I just got back from the opening doubleheader for the Red Sox.  Both games were fun, and I got to see a total of 14 pitchers and 33 position players from the Red Sox organization.  (It’s really hard trying to keep score during a college exhibition game, so all numbers are approximate.)

My flight home is early tomorrow morning and I still have to pack, so check back Thursday evening for my full post including my pictures and stories from both games.  Until then, I’ll leave you with video of batting practice pitcher Ino Guerrero’s second at-bat (wearing Papi’s #34 but batting from the right) in Wednesday afternoon’s game against Northeastern.

Update:

Game 1 – Red Sox 15, Northeastern University Huskies 0

We got to the park early, and I was able to get autographs from Mike Cameron and Fernando Cabrera before the game.  It was chilly by spring training standards (62° announced at game-time, but I think that thermometer’s in the sun, and it remained at 62 all day, even throughout the night game.  I’ll go with the 58° reported by the Globe as more reasonable) but at least the sun was out.

Top prospect Casey Kelly was starting the game, but his outing was so quick I didn’t get many good photos.  He looked strong, and ended up with two strikeouts and a groundout on only 10 pitches.  He was followed by Manny Delcarmen (one hit, but the runner was erased on a double play), Adam Mills, Felix Doubront, Dustin Richardson (all three of whom threw perfect innings), Ramon A. Ramirez (the new Ramon Ramirez, not the one who was with us last year), and Robert Manuel.

Ramon "New Guy" Ramirez struck out two in his inning of work.

On the offensive side, we got to see Jacoby Ellsbury, Bill Hall, Victor Martinez, David Ortiz, and Jed Lowrie – all coming soon to a 25-man roster near you.  Ellsbury walked twice, and Martinez hit a double.  Big Papi blasted a two-run homer over the right field fence in his second at-bat, which was great to see.  Once Papi went into his home run trot, it finally felt like baseball was back!

The Red Sox take on Northeastern University on a sunny afternoon in Ft. Myers.

Lowrie also walked and singled, but most of the offensive firepower came from the prospects at the bottom of the order.  Che-Hsuan Lin, who started in center field and projects to open the year at Double-A Portland, had two singles and an RBI, and only a diving catch from Northeastern’s centerfielder prevented him from a third hit.  Gil Velazquez, the infielder who played a handful of games with the big league club in ‘08 and ‘09, was 3-for-4 with two doubles, including a bases-clearer which drove in the first three runs of the game.  (Waving all three runners in was Tim Bogar’s first big decision as third base coach, since switching from his position as first base coach last season.)  Catching prospect Luis Exposito also had two doubles and added 4 RBI.

One of the highlights, in what is now becoming an annual tradition, was seeing major league staff member/batting practice pitcher Ino Guerrero get two at-bats.  He came out wearing Papi’s #34, and grounded out both times.  I almost didn’t realize it was him in the on-deck circle, because I had just noticed Dustin Pedroia in the dugout.  He wasn’t playing until the night game, so I was busy trying to zoom in with the camera to see if it was really him, and saw Youk there too.  It wasn’t till he stepped in to bat right-handed that we realized it was Ino, and that’s why the early-arriving players for the night game had come out onto the top step of the dugout.

City of Palms Park on the afternoon of the annual college doubleheader.

Game 2 – Red Sox 6, Boston College Eagles 1

The nightcap was being broadcast on NESN, so one of the first things we did when we re-entered the park was seek out Jerry Remy’s autograph.  The NESN booth is behind the last row of seats (under the Oakland A’s logo), but it’s so high that we can’t see into the window once we’re standing in that row, so the trick is to go down a couple of rows, catch Remy’s attention and ask him for the autograph, and then climb up on a seat in the back row to hand the photo up to him.

It was great to see the Rem-Dawg back in the NESN booth.

Boof Bonser, who had pitched with the Minnesota Twins for years (he gave up Big Papi’s record tying 50th home run in 2006) and was now with the Sox as a possible long reliever/spot starter, started the game.  Like Casey Kelly in the afternoon, he also made swift work of the college lineup, retiring the side in order on two groundouts and a strikeout and needing only 9 pitches.

For the night game, we got to see the whole major league infield as it will look on Opening Day: Kevin Youkilis at first, Dustin Pedroia at second, Marco Scutaro at short, and Adrian Beltre at third.  Unfortunately the pitchers (Bonser was followed by Michael Bowden and Junichi Tazawa) were so quick and efficient, that there wasn’t a whole lot of work for the infielders to do.  There were a couple of 4-3 putouts and a 3-unassisted, but nothing that involved the new guys.

Adrian Beltre and his teammates in the infield didn't get much action other than their warm-up tosses.

Pedroia and Youkilis put two hits together to drive in a run in the first, and another run came in the back door on a double play in the third.  Phenom Jose Iglesias came in to pinch-run in the third and played shortstop for the rest of the game.  Like the other infielders, he didn’t have many chances, but he did get in on one exciting play, applying the tag when Jason Varitek gunned down a would-be base-stealer in the fourth.  Iglesias had more of an opportunity to impress with his bat.  With the bases loaded in the fourth, he swung at the first pitch and smashed a double into left, driving all three runners home.  He hit the ball hard in his next at-bat too, but it was a line-drive snared by the Boston College second baseman.  Centerfielder Ryan Kalish had a good day at the plate, too.  He singled, walked, scored two runs, and drove in a run with a sacrifice fly.

The Red Sox faced Boston College in the nightcap.

My one pet peeve is that the substitutions aren’t always announced, and some of them are announced but are clearly wrong.  Even if I wasn’t trying to keep score, I would still be interested in knowing who I was watching.  It sounded like Carl Beane, the real Fenway Park P.A. announcer, but even if he was given bogus information, it only took a quick glance at the field to see that they weren’t the people he was saying they were.  We knew from going to these games in the past that the first and third base coaches don’t usually do both games, and we had seen Tim Bogar and Ron Johnson in the first game.  Two different guys wearing different numbers came out for the second game, but they were announced as Bogar and Johnson.  I correctly surmised that Torey Lovullo, the new Pawtucket manager, was coaching third, and when the announcement was finally corrected a couple of innings later, we learned it was special assignment instructor Alex Ochoa coaching first.

It also made it tricky when some of the kids called up from minor league camp for the second game wore numbers the same as guys in major league camp.  In the second game there was a #71 who caught the ceremonial first pitch, and then came in to pinch-run for Jason Varitek before moving to left field for the rest of the game.  In big league camp, #71 is Ramon A. Ramirez, whom we had just watched pitch in the first game, and the announcer called this obviously-different guy Ramon A. Ramirez.  But unless he had changed his stature, position, and ethnicity in between games, it was clearly not Ramon A. Ramirez.  (We joked, “How many other Ramon Ramirezes did they find?” and decided to call him Ramon Q. Ramirez until he came to bat a couple of innings later and was finally revealed to be Daniel Nava.)  There was also a #60 who looked nothing like the real #60, Gil Velazquez, who had played in the first game.  He never got an at-bat, so I had to wait till I got home and watched my recording of the NESN broadcast so see that the #60 in the second game was Oscar Tejeda.  But if Don Orsillo and Jerry Remy can be provided with the correct info, why can’t they do the same for the announcer?

With Kris Johnson on the mound for the Red Sox in the sixth inning, Boston College used two singles and a stolen base to score their only run of the game.  The whole team rushed out in front of the dugout to congratulate the kid who scored the run as if he had just hit a walk-off homer.  The Red Sox wrapped up the 7-inning game with a 6-1 win, and we got to hear “Dirty Water” as we walked out.  (They only played the first verse before switching to “Happy Trails”, but it was still good to hear.)  My flight home was scheduled for the next day, exactly a month before Opening Day.  I’ll be there that night, and it will probably only be a little colder than this game was.  I only hope the ending is as sweet!

On Tuesday morning, we knew there was a chance of rain which was predicted to come through in the morning just as workouts would be getting underway.  And if it did, the players would work out in the clubhouse and batting cages and the workouts wouldn’t be open to the public.  We planned on going in a little later than usual, so that we’d get there when the players took the field instead of an hour and a half early like we had on the previous days.  It was raining and windy when I woke up, and just before we left we read on Extra Bases that the players were indeed staying indoors.  That saved us a trip to Ft. Myers, but it was quite the bummer, because I already missed out on one workout when my flight was delayed a day, and now I was missing another.

When the final workout of the year was rained out, it was time to move 2.6 miles down the street to the stadium and get the games underway.

Around 10:30, just as the Red Sox would have probably been wrapping up their abbreviated workout if they had had one, the sun came out and it was  a warm, beautiful Florida day.  I was even able to wear shorts for the first time all week.  I joined my parents on their daily 2-mile walk and we planned a trip to the beach in the afternoon.  But after lunch, a cold front came through, and the temperature dropped and the wind started up.  We drove to beautiful Siesta Beach in Sarasota, but by then it was completely overcast and so cold it wasn’t worth staying very long.

Now that the workouts are wrapped up, it’s time for the games to begin.  I’ve got tickets to both college games tomorrow.  For those of you in New England, the nightcap is on NESN at 6:05.  Boof Bonser is starting, so don’t miss it!

I’ll leave you with some additional pictures I took during the past three days of workouts which I didn’t get to post at the time:

Saturday: Mike Cameron was all smiles as he practiced with his new team.

Sunday: J.D. Drew prepared for an interview with NESN's Heidi Watney.

Monday: Victor Martinez greeted Big Papi as he joined the group for batting practice.

Monday: Marco Scutaro chatted during B.P.

On Monday it was back to Edison Ave. for my third straight workout.  This time the weather was actually nice for a change.  It was sunny all day, and by the end of practice, I was able to wear a short-sleeved t-shirt instead of bundling up with a sweatshirt and coat like the past two days.  I finally felt like I was in Florida instead of Boston.

As the Red Sox stretched out, I went up to the back row of the stands of an adjoining field to get some shots of their exercises from above.  Here’s a video of the guys limbering up.  See if you can pick out Big Papi (blue jacket with red sleeves at the back of the second row).

Today I watched the pitchers go through their PFP routine again.  I also saw Daisuke Matsuzaka long-tossing, which is his next step toward being ready to start the season.

Obligatory shot of the Big Three - Josh Beckett, John Lackey, and Jon Lester - as they listen to the instructions before one of their drills.

After the different fielding drills, I expected to see live B.P., where the pitchers throw to their teammates.  But instead it was regular batting practice sessions, with the coaches lobbing ‘em in there so the hitters could actually get some work in.  I watched a group that included Dustin Pedroia, Jacoby Ellsbury, Marco Scutaro, and Adrian Beltre, followed by Victor Martinez, David Ortiz, Josh Reddick, and Kevin Youkilis.

Getting a look at the new guy: Adrian Beltre finishes up a round of B.P.

Victor Martinez gets ready for his turn at bat.

When that was over, we headed back up and got autographs from a couple of minor leaguers, Gil Velazquez and Angel Sanchez.  We waited around up near the clubhouse while various interviews were conducted, in the hopes that one of the players would come over and sign afterwards.  We saw Terry Francona give his daily rundown, Hideki Okajima talking with the Japanese press for a long time, and Jacoby Ellsbury doing an interview.  When Ellsbury’s interview finished, he and some camera men headed back out onto the field to film something involving him stealing bases.  [Update: I found what he was filming.  It was a segment on The Red Sox Report.]  We waited around, even though all the other players had gone in, and were rewarded when Jacoby came over and signed for everyone who was still there.

When he was done, we were just getting ready to leave when we noticed Marco Scutaro had come back out.  He was seated, doing an interview, when Bruiser, the clubhouse guy’s dog, was allowed out onto the grassy area.  The dog wandered over to Scutaro during the interview, got a pat on the head, and then laid down.

Ever the attention-seeker, Bruiser the dog makes an appearance in Marco Scutaro's interview.

After practice, we spent the afternoon at Ft. Myers Beach.  It was finally a warm, sunny, beach-like day – the first one since I’ve been here.  Tomorrow we may not be so lucky, because thunderstorms are predicted all morning, threatening to wash out the practice.

Sunday brought us back to Ft. Myers, early again as usual.  This time the day was sunny, so even though it was still cool, it was much nicer.  One of the players I wanted to get a look at this year was Jose Iglesias, the slick-fielding 20-year-old from Cuba, who is being projected as the shortstop of the future.  So when the players split up after stretching out, I found the field where the minor leaguers were fielding grounders.  The following video shows Iglesias (the smaller player with the red sleeve) and Yamaico Navarro taking ground balls at short:

After fielding practice, the infielders, outfielders, and catchers joined the pitchers who weren’t scheduled to throw on Field 3 for a rundown/cutoff-throw drill.  When that was done, they split back up again for live B.P.  On one field, Tim Wakefield was throwing to Kevin Youkilis and David Ortiz.  Neither hitter was able to get ahold of anything, and Big Papi kept muttering, “You gotta be kidding me,” as the knuckleball danced.  He did let out a cheer when he finally lined a bloop hit into right.  On the adjoining fields, John Lackey, Jon Lester, Josh Beckett, and Clay Buchholz also threw to their unsuspecting teammates.

John Lackey throws live batting practice.

NESN was broadcasting throughout the morning, and I stopped to watch a couple of times as I walked between fields, when Jonathan Papelbon and Josh Beckett were being interviewed.

Josh Beckett stops by the NESN stage for an interview.

When most of the batting practice sessions wound up, we headed back up near the clubhouse.  I had gotten Dustin Pedroia’s autograph in the morning, and was happy to add top-ranked prospects Ryan Kalish and Casey Kelly at the end of practice.

Casey Kelly (in the front, wearing red) and Zach Daeges sign autographs after practice.

Cute moment of the day:  After he was done with his workout, Kevin Youkilis played on an empty field with his stepson and two other kids, who were climbing all over him.  I just missed getting a shot of him doing push-ups with the three kids sitting on his back, but I did get the aftermath:

When practice was over, Youk went through a rigorous second workout.

That wrapped up another fun day, and tomorrow we get to do it all over again.

My first day at the Red Sox minor league complex did not disappoint.  We arrived with the first bus just after 8 am, bundled up in sweatshirts and jackets because it was barely 50 degrees, and had a good spot to watch the players as they took the field.  I even managed to get Clay Buchholz’s autograph (along with his lesser-known teammates Tug Hulett, an infielder who has a cool name, and Gustavo Molina, who is a catcher but isn’t related to the other catching Molinas Bengie, Jose, and Yadier) as they made their way by.

After the whole team stretched out on Field 2, they split up to work on different drills.  My first stop was Field 3, where the infielders were practicing taking ground balls.  Mike Lowell split time between third and first, which is how he’ll likely be spending the coming season (hopefully with the Red Sox).  It was also my first chance to see newcomers Adrian Beltre at third, Marco Scutaro at shortstop, and Bill Hall at multiple positions.

Mike Lowell fields grounders at first base.

Next I headed over to Field 4, where the pitchers were running through PFP.  In the following video, relievers Jonathan Papelbon, Hideki Okajima, Brian Shouse, Joe Nelson, Daniel Bard, Manny Delcarmen, and Ramon “The Original” Ramirez are practicing fielding bunts, while a group of starters (including Tim Wakefield and Boof Bonser) practice covering first in the background.

After that, it was back to Field 3, where the pitchers joined the infielders to do a series of drills involving covering bases during rundowns.  That’s when it first started to rain, and when the drill was over all the players started heading back up toward the clubhouse.  I was afraid they’d be spending the rest of the morning working out indoors, but it turns out they were just getting their bats, and the workout continued with live batting practice.

Dustin Pedroia finishes up a round of B.P. against Ramon Ramirez.

Most of the starters had thrown B.P. yesterday, so today I watched both Ramon Ramirezes, plus Randor Bierd and Adam Mills, pitching to their teammates.  I eventually found Jose Iglesias, the 20-year-old shortstop from Cuba who’s getting rave reviews on his defense, but he was in one of the hitting groups, so I didn’t get to see him field yet.

Youk takes a break between rounds of B.P. It was so cold that even he couldn't work up a sweat.

There were more small bursts of rain throughout the morning, and it never warmed up.  (Even when we got back out to the car at 12:30 it was still only 55°, which is by far the coldest it’s ever been at any of the workouts I’ve attended over the past 8 years.)  It was actually great weather… for a Fenway Park opener or a playoff game.

Tim Wakefield does an interview for the Japanese media. Not sure what he was going for with this half-dressed outfit, though. Who does he think he is, Papelbon?

We went back up near the clubhouse when the guys started to come off the field.  I was able to get Hideki Okajima’s autograph, and we held on through the increasing rain to get autographs from infielder Lars Anderson and outfielder Zach Daeges, too.  We really lucked out, because just as we got back to the car, the heavy rain started.  It was great they were able to get the whole practice in, even if the weather was more suited to Boston in April.  At least now we’ll all be ready for Opening Day!

Finally!

After losing a day of my vacation thanks to a nasty storm, I was able to fly down to southwest Florida this morning.  It was snowing when we took off, but it was nothing compared to the monsoon of the previous day.  By the time I arrived, it was too late to make it to the Red Sox complex, but we did manage to spend some time at a beach in the afternoon.

The beach was nice and sunny, but none of the seagulls signed autographs. I hope to have better luck at the Red Sox complex tomorrow.

Tomorrow it’s off to Edison Ave. for my first look at the 2010 Red Sox.  I can’t wait!

Well, it’s official – my first rainout of the year!  I was supposed to fly to Florida tonight, but due to heavy rain, wind, and fog, my flight was cancelled.  I’ve been re-booked and will try again tomorrow, but that means I won’t be there in time to see tomorrow’s workout.

My view of Spring Training today.

I know it seems like I have tickets to every rainout, but I thought that just applied to games…

Red Sox 16, Reds 5

This was my final day in Ft. Myers, before having to return home to New England. The Red Sox played another doubleheader, beating Northeastern University 14-0 in the afternoon (with Ino Guerrero getting another at-bat), and taking on the Cincinnati Reds at night. We had tickets to the night game, but arrived early while the Sox were still taking batting practice. We went down by the Red Sox dugout, where we ended up getting infielder Nick Green’s autograph, which was appropriate, since he was in every game we saw.

Clay Buchholz made the start, and he was very good in his two innings of work. He threw 35 pitches, including a 10-pitch battle with Joey Votto that resulted in an inning-ending groundout. His only baserunner came on a second-inning single. (Newly-acquired Red Jonny Gomes got booed each time up, because of the punches he threw at Coco Crisp in a brawl while with the Rays last season.)

Clay Buchholz allowed only one baserunner in two solid innings of work.

Clay’s teammates made quick work of the Reds’ starter, Nick Masset. They batted around in the first inning and scored four runs, on J.D. Drew’s fielder’s choice, Jason Bay’s single, and Jason Varitek’s two-run double. In the second, they batted around again, this time sending 11 men to the plate and scoring six more runs. Brad Wilkerson drove a home run deep to right-center, and Nick Green and Gil Velazquez both had RBI hits. Even the outs were productive, as Tek and Julio Lugo both knocked in runs with sacrifice flies. Tek knocked in another run with a groundout in the third. All of his plate appearances came left-handed, which is the side he really struggled from last year and is attempting to improve this spring, so it was nice to see him have a big day at the plate.

Jason Varitek and his teammates had a good night at the plate.

When Buchholz was done, we got our first look at Ramon Ramirez, who was acquired in a trade for Coco Crisp in the off-season. He had a quick 1-2-3 inning. He was followed by Javier Lopez, who struggled a little and ended up walking three. Manny Delcarmen needed only nine pitches to dispose of the Reds in the fifth on a grounder to second, a grounder to short, and a grounder to third. Billy Traber and Daniel Bard also pitched scoreless innings.

The Red Sox take on the Reds at City of Palms Park.

It was fun to finally see the Red Sox regulars (or at least semi-regulars) put up some runs, and the pitching by anyone slated to be on (or near) the major league staff was again impressive. Spring Training games don’t usually go 3 1/2 hours, but we got our money’s worth with that game. When the win went final, the loudspeakers blared “Dirty Water”: Love that dirty water… oh, Boston, you’re my home. And with the Sox’ first Grapefruit League win of the year, it was time for me to head home.

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Sunday update: It was snowing when my plane landed, and we’re expecting a foot tomorrow. It’s time to put away my shorts and sandals and dig out the longjohns. After all, it’s only a little over a month till Opening Day.

Rays 12, Red Sox 4

It started off as another beautiful Florida day. The sun was out, with hardly a cloud in the sky, as we made the trip to the Rays’ new ballpark in Port Charlotte, just up the road from Ft. Myers. Several years ago the Rangers were here, but they have since departed for Arizona. The Rays used to train in St. Pete, and after completely renovating the Rangers’ old stadium, today they played just their second game in their new home.

A beautiful day in Port Charlotte... until the game started, that is.

We went in when the gates opened. As we came out toward the field, we saw the Red Sox position players long-tossing in left field. We went down to the front row of seats in that area, which was really close to the field. The guys right in front of me all had numbers in the 70’s and 80’s, but after being here all week, I pretty much have them memorized. As they finished the tossing and prepared to head toward the dugout, I was very close to #74, and am probably the only one besides my mother who knew that he was Carlos Maldonado, the catcher we had seen in yesterday’s game. (Considering one of the Red Sox “fans” standing near us asked me later if the guy fielding grounders at shortstop – Argenis Diaz, #76 – was Coco Crisp, I’m fairly confident we were the only ones who knew who he was.) So I yelled out, “Carlos!” He turned to look, and I asked if he’d sign, so he came over and autographed for me and my mother and the few others who were in the area. I also successfully called Lars Anderson over. I had been close to getting his autograph a couple of times this week, but hadn’t managed to until today. Later, Terry Francona came over, and I was able to get his, too. (Though I was cringing when one guy kept calling him “coach.” I know how much he hates that, and rightfully so. It’s called a manager, people! This isn’t football!)

Jed Lowrie blows a bubble during batting practice. He went 0-for-2 with an RBI in the game.

As we stood near the field to watch batting practice, we heard some people talking about trying to catch a raccoon. It turns out one had found its way into the park. My father was walking around the stadium and saw it strolling along in the front row behind home plate. Later, he watched as it made its way to the back row of stands, then climbed over a fence and into a luxury box, all the while being pursued by ballpark staff. Finally, an animal control guy captured it in the back row of the grandstand and escorted it out of the park.

A raccoon tried to sneak into the park without a ticket, and was given an early exit.

Everything was going well. The weather was beautiful, and I had gotten some autographs…. and then the game started.

Michael Bowden wasn’t sharp. He gave up one run in the first and was charged with three more in the second. When he reached the 40-pitch mark, he got the hook. Enrique Gonzalez came in with two outs and a guy on second, and promptly gave up a home run to Evan Longoria. Gonzalez was back out for the third, and fared even worse. The Rays sent ten men to the plate, and six of them scored. According to soxprospects.com, Gonzalez is projected to be in the PawSox bullpen. He’s also going to play for Venezuela in the WBC, which I’m sure is why they’re trying to get him some game action now. (Same goes for Angel Chavez, who’s started at third in two games so far and will be representing Panama.)

Devern Hansack was a welcome relief with his two perfect innings of work. Unfortunately by then the Sox were already down 10-0. Charlie Zink, whose knuckleballs were handled well by Mark Wagner, pitched the next two innings, and surrendered a long two-run homer, plus a walk and a hit batter. Steve Green, #97, who also projects to be in the Pawtucket pen, pitched a 1-2-3 eighth.

Devern Hansack earned his spot in the PawSox rotation this afternoon. The rest of the guys who pitched may want to start checking out the bus schedules to Portland.

The Sox did get a rally going in the fifth, and ended up scoring four runs. Dusty Brown hit a double, and the RBIs came from Nick Green’s single, Jed Lowrie’s sac fly, and Rocco Baldelli’s single. Rocco got a chance to play against his former team, but we didn’t get to see Sox-turned-Rays Carlos Pena or Gabe Kapler. (I was looking forward to seeing Kapler because he’s one of my former favorites, not to mention the former Single A manager of some of the Red Sox prospects who were in the game, but no such luck.)

Rocco Baldelli bats against his former team. He went 1-for-2 with a walk and an RBI.

It’s pretty sad that the highlight of the whole day was the raccoon! But at least these games don’t count for anything, and they’ll try again tomorrow with the other half of the team.

Pirates 3, Red Sox 2

Today marked the first home game of the Grapefruit League season for the Red Sox. They hosted the Pittsburgh Pirates on a warm, sunny afternoon for an official nine-inning major league exhibition. We got to the game early, while the Red Sox were still taking batting practice. (I noticed Ino Guerrero was throwing B.P., so he appears to have recovered nicely from his appearance in yesterday’s Boston College game.) I went down to the area next to the dugout in the hopes of getting a few last autographs, but no one signed when they came off the field from B.P. I had a good spot though, and there would be one more chance when the players came back out to stretch right before the game. We saw Brad Penny and Big Papi signing in that area yesterday, so I thought it was worth a shot. I waited for over an hour in that spot, but didn’t wind up with anything. Lars Anderson, the power-hitting first base prospect, signed a few, but it was further down than where I was standing. Jon Lester handed a baseball to a kid, but since he was starting he didn’t stop to sign. The only one who came close to me was minor leaguer Zach Daeges, but I already had his autograph from one of the workout days.

Johnny Pesky brought out the lineup card for the Red Sox.

Jon Lester started, and he was good in his two innings of work. He gave up a two-out single to Andy LaRoche in the first, but he got Eric Hinske to ground out to end the inning. Hinske and fellow ‘07 Sox alum Brandon Moss got cheers from the crowd each time they batted. Moss led off the second with a single. But Lester got a fly ball to right for the first out, and then a liner right back to him that he was able to snare and flip to first in time to double off Moss to end the inning.

Jon Lester throws a pitch in the second inning.

Speaking of players returning to face their old teams, it was too bad Jason Bay wasn’t in the game today to face his old mates. Most of the Red Sox starters – Bay included – had played in the night game at Minnesota yesterday, so they weren’t in this afternoon game. We did get to see Julio Lugo, David Ortiz, and J.D. Drew, all of whom had been in the afternoon game yesterday, plus Dustin Pedroia and Jason Varitek.

Former PawSox - and Red Sox - teammates Jeff Bailey and Brandon Moss.

In the first inning, Pedroia and Drew walked. Varitek came up with two outs and tried to end the inning with a grounder to short, but the Pirate shortstop bobbled it long enough for Tek to reach and keep the inning alive. Jeff Bailey capitalized, driving a single to right to knock in two runs.

The Little MVP Who Could takes a big swing.

Thanks to some really good pitching, the Sox held that 2-0 lead through eight innings. Takashi Saito gave up a single but recorded two strikeouts in his inning. Hideki Okajima and Wes Littleton set their batters down 1-2-3. Fernando Cabrera gave up a walk and a hit, but escaped with a scoreless inning. Hunter Jones pitched a perfect seventh.

And then after the supply of major league and Triple A pitchers ran out, they raided the Double A roster. Adam Mills did a good job with a 1-2-3 eighth. Richie Lentz came on for the ninth, trying to protect a 2-0 lead. He struck out the first batter, but then hit a batter and walked a guy, before giving up a run-scoring single. That brought John Farrell out to the mound for a chat, but Lentz plunked the next guy to load the bases. That brought Tito out for the pitching change. It seemed like a longer wait than usual to see who’d be coming in from the pen. We envisioned whoever was left out there saying, “I’m not going out there. You go.” “No, you.” (Either that or they were getting Ino Guerrero warmed up.) Finally, #96, Mike James, emerged. “This #96 guy had better get out of this mess,” I said, “or we’ll have to find a triple-digit number to replace him.” James got a ground ball for the second out, but the tying run came in on the play. The next batter hit a grounder to short, but Argenis Diaz booted it, and the go-ahead run came in.

The Red Sox and Pirates met in a matinee at City of Palms Park.

In the ninth, the Sox got one last chance to tie it. Chris Carter and Josh Reddick flied out, but Carlos Maldonado, the catcher who had come in for Tek earlier, walked. George Kottaras – another catcher – came in to pinch-run. (”Wow, how slow is Maldonado?” we wondered.) That brought up 21-year-old Lars Anderson, the best power-hitting prospect in the organization. But he struck out looking, ending the game.

Tomorrow it’s on to Port Charlotte, where we check out the Rays’ new stadium and attempt to exact some revenge for last year’s ALCS.