Final, Twins 6-2: Kris Johnson finished off the Red Sox in the ninth inning, and the Twins have made it back-to-back victories over their Chairman’s Cup foes.
Allen Webster struggled out of the gate for Boston, surrendering three earned runs on four hits in 1 2/3 innings.
Drake Britton was solid for the Red Sox, tossing two scoreless innings in which he struck out four. Britton struck out the side in the third inning.
Chris Parmelee created some separation between Boston and Minnesota in the fifth inning with a three-run homer off Jose Mijares.
End 8th, Twins 6-2: Shunsuke Watanabe and his submarine-style delivery took the mound in the eighth inning.
Watanabe sat down the Twins without any issues.
The paid attendance was just announced in the press box. It’s a Hammond Stadium record 8,547.
Mid 8th, Twins 6-2:Â Deolis Guerra tossed a 1-2-3 eighth inning.
Bryce Brentz, who homered Friday, struck out for the first out. Brandon Snyder and Scott Cousins each flied out.
End 7th, Twins 6-2: Catcher Christian Vazquez showed off his arm in the seventh inning.
Vazquez threw out Jermaine Mitchell, who walked with one out, trying to steal second base.
Brandon Waring flied out to end the inning against Brayan Villarreal.
Mid 7th, Twins 6-2: Matt Hoffman tossed a perfect seventh inning for the Twins.
Heiker Meneses, Mike McCoy and Ryan Lavarnway all grounded out.
End 6th, Twins 6-2: Matty Ott enjoyed a 1-2-3 sixth inning.
Byron Buxton and Jason Bartlett flied out. Chris Colabello grounded out to Brandon Snyder at third base.
Mid 6th, Twins 6-2: Garin Cecchini has had a nice day at the plate.
Cecchini doubled in the sixth inning, giving him two hits for the game. Cecchini also flied out to the warning track in his second at-bat.
Cecchini’s sixth-inning double didn’t lead to anything on the scoreboard, though. Travis Shaw struck out after Cecchini’s two-out knock.
End 5th, Twins 6-2: Kennys Vargas and Josmil Pinto followed Chris Parmelee’s three-run homer with a single and a double, respectively, which chased Jose Mijares from the game.
Matty Ott replaced Mijares and retired Doug Bernier on a flyout to center field.
3:04 p.m., Twins 6-2: Chris Parmelee gave the Twins some breathing room in the fifth inning.
Parmelee jumped all over a 1-0 offering from Jose Mijares and sent it sailing over the right field fence for a three-run blast.
Chris Colabello and Darin Mastroianni set the table for Parmelee’s three-run shot with a walk and a single, respectively.
I’m heading down to the Red Sox’s clubhouse for some player reaction. Stay up to speed right here in the meantime. I’ll be back in a flash.
Mid 5th, Twins 3-2: Grady Sizemore lined a single into right field, marking his first hit in a Red Sox uniform.
Mike McCoy pinch ran for Sizemore, who went 1-for-3 in his second spring contest.
Glen Perkins, who took over for Minnesota in the fifth inning, retired Jonathan Herrera, Daniel Nava and A.J. Pierzynski after Sizemore’s leadoff single. Herrera struck out, and Nava and Pierzynski each grounded out.
Jose Mijares will be the new Boston pitcher in the bottom of the fifth inning.
End 4th, Twins 3-2:Â Drake Britton wasn’t quite as dominant in the fourth inning, but it still was an effective frame for the young left-hander.
Britton yielded a two-out double to Eduardo Escobar, who roped a ball down the left field line. That was all the offense Minnesota would muster up, as Britton induced a couple of groundouts and struck out Kurt Suzuki.
Mid 4th, Twins 3-2: Garin Cecchini made a bid for his first home run of the spring with a towering fly ball in the fourth inning. Right fielder Chris Parmelee drifted back onto the warning track to make the catch.
Brandon Waring, who entered for third baseman Trevor Plouffe at the beginning of the inning, flashed some leather before Cecchini’s long ball bid. Alex Hassan scorched a line drive down the third base line that Waring nabbed on the back hand.
Travis Shaw worked a two-out walk, but Michael Tonkin ensured it didn’t lead to anything. Tonkin retired Brock Holt on a routine groundball to second base.
Drake Britton, who struck out the side in the third inning, will come back out to pitch the fourth as well.
End 3rd, Twins 3-2: Drake Britton was very impressive in the third inning.
Britton struck out Josh Willingham, Chris Parmelee and Trevor Plouffe in order, mixing his pitches well along the way.
Willingham and Plouffe both went down looking.
Mid 3rd, Twins 3-2: The Red Sox’s utility players produced a run in the third inning.
Brock Holt led off with a single and advanced to second on a stolen base. Holt got a decent jump, but his theft was aided by catcher Kurt Suzuki, who couldn’t get a handle on Ryan Pressly’s offering.
Jonathan Herrera, who is competing for a job with Holt, knocked in his teammate with a looping single into left-center field.
Daniel Nava, who homered in his first at-bat, walked with one out, but the Red Sox failed to do any additional damage.
Grady Sizemore struck out looking in the third inning, making him 0-for-4 to begin spring training.
End 2nd, Twins 3-1: Chris Hernandez retired Joe Mauer upon entering the game to end the inning.
Mauer hit a comebacker that Hernandez attempted to knock down with his foot. It scooted past Hernandez, but shortstop Jonathan Herrera was there to gobble it up.
Herrera tried to step on second base for the forceout, but Dozier slid in safely. Herrera had plenty of time to throw out Mauer at first base, though.
Allen Webster gave up three earned runs on four hits in 1 2/3 innings. He struck out one and walked one.
1:51 p.m., Twins 3-1: Allen Webster’s day is done after 1 2/3 innings.
Webster settled down to begin the second inning, retiring Eduardo Escobar on a fly ball to right field and striking out Aaron Hicks. Brian Dozier picked up his second hit of the game against the young right-hander, though, and Chris Hernandez will take over for Boston.
Mid 2nd, Twins 3-1: Garin Cecchini’s aggressiveness cost him in the second inning.
Cecchini ripped a one-out line drive into right-center field. Mike Carp, who reached via an inning-opening walk, went from first to third, but Cecchini was gunned down at second base trying to leg out a double.
Carp would get stranded at third base, as Travis Shaw hit a line drive right at center fielder Aaron Hicks for the inning’s final out.
Allen Webster, who was roughed up in the first inning, will come back out for the second inning despite his initial woes.
End 1st, Twins 3-1: Allen Webster had a rough go of it in the first inning.
Brian Dozier followed Aaron Hicks’ groundout with a drive to deep center field that banged off the wall. Dozier cruised into second base with a double and scored when Joe Mauer singled into right field.
Josh “The Hammer” Willingham then drilled a line shot to left-center field that one-hopped off the wall. Willingham, like Dozier, picked up a double, although Mauer tossed on the brakes after a wide turn around third base.
Webster plunked Chris Parmelee to load the bases for Trevor Plouffe with one out. Plouffe walked to bring home Minnesota’s second run, and Kennys Vargas’ sacrifice fly gave the Twins a 3-1 advantage.
Webster was scheduled to go two innings in this game, but his day could be done after just one frame. Chris Hernandez began warming up in the bullpen during the first inning.
Mid 1st, Red Sox 1-0: Daniel Nava’s neck looks OK.
Nava, who has experienced some neck discomfort in camp, homered in his first at-bat of spring training. Nava was batting right-handed against the left-handed Scott Diamond, and he smoked a two-out, solo shot over the left field fence.
Grady Sizemore flied out to left field and Jonathan Herrera struck out before Nava went deep.
A.J. Pierzynski swung at the first live pitch he saw in a Red Sox uniform and grounded out to first base.
1:09 p.m.: Scott Diamond’s first pitch to Grady Sizemore is a strike. We’re underway in Fort Myers.
12:55 p.m.: We’re almost ready for baseball at Hammond Stadium.
Allen Webster will take the ball for Boston, and manager John Farrell said Saturday morning that the right-hander has made some key adjustments that are reminiscent of changes made by Clay Buchholz in recent years.
Also, before leaving JetBlue Park, myself and others stumbled upon Texas A&M prospect Johnny Manziel. Manziel, who recently signed a marketing deal with Fenway Sports Management, donned a No. 2 Red Sox jersey and soaked up some batting practice at Fenway South.
9:23 a.m.: Grady Sizemore and Daniel Nava, as expected, are in the Red Sox’s starting lineup. They’ll be joined by catcher A.J. Pierzynski, who is seeing his first action in a Red Sox uniform.
Saturday’s complete lineups are below.
Boston Red Sox
Grady Sizemore, CF
Jonathan Herrera, SS
Daniel Nava, RF
A.J. Pierzynski, C
Mike Carp, 1B
Alex Hassan, RF
Garin Cecchini, 3B
Travis Shaw, DH
Brock Holt, 2B
Allen Webster, RHP
Minnesota Twins
Aaron Hicks, CF
Brian Dozier, 2B
Joe Mauer, 1B
Josh Willingham, LF
Chris Parmelee, RF
Trevor Plouffe, 3B
Kennys Vargas, DH
Kurt Suzuki, C
Eduardo Escobar, SS
Scott Diamond, LHP
8 a.m. ET: The Boston Red Sox and Minnesota Twins will do it again Saturday.
The Red Sox and Twins kicked off their annual Chairman’s Cup — formerly the Mayor’s Cup — series with a contest at JetBlue Park on Friday. The two teams now will shift the action to Hammond Stadium, where the Twins will host the defending champs.
The Twins got the best of the Red Sox on Friday, prevailing 8-2 amid struggles by Boston relievers Andrew Miller and Dalier Hinojosa. Red Sox pitching prospect Anthony Ranaudo was impressive, though, racking up four strikeouts over two hitless, overpowering innings to begin the game.
Saturday’s action is scheduled to kick off at 1:05 p.m. ET, so be sure to stick around with NESN.com throughout the morning/afternoon for updates from Fort Myers.
