Reyes providing a spark

ATLANTA — The crown for the Mets’ player of the game sat atop Jose Reyes’ head as he walked toward his clubhouse stall after tying his career high with five RBIs.

“How’s it look?” Reyes said, smiling.

It looked like it belonged on a guy who has been almost royally flush with hitting lately. The way he started the season, Reyes could have worn the joker’s hat. But Reyes is back to being, well, Reyes. He’s putting balls in play. He’s hitting. He’s getting on. Oh, there are still some cringe-worthy moments — like when he got doubled off walking back to second in the third inning Wednesday.

But two more hits and five RBIs are what stood out as his recent surge continued. He has reached base safely in 10 straight games, hitting .333 (12-of-36) in that stretch.

“It’s not happening overnight. I’ve been working every day. I don’t turn it around in one game,” Reyes said after the Mets walloped the Braves, 16-5, at SunTrust Park. “Little by little, like 1-for-3 with a walk. The good part is the last week I didn’t strike out too much. Early in the season the first 20 games or so I struck out way too much. That’s not part of my game. I feel like when I put the ball in play that’s me. That’s when I feel better and lately I’ve been able to do that.”

And the Mets offense has put up at least five runs in seven straight games, something that is needed with the starting rotation being held together with spit, wire and chewing gum. And the Mets are stepping up without Yoenis Cespedes, the brute-force guy.

“We know our big guy in the lineup is out and some guys need to step it up, like me,” Reyes said. “When you have your key player injured some guys have to step up and we feel lately we’ve been able to do that.”

Reyes stepped up Wednesday with the five RBIs that moved him into 10th place on the Mets’ alltime list with 457. It was like the good old days for Reyes — he first had five RBIs in his sixth career game — June 15, 2003 against the Angels in Anaheim.

Terry Collins credited his coaches for a lot of Reyes’ turnaround.

“My coaching staff is great. Know why they’re great? Because they don’t ever get down on a guy,” Collins said.