VERO BEACH – The Mets don’t expect Steve Trachsel to replace Mike Hampton in the rotation – but if yesterday was any indication, Trachsel has a shot at replacing baseball’s best-hitting pitcher at the plate.

Trachsel went 3-for-3 with a home run off Dodger right-hander Eric Gagne in yesterday’s 5-3 Met victory over the Dodgers.

As Trachsel circled the bases after parking one on the hill beyond the left field fence, a loud voice shot out of the stands: “Hampton never did that!”

Trachsel fell behind Gagne 0-2. Gagne threw a mixture of curves and fastballs to try to finish off Trachsel, but couldn’t do it.

Trachsel fouled off several pitches, worked the count full, and easily cleared the left-field fence.

Trachsel twice has homered in regular-season games, once off of Curt Schilling, so he didn’t send anybody running after the baseball for a souvenir yesterday.

“I do enjoy hitting, but I never had three hits in a game before,” Trachsel said. “And Hampton’s a much better hitter than I am. I’m not great, but I can make contact.”

Trachsel lashed a single to deep right in his first at-bat, homered in his second, and dumped a flare in front of right fielder Shawn Green his third time up.

“As the day went on, I moved back when he came up to the plate,” said Gary Sheffield, who was playing left field.

“Then he dumped a cheapy to right. That just shows he’s not a good oppo [opposite-field hitter].”

Trachsel’s pitching performance was of greater importance to Met manager Bobby Valentine.

Trachsel pitched 51/3 innings, allowed two earned runs, did not walk a batter and allowed five hits.

“He’s been better every time out,” Valentine said of Trachsel, who has a fastball, forkball, curveball, slider, and changeup in his repertoire.

“It takes a five-pitch pitcher a little longer [into the exhibition season] to develop all of his pitches.”