FORT MYERS, Fla. — Carlos Quentin homered in his bid to earn a roster spot and Joe Mauer also connected Friday as the Minnesota Twins beat the split-squad Boston Red Sox 8-6.
Quentin, who retired last May, is trying to restart his career. He hit a two-run homer.
Rick Porcello, Boston’s No. 3 starter, went four innings and gave up three runs on six hits and a walk.
Mookie Betts had two hits for the Red Sox, including his third home run of the spring. Andrew Benintendi, Boston’s first-round pick in the 2015 draft, had two hits in his first spring training game.
“He’s got a good-looking swing,” Red Sox manager John Farrell said of Benintendi. “Even if he doesn’t get a couple of base hits, it’s still a compact swing.”
In Port Charlotte, Brad Miller hit his first home run this spring and seven relievers combined to allow one run on four hits as the Tampa Bay Rays topped a Red Sox split squad 5-1 on Friday.
Dana Eveland allowed Boston’s run in the second inning on a sacrifice fly from Brennan Boesch that scored Blake Swihart. Danny Farquhar, Alex Colome, David Carpenter, Xavier Cedeno, Steve Geltz and Enny Romero combined to pitch seven scoreless innings.
Boston starter Roenis Elias pitched four innings, allowing one earned run on five hits. Elias threw 54 pitches, 35 for strikes, over four innings and struck out five batters.
Thumbnail photo via Evan Habeeb/USA TODAY Sports Images
