MIAMI — Orlando Hernandez struck out 10 in seven innings, and Carlos Beltran went 4-for-6 with a home run to help the Mets beat the Florida Marlins 11–3 yesterday.

David Wright’s hitting streak reached 26 games, extending his franchise record, when he singled in the fifth inning. Wright has hit in the first 14 games this year.

Ramon Castro homered and drove in three runs, and Jose Valentin hit his first homer.

The Mets swept the two-game series — their first sweep in Miami since May 26–27, 1998. New York, which began the day leading the majors in batting at .296, outscored the Marlins 20–5 and outhit them 33–7.

The Mets scored nine runs with two outs, and that was plenty for Hernandez (2–1). In the first inning he gave up two hits and two runs, one unearned, before shutting out the Marlins on one hit over the next six innings.

Hernandez reached double figures in strikeouts for the first time since he had 10 for the New York Yankees against Toronto on July 22, 2004.

Ambiorix Burgos and closer Billy Wagner — working for the first time in six days — completed a four-hitter that included 15 strikeouts.

New York moved past Atlanta and holds a one-half game lead over the Braves in the NL East heading into a three-game series between the teams that opens Friday at Shea Stadium.

The Marlins lost their fifth in a row, and to make matters worse, slugger Miguel Cabrera left in the third inning with a stiff torso. The first sign he was hurting came when he bunted with a runner on second in the first inning.

Florida rookie Rick Vanden Hurk (0–1), making his second start, allowed eight runs in four innings. The right-hander from Holland had never pitched above Single-A before he was called up last week to replace injured starter Ricky Nolasco.

Vanden Hurk was one strike from ending the third with a 2-1 lead, but the Mets then scored six runs.

Carlos Delgado hit a 2–2 pitch for a two-run double. Wright walked, and Shawn Green hit a two-run double. Ramon Castro followed with a two-run homer, his second.