HOUSTON – Willie Randolph likes having three catchers, so the Mets made a move elsewhere yesterday.
Outfielder Ricky Ledee was designated for assignment when starter Dave Williams was activated. Ledee left the ballpark before noon and wouldn’t comment to The Post.
“He took it fine,” Randolph said of Ledee. “I’m sure he wasn’t kicking up his heels or nothing like that. He understands.”
Sandy Alomar Jr., another candidate for demotion as the team’s third catcher, started and went 1-for-4 with a seventh-inning double in the 8-3 loss to Houston.
With Ramon Castro (.295, five homers, 17 RBIs) producing offensively, Randolph wants the flexibility of using his backup catcher to pinch-hit when Paul Lo Duca starts. Castro pinch-hit in the seventh and grounded out.
“That’s a pretty nice option for us while [Alomar] is here,” Randolph said. “We’ll look at him and see what he does give us.”
Randolph said Ledee (.222 in 17 games) was the odd man out, since David Newhan had fresh legs from not playing Saturday and started in left, going 2-for-4.
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Lastings Milledge is raking at Double-A Binghamton and could be recalled before too much longer. Milledge is 8-for-19 with a double, triple, homer, five runs and five RBIs after a 3-for-5 game yesterday.
“I’m sure by the time we get back from the [All-Star] break, he’ll have a good six or seven games under his belt,” Randolph said. “Then we’ll look at it and see where he is.”
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Pedro Feliciano wasn’t with the team yesterday. He was given permission to leave early and spend time with his wife and child. Randolph said there was no emergency.
Before the game, Randolph asserted that every other reliever was available, including Billy Wagner – who warmed up eight fruitless times before saving the 5-3, 17-inning victory Saturday. Wagner threw about 12 warm-ups each of his nine times and was hurting afterward.
“He’s available,” Randolph said. “Everyone’s available. They’re going to give me what they got. They’ve got two days to rest. We’re not going to hurt anybody, of course.”
Randolph thought Mike Pelfrey and John Maine could go an inning if necessary, but Aaron Sele (22/3 IP) and Scott Schoeneweis (2 IP) mopped up.