PORT ST. LUCIE, FL – Yesterday wasn’t just Johan Santana’s third outing with the Mets.

Nor was it Carlos Beltran’s and Carlos Delgado’s return to the Mets lineup.

It was also Brian Schneider’s first time catching the Mets ace, and that took some adjustment.

“I talked to [Santana] before the game and I wanted him to shake me off as much as possible,” said Schneider after the 1-1, 10 inning tie against the Red Sox at Tradition Field. “That’s the only way I get learn him. So I wanted him to shake me off to find out the way he throws. That’s how I am going to learn the most from him. He looked great.”

Four innings of two-hit ball showed the sellout crowd, Santana was coming along for the season and it showed Schneider how to catch the best pitcher in baseball.

“There’s no different preparation, but when I catch a No. 1 starter, they are going to hit their spots more,” Schneider said.

“I am going let him call what they want. I want to be on the same page, because you don’t want them to shake and shake and shake. If you are on the same page, you get rhythm quick.”

For the 31 year-old former National, this spring will be an adjustment period. Not only will Schneider need to get himself ready for the season, he also needs to know the ins and outs of all the Met pitchers.

And that’s what he’s been working on since he get into the lineup last week. He’s only been in three games, so far and is hitting just .200 [1-5], but his batting will have to wait because Mets catcher will have to work with his staff.

Yet, that doesn’t seem to bother the pitchers, and Santana seemed to enjoy throwing to his his new mate.

“It was good,” Santana said. “We talked and we were on the same page. He knows exactly what we like to do and what we are going to get. That’s what I have been looking for. He’s been around a while so you know what you are going to get. “

Notes: Beltran went 0-3 yesterday as the DH, while trying to rehab his knees. The Mets centerfielder said his right knee was fine, but his left quad still has atrophy from the surgery. He said he will DH until he feels 100 percent, but according to manager Willie Randolph, the team will go to National League rules at home – or when they play another NL team later in the week.

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