CLEVELAND — R.A. Dickey won his fifth straight start and the New York Mets stretched their winning streak to seven games by beating the Cleveland Indians 6-4 Thursday night.

The surging Mets have won 18 of 23 to go from last place to a half-game behind NL East-leading Atlanta. They have six consecutive road wins for the first time since a six-game run in August 2008, and have won a team-record eight in a row in interleague play.

The Mets are 8-1 against AL teams entering a three-game Subway Series at Yankee Stadium starting Friday night. They took two of three at home May 21-23 from their crosstown rivals.

Dickey (5-0) tied a club record for a Mets starter by winning his first five decisions. Bobby Ojeda (1986), Armando Reynoso (1997) and Kenny Rogers (1999) also did it.