Midnight Red Sox Delight – 3/25

The Boston Red Sox hosted the Florida Marlins on Thursday afternoon at City of Palms Park and came away with a 6-4 win.

Tim Wakefield made the start for the Red Sox and gave them six quality innings. He allowed three runs on six hits and two walks while striking out five. The three runs he gave up came in his final inning of work.

Daisuke Matsuzaka made his first appearance in big league spring training and allowed a run on two hits in two innings of work. Scott Atchison surrendered one hit and had a strikeout in an inning which will help improve his chances of making the Red Sox.

The Red Sox had 12 hits against Marlins pitching, including two each by Jacoby Ellsbury, Kevin Youkilis, Adrian Beltre and Jeremy Hermida. Both Beltre and Hermida added RBIs while Marco Scutaro had a triple and two RBIs. Victor Martinez and J.D. Drew also chipped in with a hit and an RBI.

Matsuzaka definitely won’t be ready for the start of the season but it was good to know that he had a decent outing his first time out. At this point, Matsuzaka just needs to get innings and his work in.

With the way Clay Buchholz has struggled in his past two starts and the fact that the Red Sox won’t need a 5th starter until April 18th, it’s quite possible that Wakefield could be the number four starter with Matsuzaka maybe returning on the 18th (pure speculation by me). Matsuzaka will pitch again on Monday when the Red Sox face the Rays. He’s scheduled to pitch three innings of relief for Josh Beckett.

The Red Sox will host a Toronto Blue Jays split-squad on Friday afternoon at 1:05 p.m. at City of Palms Park. Once again, there will be no radio or television.

Also, there may or may not be a post in the morning with lineups. I have an eye doctor’s appointment in the morning and won’t be back home until the afternoon.

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Marlins on Lowell, Lowell on Marlins [Clubhouse Insider]

As the Sox’ rotation turns [Clubhouse Insider]

Red Sox notes: Wakefield sparkles again [CSN New England]

Matsuzaka starts his comeback [CSN New England]

Moorad can see Gonzalez staying a Padre [ESPN Boston]

Opening Day starter a daily topic [ESPN Boston] Wakefield breaks down his start [ESPN Boston]

Dice-K ruled out for ‘first couple weeks’ of season [ESPN Boston]

Quick hits: Red Sox 6, Marlins 4 [ESPN Boston]

The rotations in the rivalry [Extra Bases]

Matsuzaka to pitch again Monday [Extra Bases]

Wakefield waits and wonders [Extra Bases] Marlins manager talks Lowell [Full Count]