Red Sox Beat Twins 4-2
FORT MYERS, Fla. (AP) — John Farrell is trying to figure out how to get Felix Doubront to start an outing as well as he finishes it.
Doubront pitched six-hit ball for five scoreless innings Saturday, and the Boston Red Sox beat the Minnesota Twins 4-2 in the spring training finale for both teams.
"Better as the outing went along," Farrell said. "We've seen it more than a couple of times this spring. He gets into that third inning and seems to get into a much better rhythm, a much better feel for his secondary stuff, and just overall more efficient. So as we've talked a number of times, the efficiency is something we continue to strive towards. But we can't force it either. And throughout the course of the outing as we've seen, better touch and feel for his stuff."
Doubront had runners on base in every inning but the fourth.
"My goal is to throw less pitches or get a double play," he said. "I try to stay calm and make good pitches. If I have to strike somebody out, I can do that."
Twins right-hander Mike Pelfrey gave up four runs and nine hits in 3 2-3 innings.
"Today we wanted to work on my slider and I think I got beat on it a lot," Pelfrey said. "I think that is my fourth-best pitch and I probably and gave up four, five hits on it. Not a great day for them but I guess it's a reason why it is my fourth-best pitch."
The Twins finished spring training with a record of 17-16.
"I think we have 25 guys who believe in each other, but it's going to come down to starting pitching," Pelfrey said. "If we keep them in the ballgame we are going to win a lot. You win on pitching and defense. I like our chances."
NOTES: Twins 1B Justin Morneau, who had been sidelined with a back tightness, had four at-bats in a minor league game Saturday morning. He is expected to be ready to start the season. . RHP Cole De Vries, who left Friday's game after just three innings with forearm tightness, is doing fine and is expected to make his start on Saturday. . RHP Samuel Deduno, who has not pitched since the World Baseball Classic final because of a sore left groin, is feeling better but has not pitched a bullpen session yet. ... He will stay at the team's spring training complex in Fort Myers when the Twins leave. . RHP Liam Hendriks, who was hit in the hand by a line drive in his last start, is scheduled to pitch in a minor league game Sunday and is expected to make his start on Friday. . Twins RHP Anthony Swarzak, on the disabled list because of a rib injury, is scheduled to pitch in a minor league game on Tuesday. He is eligible to come off the DL on April 6. . LHP Scott Diamond, on the DL with an elbow injury, is expected to pitch in a minor league game on Tuesday. . RHP Vance Worley is scheduled to start the season opener for the Twins when they host the Tigers Monday afternoon. . The Red Sox still have not finalized their roster and are not expected to do so until the 3 p.m. EDT deadline on Sunday. OF Jackie Bradley Jr. has not been officially added to the roster but will travel with the team to New York. . OF Ryan Sweeney opted out of his minor league contract with the Red Sox. He had the option to leave the team if he was not put on the major league roster by March 28. Boston has 48 hours to give him a counter offer. . DH David Ortiz, who has been sidelined all spring with sore heels related to his Achilles injury, will travel with the Red Sox to New York and return to the team's spring training complex in Fort Myers by next weekend to continue his rehab. . SS Stephen Drew, sidelined by concussion symptoms after being hit in the helmet by a pitch on March 7, will stay in Fort Myers when the Red Sox leave. ... Backup C David Ross is expected to be behind the plate for Boston's third game of the season in New York. . LHP Craig Breslow, who has been sidelined all spring with shoulder inflammation, will go with the Red Sox to New York for his bullpen session on Monday and then return to Fort Myers. . LHP Franklin Morales, who has not pitched since Feb. 27 because of a herniated disc, will remain in Fort Myers. . LHP Jon Lester is scheduled to start the season opener for the Red Sox in New York on Monday afternoon.
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