End 9th, Twins 2-1: Bobby Valentine was encouraged from what he saw in Andrew Bailey's outing and expects the closer to continue building on his velocity.
He mentioned that he yanked Iglesias out because he didn't like how the shortstop looked during pre-game PFPs.
Mid 9th, Twins 2-1: Scott Atchison came in relief and did well. On another note, Jon Lester spoke to us about his outing. Here's what he had to say.
"Stuff like this happens during the season," Lester said. "There are games when you've got to grind it out and you're not feeling that great, whether it's physically or mechanically like it was tonight.
"Minimize damage.I know it's just spring training, but I was able to do that, just giving up two runs and throwing a lot of pitches, having a lot of guys on base. It's a good thing to wor kon, pitching out of jams."
Mid 8th, Twins 2-1: So remember when I told you that Bobby Valentine planned to stick Lars Anderson in left field for a little bit.
Well, Anderson got his repetitions back there for the first time in all spring training. He also managed to get a put out and will finish off the game there. A very intriguing move considering it'll be difficult for Anderson to get any time as an infielder.
Bottom 7th, Twins 2-1: Ryan Lavarnway led off the inning with a sweet swing and drive out to left field for a single off Twins' reliever Trevor Plouffe. Lavarnway's looking real solid so far this Spring, and he could be setting himself up for a roster spot come April.
The Sox were unable to capitalize on the opportunity, though, as Bryce Brentz, Dan Butler and Justin Thomas went down in order.
Things are looking pretty tight for the Sox right now, as they've only got two at-bats left to try and tie things up.
Mid 7th, Twins 2-1: Joe Mauer found a hole and nailed a two-out single past the shortstop. But Jesse Carlson showed some strong stuff, whiping out the side with some quick work.
Carlson looked strong in the inning, forcing three fly-ball outs and making quick work of the top of the Twins' lineup. Carlson did get former AL MVP Justin Morneau to fly out to right field, which was probably his best pitch sequence of the outing.
Bottom 6th, Twins 2-1: Alas, Andrew Bailey's day is done and Jesse Carlson is coming into relief for the Red Sox. Bobby Valentine said Carlson didn't enter in the best shape, but is making strides.
Mid 6th, Twins 2-1: I turn around for one second and the inning is over. Just like that.
Andrew Bailey made quick work of the Twins lineup in the sixth inning with two strikeouts and it should bode well for him moving forward. I'm interested to see if Bobby Valentine will leave him in for one more inning. The skipper said he likes to stretch relief pitchers just one more inning than they're accustomed to, so they can have the confidence.
Considering how quick the sixth was for Bailey, this is a good time.
Bottom 5th, Twins 2-1: Most of the Red Sox regulars are gone at this point, but Twins reliever Jason Bulger took care of business and retired all three batters.
Now, Andrew Bailey is coming in to make his second appearance of the spring. As you all remember, the closer got touched up in his spring debut, yielding three straight hits and run. Let's see if he was able to shake off the cobwebs from the rust.
Mid 5th, Twins 2-1: Lester couldn't make it into the fifth inning, mostly because he exceeded his pitch cound and tosses 81 pitches through four innings. Only 47 of the 81 pitches went for strikes.
He threw four innings, yielded five hits, two runs, plunked two batters and walked another. Lester only fanned one guy.
Andrew Miller came in to relieve Lester and looked good, striking out two of the first three batters he faced.
Bottom 4th, Twins 2-1 : As Golden State Warriors coach Mark Jackson used to say "Mama there goes that man" and Pedro Ciriaco spearheads the Red Sox rally. He got the first hit of the game and Kevin Youkilis drove him in on the next at-bat.
But the play of the game in all likelihood was when David Ortiz blasted a shot to centerfield and Twins center fielder Joe Benson stunned everyone and robbed him in front of the 420 sign. It was so shocking that as Ortiz walked back to the dugout he clapped for Benson and literally tipped his helmet to him. Cool to see that type of respect.
Mid 4th, Twins 2-0: Jon Lester plunked his second batter of the game so far. With Kelly Shoppach catching, it may seem they're still in the process of trying to develop a rapport. After all, this is the second time Shoppach has caught him in seven years.
Twins catcher Drew Butera belted a single, driving in Trevor Ploufe to open it up.
Bottom 3rd, Twins 1-0: Don't know much about Twins pitcher Liam Hendriks, but he was sizzling in this inning.
He struck out Jason Repko and Nate Spears while forcing Lars Anderson to ground out. Through three innings, he has — gasp — a spring training, no-hitter.
Also interesting switch here. Bobby Valentine switched Pedro Ciriaco to shortstop and Nate Spears to second base.
Mid 3rd, Twins 1-0: There's that man, Pedro Ciriaco again. He showed some fancy glove work this time around, making a nice grab on Josh Willingham's grounder to engineer a 4-6-3 double play.
He's getting a little more attention these days and ESPNDeportes actually sat down with him for a video interview. Very intriguing to see what the next step is for him.
Bottom 2nd, Twins 1-0: David Ortiz walked and nothing much else came about.
Although Darnell McDonald flew out in the inning, let's touch on him for a little bit. He admitted on Thursday that he is probably his best spring training in his career and he's feel great. He showed it with his bomb of a home run. The urgency that comes with trying to impress a new manager has certainly rubbed off on him the right way.
Mid 2nd, Twins 1-0: Jon Lester yielded three straight — sharply hit — singles to Trevor Ploufe, Sean Burroughs and Joe Benson to start the inning.
Benson drove in Ploufe to post the game's first run. Lester managed to bounce back and retire the next three batters on ground ball outs, so that's positive. But it still isn't the best of starts for Lester at this moment.
Bottom 1st: Twins third baseman Sean Burroughs got worked in this inning. Every single batter he faced grounded out to him.
Nate Spears, Pedro Ciriaco and Kevin Youkilis all hit the grounders to third. Have to give Burroughs credit for fielding Youkilis' grounder barehanded and Joe Mauer made an excellent scoop at first base. Looks like Mauer is getting a hang of that first base thing.
Mid 1st: What happened to all that PFP work, Jon Lester? When Joe Mauer hit a grounder toward him, the pitcher misfired on a throw to Nate Spears and was charged an error.
Lester also walked Jamey Carroll early on, but we'll see how he bounces back in the second. Also, just got word that Jose Iglesias didn't reaggravate the groin strain before the game. Bobby Valentine just wanted to sit him out another day as a precaution.
6:33 p.m.: Red Sox manager Bobby Valentine is fraternizing with the front row of fans, signing autographs, taking pictures and cracking jokes. Still working the fans and doing it well.
5:20 p.m.: Jose Iglesias was a late scratch from lineup. The 22-year-old was initially scheduled to hit leadoff and patrol shortstop, but was replaced in favor of Nate Spears.
Here are the lineups.
Red Sox
Nate Spears, SS
Pedro Ciriaco, 2B
Kevin Youkilis, 3B
David Ortiz, DH
Darnell McDonald, CF
Josh Kroeger, RF
Kelly Shoppach, C
Lars Anderson, 1B
Jason Repko, LF
Jon Lester, P
Twins
Alexi Casilla, 2B
Jamey Carroll, SS
Joe Mauer, 1B
Justin Morneau, DH
Josh Willingham, RF
Trevor Ploufe, LF
Sean Burroughs, 3B
Joe Benson, CF
Drew Butera, C
Liam Hendriks, P
4:30 p.m.: Here's a story to hold you over on how Alfredo Aceves is already seasoned to start, possibly more than Daniel Bard
8 a.m. — The battle for the Mayor's Cup in Fort Myers continues Friday, when the Twins take on the Red Sox at JetBlue Park at 7 p.m. Jon Lester will take the mound for Boston and the plan is to stretch out the lefty to five innings of work.
The matchup against Minnesota will also give everyone a glimpse at Andrew Miller, who returns to action after missing his last start after battling a stiff elbow. Bobby Valentine said he thinks Miller suffered the injury by bumping his elbow.
Another storyline to keep an eye on is how closer Andrew Bailey rebounds from a rusty first outing, when he yielded three straight hits and a run. Jesse Carlson and Scott Atchinson are also scheduled to pitch for the Red Sox against the Twins.
Stay with the NESN.com live blog, as we'll keep you up to speed on everything happening.
