Spring Training Report: HR bats power Sox to 9-5 win

By Staff | Mar 18, 2009

David Ortiz and the Boston Red Sox showed off their power Tuesday.

Ortiz, Jason Bay and Jacoby Ellsbury each hit a two-run homer and Jason Varitek added a solo shot in Boston’s 9-5 victory over the Minnesota Twins.

“I thought, you look at all the swings, and I don’t know that I’d characterize them as spring training home runs,” Red Sox manager Terry Francona said.

“I know some days you see the way the flag’s blowing and you see balls go out that direction. I thought those were four pretty good swings.”

Varitek went deep in the second and Ortiz connected in the third against Scott Baker, who allowed four runs and seven hits in three innings. Ellsbury and Bay homered off Matt Guerrier in the fourth.

Josh Beckett pitched four innings in his fifth spring start for Boston. He allowed three runs and six hits, struck out three and walked one.

Minnesota scored all of its runs off the Red Sox ace in the second.

Baker struck out two and walked one in his fourth spring training start.

“I felt really good today,” he said. “I felt that my stuff was very good. I’ve had worse stuff than I had today and had really good results.”

Twins manager Ron Gardenhire said Baker “labored through” his outing.

Alexi Casilla went 4-for-4 and stole two bases for Minnesota. Denard Span hit a solo drive off Jonathan Papelbon in the fifth.

Phillies 8, Reds 1: Phillies pitching coach Rich Dubee said he hopes Brett Myers will have a lot of outings this season like the one he had Tuesday.

“We need about 35 out of him,” Dubee said.

Myers struck out seven in 5 2/3 shutout innings to lead Philadelphia over Cincinnati.

Myers, 28, who has started on opening day each of the last two seasons, allowed four hits and walked none. He looked more like the pitcher who finished strong to help the Phillies win the World Series last year than the one who sent to the minors in July.

Myers could get the ball on opening day again if Cole Hamels isn’t ready to go. Hamels, the World Series MVP, was examined in Philadelphia Tuesday and is returning to camp after a team physician found no damage in his sore left elbow.

Hamels received an injection to relieve inflammation and should be cleared to throw by Thursday. His status for the April 5 opener against Atlanta is unclear.

Aaron Harang, who has made the last three opening-day starts for the Reds, had a rough outing against the Phillies. He gave up six runs and seven hits in 3 1/3 innings.

Philadelphia scored all of its runs off Harang in the second.

Braves 5, Mets 1: Jair Jurrjens was Atlanta’s most consistent pitcher last season, and the right-hander appears to be headed for similar success this year.

Jurrjens threw six scoreless innings to help the Braves beat the New York Mets. He allowed four hits, struck out six and walked none.

Jonathon Niese also pitched well for the Mets, allowing two runs and two hits in four innings. The 22-year-old left-hander is competing for the final spot in New York’s rotation.

Niese, who spent time last week talking pitching – specifically curveballs – with Hall of Famer Sandy Koufax, struck out three and walked three. He likely will start the season at Triple-A Buffalo if he doesn’t win the fifth spot in New York’s rotation.

Josh Anderson hit a two-out, two-run homer off Niese in the second inning and finished with two hits.