PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. (AP) — Carlos Beltran tested his right knee in a game for the first time this spring, getting a hit and sliding home in the New York Mets’ 6-5 win over the Boston Red Sox on Sunday.
The All-Star outfielder was the Mets’ designated hitter. Batting lefty in the second inning, the switch-hitting Beltran lined a single off Michael Bowden and jogged to first base.
Beltran scored from second on Daniel Murphy’s hit, sliding in before the ball was cut off.
Bowden started in place of Jon Lester, who was scratched because of the flu and did not make the 2-hour, 20-minute trip from Fort Myers. Daniel Nava, who missed the team bus and had to drive to the game, hit a ground-rule double off Mets starter Jonathon Niese.
