Final (7 innings), 0-0:Â With the rain continuing to come down and nearly all starters out of the game, the umpires have decided to end this one in a scoreless tie with two outs in the top of the eighth.
The Red Sox’ pitching staff was very impressive here today, with Allen Webster, Drake Britton and Alex Wilson combining to hold the Marlins to just two hits and one walk.
It was an especially satisfying outing for Webster, who allowed just one baserunner over three innings of work after struggling mightily his last time out.
On the offensive end, the Sox had their chances — they put runners in scoring position in five of the eight innings — but were unable to push any runs across. 2012 first-round pick Deven Marrero put on a strong performance from the No. 8 slot, going 2-for-4 and making a number of nice defensive plays.
The Red Sox will be back at it Friday at 1:05 p.m., when they host the Atlanta Braves at JetBlue Park.
Top 8th, 0-0:Â Here comes the downpour.
The umpires have initiated a rain delay with two outs and a man on first.
The one hit of the inning came courtesy of Deven Marrero, whose ground ball was too much for third baseman Derek Dietrich.
End 7th, 0-0:Â Seven innings are in the books, and zero runs are on the board.
Alex Wilson completed his second scoreless inning, retiring the Marlins in order.
Joe Benson lined out to Deven Marrero — who has played a brilliant defensive game — to open the frame, followed by a Rob Brantly groundout and a Brian Bogusevic K.
Mid 7th, 0-0:Â This has not been Garin Cecchini’s day. The third baseman struck out again for the second out of the seventh and is now 0-for-4 with four K’s.
Alex Hassan led off the inning with a popout to second base, and after Cecchini went down swinging, Blake Swihart lined a single to center in his first at-bat of the day.
Swihart swiped second successfully, but Dan Jennings sat down Travis Shaw on strikes to end the inning.
It’s seventh-inning stretch time, and the scoreboard still reads nothing but goose eggs.
End 6th, 0-0:Â Alex Wilson retires the side in order, thanks to a couple of nice plays by the left side of his infield.
Garin Cecchini and Deven Marrero successfully fielded grounders by Adeiny Hechavarria and Avery Romero to give Wilson two quick outs.
The right-hander then walked left fielder Matt Angle, but Blake Swihart, who took over for catcher Ryan Lavarnway, caught Angle stealing to end the inning.
Dan Jennings is now in to pitch for Miami.
Mid 6th, 0-0:Â The Marlins have swapped out eight of their nine defensive players, with only shortstop Adeiny Hechavarria returning to the field for the sixth.
New pitcher Chris Hatcher worked a perfect frame, retiring Deven Marrero, Heiker Meneses and Jackie Bradley Jr. in order.
End 5th, 0-0:Â It was the Marlins’ turn to strand a runner in scoring position.
Marcell Ozuna led off the inning with a ground-rule double, the first Marlins hit since the first inning.
Casey McGehee then walked to put men on first and second, but shortstop Deven Marrero made a brilliant play to turn a 4-6-3 double play.
Ozuna advanced to third on the play, but Ed Lucas grounded out softly to Marrero to end the threat.
Mid 5th, 0-0:Â Remember that rain I was talking about? Yeah, it’s here. The umpires will opt to play through, though, hoping this is no more than a passing shower.
Mike Dunn took over on the mound for Miami, and he opened the inning by getting Garin Cecchini to strike out swinging. It was the third K in three at-bats today for the third base prospect.
Ryan Lavarnway then drew a walk, reaching base for the third time in the game, and scampered to second on a wild pitch. He would have gotten there soon enough anyway, as Dunn walked Travis Shaw to put runners on first and second with one down.
Left fielder Christian Yelich ranged over to snag a Brandon Snyder line drive for the second out, and Bryce Brentz popped out to first to leave a man in scoring position yet again. The Red Sox have now left 10 runners on base through five innings.
End 4th, 0-0:Â Drake Britton picked up right where Allen Webster left off.
Britton struck out Christian Yelich looking before getting both Giancarlo Stanton and Jarrod Saltalamacchia to ground out.
Garin Cecchini will lead it off for the Red Sox in the top of the fifth.
Mid 4th, 0-0:Â The Red Sox are getting plenty of baserunners today, but pushing those runners home continues to be an issue.
After Brandon Snyder opened to inning with a flyout to right, consecutive singles by Bryce Brentz and Deven Marrero put a  Sox runner in scoring position for the third time in four innings.
Leadoff man Jackie Bradley Jr. walked to load the bases, but Alex Hassan flied out to the warning track to again allow the Marlins to escape unscathed.
Allen Webster will not return to the mound for a fourth inning, as lefty Drake Britton takes over for the Sox.
End 3rd, 0-0:Â Allen Webster is in full cruise control.
The right-hander had no problem with the Marlins in the third getting Ed Lucas, Adeiny Hechavarria and Rafael Furcal to ground out in consecutive at-bats.
The plan entering today was probably to have Webster work three innings, with Drake Britton and Alex Wilson both scheduled to pitch in this game. His pitch count still very manageable, though, and it wouldn’t be a shock if John Farrell sends him out for one more frame.
Mid 3rd, 0-0:Â Nathan Eovaldi’s afternoon is over, as southpaw Brad Hand took over on the mound for Miami here in the third.
Jackie Bradley Jr. got things started with line drive into the gap, but a nice play by Giancarlo Stanton held him to a single.
Bradley did manage to make it to second after taking off on a 3-2 count, which prevented the Marlins from turning two when Alex Hassan grounded to third base.
Garin Cecchini then went down on strikes for the second time today, but Ryan Lavarnway extended the inning by legging out an infield single.
Travis Shaw popped out to second to end the inning, keeping us scoreless through 2 1/2 in Jupiter.
End 2nd, 0-0:Â Another 1-2-3 inning, this one courtesy of Allen Webster.
Webster opened the inning with his first strikeout of the day, getting Marcell Ozuna swinging. Casey McGehee grounded out to third baseman Garin Cecchini, and Deven Marrero made a nice play on a bouncing ball to retire Greg Dobbs.
Today’s Red Sox roster might be devoid of superstars, but it’s chock full of up-and-comers, including four of the team’s top 10 prospects (Bradley, Webster, Cecchini and Brentz).
Mid 2nd, 0-0:Â The Sox go down 1-2-3 against Nathan Eovaldi, who seems to have settled down a bit.
Eovaldi struck out Bryce Brentz swinging, got 2012 first-round pick Deven Marrero to ground out to second and put down No. 9 hitter Heiker Meneses on strikes to retire the side in order.
Marcell Ozuna, Casey McGehee and Greg Dobbs are due up for the Marlins.
End 1st, 0-0:Â Allen Webster worked a clean first frame, allowing one hit but nothing more.
Webster took it himself for the first out, flipping a Rafael Furcal chopper to first baseman Travis Shaw, and a Christian Yelich grounder was easily handled by second baseman Heiker Meneses.
Giancarlo Stanton ripped a line-drive single in left field to give Miami its first baserunner, but Jarrod Saltalamacchia lofted a high fly ball to center fielder Jackie Bradley Jr. to retire the side.
This is an encouraging start for Webster, especially following his disastrous outing last weekend.
Mid 1st, 0-0:Â It was quite the process, but Nathan Eovaldi was able to escape the first inning unscathed.
Leadoff man Jackie Bradley Jr. worked the count full after falling behind 0-2, but his at-bat ended with a popup to left fielder Christian Yelich.
Left field prospect — and Quincy, Mass., native — Alex Hassan then worked another full count before roping a ground-rule double past center fielder Marcell Ozuna.
Garin Cecchini fouled off four two-strike pitches before going down swinging for the second out, but Eovaldi then plunked Ryan Lavarnway with an inside pitch and walked Travis Shaw to load the bases.
Brandon Snyder could not push any of those runners across, though, striking out looking on Eovaldi’s 36th pitch to end the inning.
The Marlins are certainly not emulating Boston’s strategy of playing the young guys today. Miami will send Rafael Furcal, Christian Yelich and Giancarlo Stanton to the plate in the home half of the first.
1:07 p.m.:Â Nathan Eovaldi’s first pitch is in for a strike, and we are under way on an overcast afternoon in Jupiter. Heavy rains are expected throughout Florida today, but let’s hope they hold off for the next few hours.
The Red Sox will send Jackie Bradley Jr., Alex Hassan and Garin Cecchini to the plate here in the first.
12:30 p.m.:Â As the Boston Red Sox continue their spring training slate this afternoon in Jupiter, Fla., they’ll see a familiar face in the opposite dugout.
Jarrod Saltalamacchia, one of the most notable departures from last season’s World Series team, now suits up for the Miami Marlins. He’ll start behind the plate and hit cleanup today against Red Sox right-hander Allen Webster.
Webster did not fare well in his first appearance of the spring, surrendering three runs on four hits in 1 2/3 innings Saturday against the Twins. Following him on the mound for the Sox will be lefty Drake Britton and right-hander Alex Wilson.
The Red Sox’ batting order will be as young as their pitching staff for this game, as Jackie Bradley Jr. (center field and batting leadoff) is the only potential Opening Day starter in the lineup.
First pitch is scheduled for 1:05 p.m. Here are the starting lineups for both teams.
Red Sox
Jackie Bradley Jr., CF
Alex Hassan, LF
Garin Cecchini, 3B
Ryan Lavarnway, C
Travis Shaw, 1B
Brandon Snyder, DH
Bryce Brentz, RF
Deven Marrero, SS
Heiker Meneses, 2B
Allen Webster, RHP
Marlins
Rafael Furcal, 2B
Christian Yelich, LF
Giancarlo Stanton, RF
Jarrod Saltalamacchia, C
Marcell Ozuna, CF
Casey McGehee, 3B
Greg Dobbs, DH
Ed Lucas, 1B
Adeiny Hechavarria, SS
Nathan Eovaldi RHP
