Beltran and Mets Slam the Reds, 8-3

Two games, two grand slams. Carlos Beltran has started a very rare streak.

Beltran hit the last of New York’s three home runs Tuesday night, a seventh-inning grand slam off Eric Milton that powered the Mets to an 8-3 victory over the Cincinnati Reds.

Beltran’s slam off Milton (6-5) was the sixth of his career and his second in two games. He and Cliff Floyd connected Sunday during a club-record 11-run sixth inning that set up a 13-7 win against the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field.

He became the 23rd major leaguer to hit grand slams in consecutive games. David Eckstein was the last to do it, for the Angels in April 2002.

“That’s baseball,” Beltran said. “Some days you feel good, some days you feel not so good.”

Beltran added a run-scoring double in the ninth off left-hander Bill Bray, acquired last week in an eight-player trade with Washington. The loss was Cincinnati’s first since the All-Star break, coming off the Reds’ four-game sweep of Colorado.

Xavier Nady and Jose Valentin also hit solo homers that helped right-hander Mike Pelfrey improve to 2-0 after two major league starts. The 22-year-old rookie gave up seven singles and two runs in six innings.

The Mets have won five of their last six games, improving the National League’s best record to 56-37. New York has led the NL East by double-digits since June 22.