PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. — Michael Bowden started in place of Jon Lester today in Boston’s 6-5 exhibition loss to the New York Mets.

Lester was scratched because of the flu and did not make the 2-hour, 20-minute trip from Fort Myers.

Carlos Beltran tested his right knee in a game for the first time this spring, getting a hit and sliding home in for the Mets.

The All-Star outfielder was the Mets’ designated hitter. Batting lefty in the second inning, the switch-hitting Beltran lined a single off Bowden and jogged to first base.

Beltran scored from second on Daniel Murphy’s hit, sliding in before the ball was cut off.

Boston’s Daniel Nava, who missed the team bus and had to drive to the game, hit a ground-rule double off Mets starter Jonathon Niese.