Carlos Beltran in lineup as DH

PORT ST. LUCIE,Cheap Versace Boots, Fla. -- New York Mets outfielder Carlos Beltran made his first 2011 Grapefruit League appearance Sunday, going 1-for-3 and scoring a run while serving as designated hitter against the Boston Red Sox.Beltran described his knee as "tight," but not in any discomfort, and suggested he was running at about 80 percent."I felt good -- anxious a little bit at the plate," Beltran said. "I saw the ball well. In order for me to get ready for the season, I need to see live pitching.
Today was the first step of seeing live pitching. I just hope to continue to do a little bit more and more every day."Facing right-hander Michael Bowden in the second inning, NFL New York Mets Jerseys Beltran took a pair of pitches, then lined a 1-1 single to right field. He eventually scored comfortably from second base on Daniel Murphy's single, also to right field, and slid into the plate."We had two outs, a base hit to right field, so my job is to try to score on that play," Beltran said. "Once I'm playing games, I'm not thinking about trying to be cautious. I'm just trying to play the game the way it is. That particular play I needed to score."
The switch-hitting Beltran got a chance the following inning to hit from the right side of the plate. Against left-hander Andrew Miller, Beltran again took two pitches, then flied out to right field.Against left-hander Hideki Okajima in the fifth, Beltran popped out to right field.Beltran was thankful to face a pair of southpaws."It was good," Beltran said. "Normally you don't see lefties in spring training. ... From the left side I felt like I was a little bit more patient. Cheap Jerseys From the right side I was jumping a little bit. Now I have an idea what I need to work on from the right side."Manager Terry Collins plans for Beltran to again serve as DH on Monday and get three at-bats, although Beltran cautioned: "Maybe playing tomorrow. Let's see how everything feels tomorrow. You can do all the training you have to, but once you play games, the intensity is a little bit more. Hopefully tomorrow I feel good and I'm ready to go again."The expectation is Beltran will be in right field in a Grapefruit League game in seven to 10 days.
Beltran halted last season with a week remaining because of pain in his chronically troubled right knee. He recently has indicated the knee feels fine, but there is concern the pounding of a season will again cause the discomfort to flare up. MLB Jerseys To reduce that chance, Beltran agreed last week to man right field this season, with Angel Pagan handling center field.However, Beltran -- who will complete a seven-year, $119 million contract this season -- said he is not resigned to playing right field for the remainder of his career."Right now I feel like I can get to the balls," Beltran said, comparing his mobility now to pre-January 2010 knee surgery. "I need to spend more time in the outfield. If my knee holds well, I have no doubt what I can do defensively. Catching every ball, that's impossible. Doing the job defensively like I know I have done in the past, I believe I can do that.