Mets losing grip on NL East after 5th straight loss

New York Mets batter David Wright stands in the field after making the last out in the eighth inning against the Washington Nationals in their MLB National League baseball game in Washington, September 18, 2007.

WASHINGTON D.C. (Reuters) - The slumping New York Mets lost their fifth game in a row on Tuesday, a 9-8 defeat to the Washington Nationals, and saw their National League East lead over the Philadelphia Phillies shrink to a game and a half.

The Mets, who have allowed 31 runs in their last three games, held a long team meeting before the game and went 4-0 up in the first inning.

But things fell apart in the fifth inning when the Nationals scored five runs, including a three-run homer from Rafael Belliard.

"If we win, everyone thinks they (team meetings) work," Mets manager Willie Randolph told reporters.

"We got together because we're a team and we stick together."

The Mets lead the division by seven games on September 12. No team in Major League history has held such a lead at that time and failed to make the playoffs.

John Maine (14-10) took the loss for the Mets while Jesus Colome was credited with the win.

The Nationals also won the first of their three-game series on Monday.

*The Philadelphia Phillies beat the St. Louis Cardinals 7-4 in 14 innings for their fifth consecutive win.

*Micah Owings pitched a two-hit shutout as the Arizona Diamondbacks secured a 5-0 home victory over the San Francisco Giants.

*The wild card-leading San Diego Padres rode Greg Maddux's 346th career win to a 5-3 victory over the visiting Pittsburgh Pirates.

*The Milwaukee Brewers saw ace Ben Sheets leave before the second inning with a hamstring injury but then hit four homers and beat the Houston Astros 9-1.

*The Colorado Rockies swept a home double-header from the Los Angeles Dodgers 9-8 and 3-1.

*Aaron Harang of the Cincinnati Reds lifted his record to 16-4 by beating the Chicago Cubs 5-2.

(Writing by Mike Shalin in Boston)