WHAT IT MEANS: Jon Niese matched a career high by surrendering eight runs and the excitement generated by Matt Harvey’s major league debut the previous night evaporated in the Arizona desert.

Despite homers by David Wright and Ike Davis, the Mets lost to the Diamondbacks, 11-5, Friday night at Chase Field. They returned to a season-worst four games under .500 and lost for the 12^th time in 14 games since the All-Star break.

The bulk of the damage against Niese came in a six-run second inning as Arizona overcame a 2-0 deficit. Niese allowed six straight batters to reach. He walked ex-Met Henry Blanco with the bases loaded to force in the Diamondbacks’ first run, then surrendered an RBI single to opposing pitcher Josh Collmenter. Niese’s ensuing throw to first base on Willie Bloomquist’s squibber up the third-base line with the bases loaded ended up in foul territory down the right-field line as three more runs scored.

The six-run frame only ended when Jason Bay slammed into the wall in foul territory down the third-base line while catching Jason Kubel’s fly ball. Bay already this season has landed on the DL with a fractured rib and concussion for separate aggressive catch attempts. He remained in this game. (At the plate, Bay went 0-for-4 with two strikeouts.)

Niese’s final line: 6 IP, 9 H, 8 R, 6 ER, 1 BB, 5 K.

Elvin Ramirez, a logical demotion candidate when Frank Francisco is expected to be activated from the disabled list for the next series in San Francisco, allowed three seventh-inning runs.

WRIGHT STUFF: Wright answered a half-inning after Arizona's six-run frame with a three-run homer against Collmenter to pull the Mets within 6-5. Wright’s long ball, the 199^th of his career, snapped an 0-for-15 drought.

Wright has 16 homers this season, one shy of Davis’ team-leading total. Davis, playing in his native Phoenix, opened the scoring in a two-run second with a solo homer.

WHAT’S NEXT: Three more days until Harvey starts Tuesday opposite Tim Lincecum in San Francisco.

On Saturday, Chris Young (2-4, 3.91 ERA) opposes Diamondbacks right-hander Ian Kennedy (8-8, 4.20). First pitch: 8:10 p.m. ET.