If there was one matchup the Mets didn’t figure to be afraid of yesterday, it would have been Francisco Rodriguez against Roger Bernadina.
As Pedro Feliciano said, “Frankie is the best closer in the league, but even the best can have a bad day.”
And make a bad pitch, as the closer did to Washington’s rookie right fielder, who turned on an 0-1 fastball and sent it into the right-field seats to provide the winning margin in the Nationals’ 6-4 win.
“I got ahead of him and tried to get him as quick as possible,” Rodriguez said of Bernadina, who hit his first major league home run off Mike Pelfrey in the fourth. “I left it up over the plate. . . . I’ve gotta give us the opportunity to hold that ballgame right there and give us a chance to come back and swing the bats. That one’s on me. I need to be ready to go.”
Jerry Manuel has struggled to get his closer consistent work, but Rodriguez reported no problems and said he was “100 percent.”
Still, it was earlier failings — and tough breaks — that led to Rodriguez coming into a tie game and suffering his first loss of the year.
The most critical play also came from Bernadina, who robbed Jeff Francoeur of a would-be three-run double (or triple) by making a diving play in right to end the fifth and keep it tied, 4-4.
“If that ball was two inches over more, it’s probably 7-4 and we win,” Francoeur said. “The ball kept going away from him. When you hit one over there, most of the time you think it’s a double.”
Not with Bernadina out there, apparently.
“That ruined my day,” Francoeur said. “It’s one of those plays that sticks with you until you wake up the next day.”
Thanks to Bernadina’s grab, the Mets never were able to get in front, with their best chance to take the lead snatched away. They didn’t get a runner in scoring position the rest of the day.
After a shaky start from Mike Pelfrey — who gave up two hits that drove in three runs to Washington starter Craig Stammen — the bullpen kept the Nationals off the scoreboard into the ninth.
That’s when Manuel summoned Rodriguez, who surrendered a one-out single to Cristian Guzman before Bernadina’s two-run, two-out shot.
“The way he played, he was probably the right guy up for them in the right situation,” Francoeur said.
Manuel said he was “shocked” by the homer, but that he wasn’t concerned about Rodriguez, who has had a lack of save opportunities this year.
“I think he’s pitching well,” Manuel said. “I tried as much as I can to keep him on schedule. Obviously, he’s the most important guy down there. I try to keep him fresh and somewhat sharp. He just got a pitch up.”
He likely wouldn’t have been in such a tight situation if the Mets had been able to score more earlier, including in the seventh, when Alex Cora singled to lead off the inning but was erased by Jose Reyes’ double-play groundout.
Now the Mets head on the road, first to Florida before two more series against NL East foes in Atlanta, then a trip to Washington.
“It’s frustrating not to have finished up better here,” said Francoeur, who, along with the rest of the players, endured another unpleasant day at a nearly empty, cold and rainy Citi Field. “I’m ready to get out of here and enjoy some hot weather. Hope we turn this around and have a good road trip.”
dan.martin@nypost.com