Mets Morning News: Mets drop another to Bucs in extras, still lead NL East by 4.5 games

Meet the Mets

For the second straight night, the Mets lost to the Pirates in extras. Jon Niese gave up three runs in his start, Juan Uribe hit a solo home run, Michael Conforto hit a two-run home run to tie the game, and Yoenis Cespedes made a fantastic throw. But the Mets couldn't muster much of anything against the Pirates' bullpen and ultimately lost in the fourteenth. But the team still leads the National League East by 4.5 games on August 16.

Choose your recap: Amazin' Avenue long and short, Newsday, Daily News, Post, Record, MLB.com, Star-Ledger, Times, ESPN, or Faith and Fear.

Matt Harvey starts for the Mets today as they try to avoid being swept by Pittsburgh. Newsday writes about his desire to generate weak contact more often this year, noting that he has struck out just 8.2 opposing hitters per nine innings on the season. Also in Newsday, there's been a tingly playoff atmosphere at Citi Field.

Steve Serby does his weekly Q&A with Cespedes.

Around the NL East

Don't care what they may say
they got that #natitude
Don't care what they may do
they got that #natitude

The other three teams in the division, all irrelevant in the standings at this point, lost, too, on a banner night for the National League East.

Chase Utley might eventually be traded somewhere.

Around MLB

The Yankees beat the Blue Jays again, which gives them a 1.5-game lead in the division for now with the series finale scheduled for this afternoon.

Speaking of the American League East, the Red Sox scored 22 runs—twenty-two—and gave up 10, too, yesterday.

Brewers minor leaguer David Denson is affiliated baseball's first openly gay player.

This date in Mets history

The Mets once scored 23 runs on August 16. Here's hoping they repeat the feat today.