HOUSTON — The Mets did not completely get their money’s worth on Opening Day.

The team’s record signing, Juan Soto, stepped to the plate as the go-ahead run in the top of the ninth inning. He watched three balls before Astros closer Josh Hader worked a full count.

With runners on the corners, Soto waved at a slider, and the Mets dropped their Opening Day tilt with the Astros, 3-1, in front of a sold-out crowd of 42,305 at Daikin Park.

While the Mets offense was scuffling early on, Soto was the positive force. He finished 1-for-3 in his first start as a member of the Mets, singling in his first at-bat and drawing a pair of walks. But twice — in the first and eighth innings — he was stranded at third base.

Astros starter Framber Valdez tossed seven scoreless innings, scattering four hits and two walks to help the Astros build a three-run cushion in the early innings. When Valdez exited, the Mets loaded the bases with a trio of two-out walks against Bryan Abreu, but Brandon Nimmo lined out to end the threat.

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It proved to be a rough return to the starting role for Clay Holmes, who allowed three runs (two earned) on five hits and four walks across 4⅔ innings. The Astros scored each of their runs between the second and third innings and it was enough to deal Holmes his first loss of the season.

Here was our live analysis and observations throughout the game:

Mets strand bases loaded against Bryan Abreu

The Mets could not figure out Astros starter Framber Valdez, who tossed seven scoreless innings with four strikeouts and four hits and two walks allowed, but they put the pressure on righty reliever Bryan Abreu.

With two outs in the eighth inning, Juan Soto, Pete Alonso and Mark Vientos all walked to put the potential go-ahead run at the plate. Brandon Nimmo swung at the first pitch of his at-bat but lined out to center field.

The Astros maintained a 3-0 lead entering the bottom of the eighth.

Clay Holmes’ first start ends in fifth inning

Clay Holmes’ first start since 2018 proved to be a daunting one.

The Astros forced Holmes to pitch from the stretch for most of the afternoon and plated three runs between the second and third innings.

Holmes could not polish off five full innings, finishing with three runs allowed (two earned) on five hits, four walks and one hit batter in 4⅔ innings. The 31-year-old right-hander, who joined the Mets to return to a starting role in the offseason, threw 89 pitches in the outing.

Huascar Brazoban came in after Holmes issued a one-out walk and picked up the final out of the frame on a fly ball to right field.

Luis Torren’s double erased on base pads

Juan Soto gave Luis Torrens the stop sign on a ball in the dirt from Framber Valdez, but the Mets catcher was already halfway to third.

After knocking a bloop double past a sliding Cam Smith with one out in the inning, Torrens was thrown out at third base during Soto’s at-bat. The Mets remained scoreless, trailing the Astros 3-0 midway through the fifth inning.

The Mets have only mustered two hits off Valdez through five innings.

Luisangel Acuña’s error allows third run to score

The Astros continued to put the pressure on Clay Holmes in the top of the fourth inning.

Isaac Paredes reached on a four-pitch walked then scored the second run on back-to-back singles from Christian Walker and Yainier Diaz.

On a potential double-play ball to the left side, Luisangel Acuña threw wide of first base, allowing Walker to score and give the Astros a 3-0 advantage after three innings.

Astros strike first against Clay Holmes

Holmes struggled with his command in the bottom of the second inning, hitting Jeremy Peña with a sinker and then loading the bases on a Cam Smith single and walking Brendan Rogers.

With the bases loaded, the Astros scored the first run of the game on a chopper from Jake Meyers to the left side that Francisco Lindor could only record one out on.

Holmes struck out Jose Altuve on an inside sinker to cut off the threat at one run.

Tyrone Taylor, Acuña find spots in lineup

Entering Opening Day, there were not many decisions for Carlos Mendoza to make about the construction of the Mets’ lineup.

One of the only discussions came at center field and who would draw the start between Tyrone Taylor and Jose Siri. In the end, Taylor got the nod, given his splits against a left-handed pitcher like Valdez.

“They’re both going to play,” Mendoza said. “Not an easy decision. I think for the last 10 days of spring training, I’ve been asking, ‘Hey, Siri or Taylor?’ They both hit lefties well.

“I think it comes down to the pitch package from Valdez. Not necessarily being a lefty but the pitches he’s got: the sinker, the changeup, the curveball, and how much chase he gets.”

Last season, Taylor batted .245 against left-handers, while Siri posted a .204 average against southpaws. Taylor was in the No. 7 spot in the lineup, behind Starling Marte and ahead of Luisangel Acuña.

After some deliberation, Acuña was set to make his first start at second base on Opening Day. Mendoza said it will not be a straight platoon between Acuña and Brett Baty at second base based on matchups. But on Thursday, it was the right-handed hitting Acuña who drew the start.

“We’ll play it day by day,” Mendoza said. “They both are going to get opportunities and we’ll see how it goes.”