Now's the time to get all the kinks out, right?
Jon Lester sure hopes that's the case, as the Red Sox' ace got lit up for four runs in the first inning of his spring training debut against the Twins on Friday afternoon in Fort Myers. The Twins would go on to score another run while shutting down the Boston offense in their 5-0 win over Terry Francona's crew.
The southpaw gave up a leadoff single to Denard Span then walked Orlando Hudson and Joe Mauer to load up the bases for former AL MVP Justin Morneau. The first baseman Morneau then roped a double on a 3-1 pitch to score a pair to make it an early 2-0 game. But that wasn't all the Twinkies had to offer the Red Sox lefty, as right fielder Michael Cuddyer smacked an RBI-single to make it 3-0. After Delmon Young's sacrifice fly made it 4-0, Lester got newcomer J.J. Hardy to bounce into a fielder's choice to stop the bleeding.
Twins starter Carl Pavano allowed no runs on one hit and two walks over two innings pitched while striking out one.
Boston had five hits from five different players. Bill Hall, Josh Reddick and Jose Iglesias each posted singles while catchers Victor Martinez and Gustavo Molina smacked doubles.
Outfielder Ryan Kalish and Iglsesias spun a web gem for the Red Sox in the bottom of the sixth as they gunned out Minnesota's Brian Dinkelman at the plate. Pitcher Tim Wakefield tossed two shutout innings in relief, allowing just one hit and no walks.
