HOUSTON — Who needs K-Rod?
After the Mets scored a pair of runs in the ninth, they started the post-Francisco Rodriguez era with Hisanori Takahashi in the closer’s role, at least for one night.
And Takahashi came through with a scoreless ninth to earn his first save in a 3-1 victory over the Astros at Minute Maid Park.
“He can put it in play,” manager Jerry Manuel said of Takahashi, adding he may use Takahashi in that role more often with Rodriguez out for the season due to a torn ligament in his thumb. “I think he can get it done for us. The key becomes resiliency.”
The left-hander made the Mets’ late lead hold up after they scored twice in the top of the inning, first on a wild pitch that brought David Wright in from third and then a triple from Jeff Francoeur knocked in Carlos Beltran.
Prior to the ninth, the bats had done their usual disappearing act, save for Carlos Beltran’s fourth inning solo shot off of Wandy Rodriguez that gave the Mets a 1-0 advantage.
Jon Niese gave that run back in the sixth. Despite surrendering just one run over seven innings, Niese was left with another no-decision. Niese, who has pitched well, now has one win in his last eight starts.
The Mets seemed destined to drop their third straight when a Pedro Feliciano error loaded the bases in the eighth for Houston, but Jason Castro’s long fly ball to left-center was hauled in by Beltran.
Takahashi didn’t have any drama in the ninth.
“It’s kind of a brand new thing,” Takahashi said. “Even though I did it a year in Japan, it’s a whole different world.”
So for one game, the Mets survived without Rodriguez, as they started a seven-game road trip.
“We talked [Sunday] and he said he was gonna get through it,” Feliciano said of Rodriguez. “I’m surprised he’s gonna get surgery, but Takahashi showed if you throw strikes, you’re gonna get outs.”
dan.martin@nypost.com
