MIAMI – A.J. Burnett allowed two hits in 6 1 /3 innings, Miguel Cabrera hit a tape-measure homer, and the Marlins extended their longest winning streak since 1997 to eight games by beating the Mets 7-3 last night.

The Mets allowed two unearned runs, totaled three hits, and lost their 10th game in a row.

The winning streak by the defending World Series champions has put them back in the playoff race. They began the night trailing NL wild-card leader Chicago by three games.

Florida built a 5-0 lead against Tom Glavine (9-12), who lasted just five innings, and is 2-5 since the All-Star break.

Burnett (6-6) walked five and hit one but still beat the Mets for the first time in his career after five losses. He allowed three runs, including one in the sixth when he walked three batters and hit one.

Closer Armando Benitez needed just five pitches in a perfect ninth.

Cabrera made it 3-0 in the third with a two-run homer estimated at 471 feet that easily cleared the scoreboard. The homer, his 28th of the year, was the longest at Pro Player Stadium this season and the fourth-longest by the Marlins at their ballpark.

Alex Gonzalez barely missed a home run in the sixth when his long drive hooked foul. He hit the next pitch for his 19th homer.

The Marlins’ winning streak is their longest since 1997 – the year they won their first championship. They’re 14-3 this season against the Mets.

The only hit off Burnett through six innings was Danny Garcia’s single leading off the fourth. The right-hander needed 29 pitches to get through the sixth, when the Mets scored on David Wright’s sacrifice fly. Richard Hidalgo struck out looking with the bases loaded to end the inning.