It was just a small sample, but both passed their first test just fine.
Beckett, who was 6-6 during an injury-plagued 2010 season, gave up a run on a double and a triple in the second, but was otherwise satisfied.
"I felt like I was rushing a little bit," he said. "There were some positives though. I kept some balls down. I wanted to get some groundballs. I did that, so it was good."
It was not long after this date last spring when Beckett became ill with a flu bug that had been going around. It was about this date three springs ago when he had some back issues. Both of those ensuing seasons, 2008 and 2010, were not on par with others in his career.
He admits that a healthy March is critical, which will be the next step.
"It's very difficult because you are constantly trying to catch up," Beckett said about having an unhealthy spring. "Had to make a start in Bradenton [last year] that I probably shouldn't have done, but I had to do it because we were getting to that time in spring training where you can't miss any more time."
One thing that doesn't need any time to come around is Beckett's ever-present competitiveness.
"I'm competing right now," he said. "It's very difficult for me to go out there and pitch against the Minnesota Twins. I know that they're missing all those guys in the middle but it's still a very good lineup. It's very hard for me to go out and say, 'Oh, it's my first start of spring training.' I'm trying to get those guys out."
That's exactly what Buchholz did, retiring all six men he faced and recording the only strikeout between the two right-handers. He needed just 18 pitches, 12 of which were strikes.
"Felt good. First time out, on the right road so far," said Buchholz.
On a night when the Twins hammered 12 hits — six for extra bases — Buchholz's clean innings stood out a bit.
He, too, admitted to being a bit jumpy and "amped up," but was able to utilize the bulk of his arsenal. Also, Buchholz likes being able to have to curb that adrenaline, an act he couldn't always accomplish in the past.
"I felt like I did a pretty good job of not getting too amped up," he added. "Not going out there and trying to throw it 100 miles per hour. Felt good. Felt smooth. Missed on a couple of pitches but that's a given at this point."
Both pitchers threw to Jarrod Saltalamacchia, who had praise for both guys, but reserved a particular credit for Buchholz.
"Buck was great. Downward angle from the beginning," Saltalamacchia said. "Kept the ball down, mixed his pitches up. Just lights out."
Beckett is scheduled to throw three innings at home against Philadelphia on Thursday. Buchholz will get the start Friday night in Tampa against the New York Yankees.
