NEW YORK -- Right-hander Bartolo Colon became just the fifth pitcher age 41 or older in the last 60 years to win each of his first three starts to begin at season when the New York Mets defeated the Miami Marlins 4-1 on Friday night at Citi Field. Colon helped the Mets win their sixth straight game for the first time in four years not only with his masterful pitching but with his second RBI of the season that came on a sacrifice fly.

The 41-year-old Colon (3-0) went seven innings, scattering six hits and striking out four without a walk. His only blemish was giving up a first-inning home run to right fielder Giancarlo Stanton.

Colon has walked just one batter in 20 innings this season. He was aided by two fantastic catches from Gold Glove center fielder Juan Lagares.

Colon gave up singles to Martin Prado and Ichiro Suzuki in the seventh, the first time Miami had two runners on base. But Lagares made a diving catch, running in on J.T. Realmuto's sinking liner for the second out.

In the third inning, Lagares robbed Christian Yelich of an extra-base hit when he sprinted for a ball that seemed to be going over his head before he tracked it down five feet from the warning track.

Right-hander Jeurys Familia posted his fifth save in as many chances for the Mets (8-3), who last won six straight games on April 21-27, 2011.

David Phelps (0-1) suffered the loss for the Marlins (3-8), who have dropped five of their last seven games.

New York scored two runs in the sixth inning to snap a 1-1 tie on an RBI single from Michael Cuddyer and a sacrifice fly from Eric Campbell that scored first baseman Lucas Duda. Daniel Murphy added a run-scoring double in the eighth.

"It seems like right now we're doing a good job of situational hitting," said Campbell, who is filling in at third for injured David Wright. "That will win you a lot of ballgames.

"It all comes from spring training, working in the batting practices. If everybody gets long at-bats, it's going to wear down pitchers. I'm sure pitchers can get frustrated by that."

Phelps was cruising until the fifth when the Mets tied it at 1. The former Yankees pitcher hadn't allowed a hit and walked just one before he ran into trouble.

"When you go from getting no hit until the fifth, to scoring some runs, that's pretty impressive," Mets manager Terry Collins said. "They're not getting down or anything. They are hanging in there. There’s a game plan."

Campbell drew a one-out walk, went to second on shortstop Wilmer Flores' single to right and moved to third on catcher Anthony Recker's walk to load the bases. Colon delivered a sacrifice fly to center for his second RBI of the season, scoring Campbell.

The sac fly was the first for Colon since 2002 and only the second of his career. Miami manager Mike Redmond responded by replacing Phelps with left-hander Brad Hand.

"I wanted to be aggressive and get a fly ball to bring the run home," Colon said through an interpreter. "I have been taking it (hitting) more seriously because it's my second year in the (National) League."

Stanton provided the Marlins with a 1-0 lead with two outs in the first inning when he crushed an 0-2 pitch just beyond the reach of Lagares in right-center field. The homer was the 156th of Stanton's career and second in as many games.

"Certainly with Colon pitching, we knew one run would not be enough," Marlins manager Mike Redmond said. "He mixed his pitches well, had command, didn't allow a walk and had great defense behind him."

NOTES: The last time the Mets were five games above .500 was after the game on July 13, 2012, when they were 46-41. ... The Mets called up INF Danny Muno from Las Vegas of the Pacific Coast League and sent RHP Rafael Montero to the minors. Mets manager Terry Collins said Montero will be