An up-and-down first half of the season ended way down for the Mets yesterday.

The Amazin's stumbled into the All-Star break this weekend by dropping two of three to the lowly Chicago Cubs, including a 7-0 loss yesterday afternoon.

Jonathon Niese (7-4) ended a good first half on a bad note, allowing all seven runs.

"[The Cubs] came out swinging," manager Terry Collins told reporters. "He was trying to get ahead [and] they were hammering the first pitch."

With the loss, the Mets fell a half-game behind the Atlanta Braves for the wild card.

The Cubs, who have taken four of six from the Mets this season despite having the second-worst record in the National League, jumped all over Niese early, reaching base with five of their first six batters en route to a 4-0 lead.

The Mets squandered their chances to claw back. In the third, after two singles, Daniel Murphy and Ike Davis popped out, sandwiching a David Murphy strikeout. In the sixth, Lucas Duda grounded into a double play to kill any potential rally.(Michael Cunniff)

Pfc. Raheen Tyson Heighter, of Bay Shore, was killed in Operation Iraqi Freedom. His mother has made it her mission to aid active-duty service members, veterans, first responders and Gold Star families. NewsdayTV's Virginia Huie reports. Credit: Randee Daddona; Photo credit: Cathy Heighter

'His sacrifice made a difference': Gold Star mother honors son's memory Army Pfc. Raheen Tyson Heighter, 22, of Bay Shore, was the first serviceman from Long Island killed in the Iraq War.

Pfc. Raheen Tyson Heighter, of Bay Shore, was killed in Operation Iraqi Freedom. His mother has made it her mission to aid active-duty service members, veterans, first responders and Gold Star families. NewsdayTV's Virginia Huie reports. Credit: Randee Daddona; Photo credit: Cathy Heighter

'His sacrifice made a difference': Gold Star mother honors son's memory Army Pfc. Raheen Tyson Heighter, 22, of Bay Shore, was the first serviceman from Long Island killed in the Iraq War.

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