What might have been Jose Reyes' final game in a New York Mets uniform turned into a cameo Wednesday afternoon.
After bunting for a single in the first inning against the Cincinnati Reds, the All-Star shortstop, at his request, was removed for a pinch runner, eliciting a round of boos from the small crowd at Citi Field.
The hit raised Reyes' average to .337 in his bid to become the first Mets player to win the batting title.
Milwaukee's Ryan Braun will enter Wednesday night's game against Pittsburgh at .335. Braun can still win the title with a 3-for-4 performance.
Manager Terry Collins said after the game that Reyes asked to be taken out of the game after his first at-bat in the event he got a hit.
Collins had already hinted before the game that he might have a quick hook with Reyes in an effort to best position him for the batting title, and he honored Reyes' request.
The Mets won 3-0 with veteran Miguel Batista pitching a two-hit shutout. The Mets finish the season, their first under Collins, at 77-85, and in fourth place in the NL East.
The 28-year-old Reyes, who has spent all nine of his seasons with the Mets, will be a free agent this winter.
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