New York ? They lost to a team that entered the night 36½ games out of first place.

They lost to a team that was 47 games under .500.

They lost to a team that was 27th in the league in hitting (team batting average: .239), 27th in the league in pitching (team ERA: 4.80).

At the end of the night, for the 29th time in 40 post-All-Star break games, the Mets lost again. They wedged in another rosy moment for the end-of-season highlight video-David Wright hit his 200th career home run Friday night-but that was window dressing for a 3-1 defeat to the Houston Astros at Citi Field.

The offense, fresh off a five-runs-in-four-games series against the Colorado Rockies, pumped out just one run for Mets starter Jon Niese.

Niese (10-7) allowed three runs over seven innings, the latest mound victim as the team's losing skid hit six games.

In typical fashion, the Mets a) fell behind and b) got burned by the bottom of the opposing lineup. Niese struck out the first two hitters of the second inning and retired five of the first six batters he faced.

And then Houston's No. 7 hitter-catcher Chris Snyder-worked a two-out walk.

And then Houston's No. 8 hitter-center fielder Brandon Barnes-doubled to center.

And then Houston's No. 9 hitter-pitcher Jordan Lyles-sent a one-hopper off the left-field wall.

By the time Niese slipped free, the Mets trailed, 2-0.

That second inning smudge aside, Niese was pitching well.