NEW YORK _ Despite 44 losses in 64 games, Mets manager Mickey Callaway somehow sees a positive in his team's extended rut.
"This has been probably the best learning experience for our team than any other stretch we're probably going to have," Callaway said. "It's been tough and we've learned a lot about each other. We're going to end up a better group of people and better team because we went through this stretch. We've all definitely learned a ton."
The Mets certainly have learned a ton if learning is measured in losses, and it certainly appears Summer School is in session with the Mets losing their seventh straight game Monday by falling to the Pirates, 6-4. Three errors led to two Pittsburgh runs, and the Mets (31-45) needed until the seventh inning to produce more hits than errors.
They have now lost 14 of their last 15 home games.
It's almost hard to fathom that a team that started 11-1 this season is at a point where the manager is now stressing how his team is leaning from all these losses.
It's one things for young, rebuilding teams like the Reds or Marlins to be learning, though, and another for a veteran team like the Mets. Players like Todd Frazier and Devin Mesoraco are beyond the point where they are looking to learn.
This Mets team is one that entered the year expecting to contend.
This message is consistent with Callaway's approach. Even when the Mets were flying high, Callaway remained calm. Now, as the Mets are just half a game ahead of the Marlins for the worst record in the NL, he has not changed his demeanor.
Callaway is not a believer in fiery postgame messages like his predecessor, Terry Collins, instead placing emphasis on the process and playing the game the right way.
"I hate losing more than anybody. I understand it takes more of an even keel manner to make sure that we get to where we want to get as an organization at some point. It's not just about today," Callaway said. "The even keel manner which all of our players I feel have shown _ obviously they get frustrated sometimes, but they've done a good job of coming to play every day. It's something that's important to us as an organization moving forward, not just, oh, he's mad today. That doesn't tend to get you out of a slump or get your teammates more on board with you or get more by in from players."
In Wednesday's loss, the Mets learned that shaky defense can ruin a game. The Pirates scored two unearned runs off Seth Lugo in his five innings of three-run ball.
Luis Guillorme, a sure-handed prospect, had a rough day with two errors and could have been charged with a third in the ninth.
The rookie booted the opening play of the game, and that led to a run on Josh Harrison's sacrifice fly. Two innings later, Guillorme threw away what should have been an inning-ending groundout from Harrison. Following an intentional walk, Elias Diaz stroked a single to left to score Harrison and boost the Pirates lead to 3-0.
The errors forced Lugo to throw 99 pitches, and he pitched better than his line indicated, allowing only four hits. He is now 0-2 with a 6.23 ERA in his last three starts since blanking the Cubs and Yankees spanning 10 innings in his first two starts.
In the ninth, Guillorme was spared an error when he could not make a bare-handed play on a slow chopper. That single loaded the bases with no outs, and the Pirates took a 6-4 lead on a sacrifice lead to center by Diaz off Robert Gsellman.
The Mets rallied for four runs in the seventh inning with Wilmer Flores hitting a pinch-hit three-run homer off Tyler Glasnow to slice the Pirates' lead to 5-4.
Pirates starter Tyler Glasnow limited the Mets to two runs in six-plus innings.
