Reliever Marc Wilkins took the loss for the Pirates in yesterday’s 9-2 Mets win. But, in reality, it was Jason Christiansen who sounded like he lost the game – and a little bit of his mental stability – after a performance that can only be described as wretched.

In one-third of an inning, he surrendered two hits, a walk and four earned runs and watched as a close game turned into a rout.

“It’s very frustrating. It’s a good thing they don’t allow guns on an airplane, or I’d [freakin’] kill myself,” said a distraught Christiansen, who had no firearms readily apparent in his locker. “I don’t think I could’ve hit a barn wall. I don’t know how to explain it.”

Christiansen came into the game with a man on first and nobody out with the score tied at 2 in the seventh. He left down 4-2 with the bases loaded, two of whom scored.

After John Olerud singled and Robin Ventura popped up, Christiansen hung a pitch to Benny Agbayani, who stroked it to right-center for a two-run double. The Pirates walked Rickey Henderson to pitch to little-used Todd Pratt with the bases loaded, and Christiansen promptly hit Pratt in the ribs to force in a run.

Greg Hensell replaced him, but Rey Ordonez touched him up for a two-RBI single that closed the books on Christiansen.

“My location wasn’t good. I think I threw four heaters; one went for a double and another went into a ribcage, so I guess I can’t say I had control of my fastball,” said Christiansen, whose control had been good after early-season wildness and injuries. He went on the DL for a strained neck, but since being reinstated May 28, he had been scored on just four times in 22 outings. His pre-DL ERA was 4.11; his ERA since had been a sterling 2.89. At least, until yesterday’s disaster.