the game.”

Jeurys Familia (1-0) pitched a scoreless ninth, and has yet to allow a run in 10 innings this season, while the bullpen has allowed six earned runs in last 43 ¹/3 innings (1.25 ERA).

The Mets also struck out 16 batters in a nine-inning game for the first time since Oct. 3, 2015.

Yoenis Cespedes went 0-for-5 with two strikeouts, and entered Sunday night tied with a league-high 26 strikeouts this season. He is now batting .190 this season, and hasn’t hit a home run in 38 at-bats. ... Michael Conforto went 1-for-4 with a walk, and has reached base in each of his nine games this season. ... Rookie catcher Tomas Nido went 0-for-2 in his second career start.

The Mets activated Dominic Smith from the disabled list, and optioned him to Triple-A Las Vegas.

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