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.

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.

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.