On the heels of a players-only meeting they hoped could help stem their rapid descent into the abyss, the Mets instead suffered their 13th loss in the last 16 games.

Andrew McCutchen and Bryan Reynolds hit consecutive two-run doubles during a six-run eighth inning as the Pittsburgh Pirates pulled away for a 9-2 victory over the struggling New York Mets.

A 3-13 slide has caused the New York Mets to go from being ahead by 5 1/2 games in the National League East to 1 1/2 games behind.