While the Boston Red Sox don’t officially begin their 2011 Grapefruit League schedule until 7:05 p.m. tonight against their crosstown rivals the Minnesota Twins, they did unofficially kick off with two games on Saturday afternoon. Two local Boston teams, the Boston College Eagles and Northeastern Huskies, came down to Ft. Myers to take on the local pro team.
And for the Red Sox, it was a good way to get going on what we hope will be a great 2011 season. They beat BC 6-0 on a one-hitter and then in the nightcap, they beat Northeastern 13-2 behind three RBIs from shortstop Jose Iglesias.
In the opener, Kevin Youkilis led the way with a great defensive play in the top of the 1st inning. He then followed that with a three-run homer in the bottom half of the inning. Other regulars that played in the game were Marco Scutaro (two walks), Dustin Pedroia (0-1, walk, run scored), David Ortiz (0-2), Darnell McDonald (0-1, walk, run scored) and Ryan Kalish (1-2, RBI).
Stolmy Pimentel picked up the win by striking out two over two innings of work. The only Red Sox pitcher to allow a hit in the game was Randy Williams, who is fighting for one of the possible two lefty spots in the bullpen.
Iglesias was the main man in the nightcap as he was 2-for-3 with the three aformentioned RBIs. Che-Hsuan Lin and Peter Hissey each added two RBIs to the cause as well.
Jacoby Ellsbury (0-1, walk), Mike Cameron (0-2), Jed Lowrie (0-2) and Daniel Nava (0-1, walk) were the Red Sox regulars who saw action in the game
Rich Hill, another one of those lefties, competing for a spot in the bullpen, picked up the win despite allowing a run in his inning of work. Kyle Weiland got the start and allowed one run on two hits and a walk in two innings of work. He also recorded two strikeouts.
Josh Beckett will make the start against the Twins tonight and he’ll be followed by Clay Buchholz, Brandon Duckworth, Hideki Okajima, Scott Atchison and Dan Wheeler. Beckett is expected to go two innings.
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Hoping to show good side [Boston Globe]
Jenks gets into the drill [Boston Globe]
Diamond anniversary [Boston Globe]
The critics can’t get inside Ortiz’s head [Boston Globe]
First-round knockdown [Boston Herald]
Jacoby Ellsbury back to ‘normal’ [Boston Herald]
Two sides to Mike Gambino’s story [Boston Herald]
Third impression [Boston Herald]
Bobby Jenks grew in 2005 series [Boston Herald]
Tito the great(est)? [Boston Herald]
Ellsbury back in the leadoff spot against Northeastern [CSNNE.com]
Pedroia and Youkilis return to game action [CSNNE.com]
Jenks and Guillen get into heated back-and-forth [CSNNE.com]
Video: Solid Saturday for Sox [ESPN Boston]
Dustin Pedroia’s foot passes first test [Full Count]
Jacoby Ellsbury Feeling Healthy, Ahead of Schedule in Return to Game Action [NESN.com]
Ozzie Guillen sounds off on Bobby Jenks [Providence Journal]
Someone’s got to lead off, but who? [Providence Journal]
Four players back from injuries and looking good [Providence Journal]
Red Sox Journal: No rush to mound for Bobby Jenks [Providence Journal]
Reyes arrives late, but set to work for Red Sox [RedSox.com]
For more slices of Red Sox goodness, head over to the Boston Globe, Boston Herald, CSNNE, ESPN Boston, NESN, Providence Journal and WEEI websites.
photo credit: AP Photo
