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.

The Mets failed to keep pace with the Phillies, and instead suffered an embarrassing sweep at the hands of the Pirates.

PITTSBURGH — From deciding to meet to dead meat, the Mets’ weekend by the Three Rivers couldn’t have proceeded much worse. Rule No.1 for players-only meetings is generally to hold them a night before your ace is scheduled to pitch. But the Mets barely have five pitchers to fill out a starting rotation these days, never mind an ace.