Depleted Mets Haven’t Given Up Yet : Baseball: A day after pitching ace David Cone is traded, they regroup to put a dent in Cincinnati’s pennant hopes with a 4-3 victory.

It’s already been a dark season for the New York Mets, and now next year is looking dim because David Cone is gone.

Still, there are five weeks to go and a few things to accomplish.

“If anything, we can play spoilers,” Kevin Bass said after his sacrifice fly in the eighth inning led the Mets over Cincinnati 4-3 Friday in the first game of a doubleheader.

The Reds, who had sliced Atlanta’s seven-game lead in the NL West in half during the last week, had won four in a row.

The Mets, meanwhile extended their winning streak to four. In the space of 10 days, they will face Atlanta and Cincinnati 12 times.

The game was the Mets’ first since Thursday’s trade that sent Cone to Toronto for infielder Jeff Kent and a minor-leaguer.

“I wasn’t here long enough to get to know him,” Bass said of Cone. “Some of the guys here will really miss him. He kept the clubhouse loose.”

The Reds were not took relaxed after blowing a late two-run lead. Manager Lou Piniella spent his 49th birthday yelling at his team between games.

Jose Rijo and the Reds took a 3-1 lead into the seventh. But Bass led off the inning with a home run, and Rijo was removed for a pinch-hitter in the Reds’ eighth.

“I could’ve stayed in easy. Easy,” Rijo said. “This is the best I’ve felt all year.”

Daryl Boston tied it in the eighth off Scott Bankhead with his third pinch-hit homer of the season.

The Mets went on to load the bases against Bankhead (9-3) with one out on two walks and Eddie Murray’s double, and Rob Dibble relieved. Bass’ fly ball to left was deep enough to score Chico Walker ahead off Glenn Braggs’ off-line throw.

“I was looking for a ball up to get a sacrifice fly at least,” Bass said. “Getting the home run earlier in the inning put the pressure back on them.”