SPRING TRAINING WITH THE 2013 RED SOX

October 4, 2012 ... Bobby Valentine is fired as Red Sox manager, exactly 14 hours and 14 minutes after the Red Sox completed their worst season since 1965.  Valentine got the news when he met with General Manager Ben Cherrington and team owners, John Henry, Tom Werner and Larry Lucchino.

October 18, 2012 ... The Red Sox interviewed San Diego Padres special assistant Brad Ausmus for their manager's job. Ausmus, 43, a native of Cheshire, Conn., and part-time resident of Cape Cod, is considered one of the bright young minds in the game.

JOHN FARRELL

October 21, 2012 ... John Farrell will become the 46th manager in team history after spending two seasons as manager of the Toronto Blue Jays. Compensation has yet to be announced, although a team source said that Mike Aviles will be going to Toronto with a player coming back to the Sox. The 50-year-old Farrell was the Red Sox pitching coach from 2007-10 before becoming the manager of the Blue Jays. Farrell was a modest 154-170 in two seasons, but the Red Sox believe he has the skills to lead the team back from its worst season in decades.

October 27, 2012 ... New Red Sox manager John Farrell knew a week ago he wanted Torey Lovullo to become his bench coach. There was really no second choice.   They have been friends for nearly 20 years, meeting as teammates in 1993 and working together for five years in player development for the Cleveland Indians. Lovullo then coached under Farrell for two seasons with the Toronto Blue Jays.

October 31, 2012 ... Brian Butterfield spent nearly 11 full seasons with the Toronto Blue Jays, serving as a third base coach and bench coach under four managers. He was one of the constants in that organization. That ended Tuesday when the Red Sox named Butterfield their third base coach. A 54-year-old native of Bangor, Maine, Butterfield is the second Blue Jays coach to join manager John Farrell in moving to Boston.

DAVID ORTIZ

November 3, 2012 ... David Ortiz, who helped return the Red Sox to glory in 2004, will be around to see if he can do it again, agreeing with the team on Friday night to a two-year contract worth $26 million.

November 6, 2012 ... Juan Nieves has ample credentials and will become the next pitching coach of the Red Sox, having pitched in the major leagues for three seasons before embarking on an 18-year coaching career with the Yankees and White Sox. In his 14 seasons with Chicago, the last five as the bullpen coach, Nieves worked closely with pitching coach Don Cooper, one of the best in the game.

November 11, 2012 ... The Red Sox made a surprising move Saturday when they agreed to terms with free agent catcher David Ross on a two-year contract worth $6.2 million. Ross, who turns 36 in March, is one of the best backups in baseball, respected for his ability to manage the game and work with pitchers. He hit .256 with nine home runs for the Atlanta Braves last season and started the wild-card playoff game against the Cardinals.

November 21, 2012 ... The Red Sox name Arnie Beyeler as their first base coach.  Beyeler earned the job by managing Triple A Pawtucket to a 79-65 record last season and the franchise's first International League championship in 28 years.

November 22, 2012 ... The Red Sox sign journeyman outfielder Jonny Gomes, who agreed to terms on a two-year deal worth $10 million. The contract is pending a physical.  Gomes, who turns 32 on Thanksgiving, hit .262 with an .868 OPS for Oakland last season. He had 18 home runs and 47 RBIs in 333 plate appearances.

December 4, 2012 ... For months now, even before last season ended, the Red Sox have thought Mike Napoli would be a smart addition to their lineup. From owner John Henry down to the players who eagerly stepped forward to help recruit him, Napoli was a key component in the plans to help the Sox crawl out of last place. That goal was accomplished Monday when Napoli agreed to a three-year, $39 million deal.

December 5, 2012 ... The Red Sox reached agreement with Shane Victorino on a three-year deal worth $39 million Tuesday.  The 32-year-old Victorino is a three-time Gold Glove winner in center field but has started 122 games in right field in his nine-year career. If Ellsbury remains on the team, Victorino would shift to right.  Red Sox manager John Farrell fielded 10 questions from Toronto-based reporters Tuesday during his scheduled interview session.

December 7, 2012 ... When leaving the Opryland Hotel at the conclusion of the winter meetings Thursday, Red Sox general manager Ben Cherington had a trail of Japanese reporters following him as news broke that he had reached a one-year, $4.25 million agreement with reliever Koji Uehara. The 37-year-old righthander had a 1.75 ERA and a 0.639 WHIP in 37 games for Texas last season. He struck out 43 and walked three. Uehara, whom the Red Sox have coveted for years, projects as a late-inning option and a mentor for Junichi Tazawa.

December 14, 2012 ... The Sox reached an agreement Thursday with veteran Ryan Dempster on a two-year, $26.5 million deal. Team sources indicated an agreement was in place pending a physical for the 35-year-old righthander, who turns 36 May 3rd.  Only a week ago, Dempster turned down a two-year, $25 million deal from the Sox. Other general managers around baseball speculated that Boston was willing to go a third year, but it didn't prove necessary.

December 18, 2012 ... The Red Sox did not step out of their game plan of signing bridge free agents after adding veteran shortstop Stephen Drew Monday with a one-year, $9.5 million deal. Drew, the 29-year-old brother of former Sox outfielder J.D. Drew, spent last season with the Diamondbacks and Athletics, appearing in 79 games and batting .223 with a .657 OPS and 7 home runs.  He suffered a serious ankle in 2011 on a play at home plate while playing for Arizona, but he drew some harsh remarks from Diamondbacks owner Ken Kendrick over how long it took to rehab the injury. It was almost 11 months.

December 27, 2012 ... The Sox completed a six-player trade with the Pittsburgh Pirates Wednesday, obtaining closer Joel Hanrahan and infielder Brock Holt for righthanded reliever Mark Melancon and three prospects. Before the trade was announced, Sox manager John Farrell contacted Andrew Bailey and Hanrahan and informed them that Hanrahan would go into spring training as the closer. Bailey will be a set-up man, assuming he is not traded.

December 28, 2012 ... Free agent Mike Napoli agreed to contract terms with the Red Sox back on Dec. 3, accepting three years and $39 million to be the team's primary first baseman. Red Sox general manager Ben Cherington acknowledged that a deal was in place that day and happily talked about Napoli's strengths as a player.  Nearly four weeks later, Napoli remains a free agent because of a pre-existing hip injury. The Red Sox want contract language that protects the team in the event of a debilitating injury.

January 9, 2013 ... Joel Hanrahan was called up to the majors in 2007 and has pitched in 353 games since with the Nationals and Pirates. But until Tuesday, he had never stepped foot in Fenway Park. The new Red Sox closer took an extensive tour on a clear winter's day, taking a look inside the clubhouse before pausing in the box seats behind home plate and making his way out to left field to peer inside the scoreboard. Hanrahan climbed up to the Monster Seats and eventually made his way to the press box for a chat with reporters.

January 16, 2013 ... Nine Red Sox -- Alfredo Aceves, Andrew Bailey, Daniel Bard, Craig Breslow, Jacoby Ellsbury, Joel Hanrahan, Andrew Miller, Franklin Morales, and Jarrod Saltalamacchia -- filed for salary arbitration Tuesday.  Red Sox home tickets are on sale Jan. 26 at 10 a.m.  ESPN announced a partial schedule for "Sunday Night Baseball." The Red Sox will not play a Sunday night game until July 21 against the Yankees.

January 18, 2013 ... Former Red Sox pitcher Curt Schilling is selling the "bloody sock" he wore during the 2004 World Series to help pay off millions in loans he cosigned to finance his failed Rhode Island video game company. The bloodstained sock, which had been on loan to the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum in Cooperstown, N.Y., until late December, is scheduled to be auctioned by Heritage Auctions in New York City on Feb. 23. The auctioneer estimated that the sock will fetch more than $100,000, but said it is hard to put a precise value on such an unusual item.

January 19, 2013 ... John Farrell will meet with righthander John Lackey in Dallas Friday before traveling to the team complex in Fort Myers, Fla., to sit down with Felix Doubront and Franklin Morales. The two lefthanders from Venezuela arrived a few days ago.  On Sunday, Farrell and pitching coach Juan Nieves will be in Mississippi to watch Daniel Bard throw off a mound.  The Red Sox signed seven of their arbitration-eligible players, agreeing to one-year contracts with center fielder Jacoby Ellsbury and six relief pitchers. Ellsbury received $9 million in his final year of arbitration eligibility, the team announced on its website, a raise of $950,000. Ellsbury played in 74 games last season, hitting .271 with four home runs and 14 stolen bases.  Ellsbury has signed three consecutive one-year contracts since becoming eligible for arbitration. He will be eligible for free agency after the coming season and seems sure to enter the market.

January 23, 2013 ... Newly signed Red Sox first baseman Mike Napoli said he never has experienced symptoms from a very serious hip condition known as avascular necrosis, which he says was diagnosed during the physical he took for the team last month.  The condition, known as AVN, restricts blood flow to the hip joints and can ultimately collapse the bone. It is what ended the athletic career of two-sport star Bo Jackson. In a conference call to announce that he finally had signed with Sox -- getting a one-year deal -- Napoli said he first learned of the condition after taking an MRI with the Red Sox in December, shortly after he and the team agreed on a three-year, $39 million contract Dec. 3.

January 25, 2013 ... Pedro Martinez isn't exactly sure what his new job with the Red Sox will entail. All he knows is that he wants to help.  He wants to return to baseball, and the Sox were the only team he considered. The Red Sox leapt at it. They see Martinez as being a positive influence on their pitching prospects and lending an experienced voice to personnel decisions. His role will be similar to that of Jason Varitek, who rejoined the team in the fall. Both were involved with the organizational meetings at Fenway Park earlier this week.

January 26, 2013 ... Red Sox outfielder Ryan Kalish's long battle with injuries continues. Kalish, 24, is set to again undergo surgery on his right, nonthrowing shoulder, with Dr. Lewis Yocum performing the operation.

February 6, 2013 ... The Red Sox said they were keeping it internal and team named 43-year-old advance scout Dana Levangie, a native of Whitman, Mass., to the post of bullpen coach.  Levangie has been the team's advance scout for the last seven years. A 14th-round pick by the Red Sox in the 1991 draft as a catcher, he was the team's bullpen catcher from 1997-2004 after his minor league playing career ended at Pawtucket in 1995.

February 13, 2013 ... The Sox assembled at Jet Blue Tuesday for the first workout of pitchers and catchers. Manager John Farrell put the fellows through a grueling two-hour workout.  The Red Sox, a team decimated by injuries last season, saw one of their starting pitchers limp off the field only 20 minutes into their first workout of the year. Clay Buchholz strained his right hamstring while covering first base during a spring training drill Tuesday. Daniel Bard looked solid in the bullpen. He is throwing all of his pitches, a bit unusual for this early in camp. When he missed the strike zone, it was low.  Daniel Nava took grounders at first base for the second consecutive day. The outfielder is hoping that more versatility will lead to a spot on the roster.

February 14, 2013 ... The pitchers who later threw in the bullpen started their day with 3-1 plays, which involves covering first when the first baseman fields a grounder. Those who didn't throw went through a series of three fielding drills. The position players took batting practice and there was a brief round of infield.  David Ortiz had a bunch of popups and grounders in his batting practice. When he finally belted one out (to right field, no less), he cursed and shook his head. Ortiz didn't start hitting until last week because of his Achilles' tendon injury, and it shows.

February 15, 2013 ... The Sox had a full slate of activities canceled by the rain. The 14 pitchers scheduled to throw in the bullpen did their work under cover in the batting cages instead. The hitters then took batting practice.  Shane Victorino was the only player who did some work on the field, playing catch for several minutes between showers to loosen up a little. He flew into Fort Myers Wednesday night.

February 16, 2013 ... Clay Buchholz (right hamstring) threw from 120 feet and felt fine. The plan now is for him to return to the mound for a bullpen session on Tuesday.  Felix Doubront (left shoulder) is scheduled for a bullpen session on Wednesday. He will throw from 135 feet on Saturday. Craig Breslow (left shoulder) threw from 75 feet. His return to the mound is not yet scheduled.  The position players had a busy day in their first official workout. There was a base running drill followed by throwing, individual defense, and batting practice. The pitchers who didn't have bullpen sessions worked on comebackers, covering first base and home, and fielding squeeze bunts.  David Ortiz did some running and agility drills to test his Achilles' tendon and seemed to be moving well.  Batting practice home runs don't necessarily mean a lot, but Jonny Gomes put several balls into orbit.

February 17, 2013 ... Mike Napoli (hips) and David Ortiz (right Achilles' tendon) will not be ready when games start this week. But both remain on track for Opening Day.  Andrew Bailey is healthy and looks it. He showed location and velocity during his session of live batting practice.  The Red Sox won't try outfielder Ryan Sweeney at first base, but infielder Pedro Ciriaco will get some time in the outfield during camp.

February 18, 2013 ... The Sox had pop-up drills for their infielders and outfielders. The wind made for some long runs and twisting catches. The pitchers were on another field working on bunt defense. They made it into a competition and the intensity was pretty robust for a weekend day in spring training.  Lyle Overbay, in camp on a minor league deal, is a solid first baseman. With Napoli off to the side watching, he was with the starters and fit in seamlessly. Mike Napoli showed all-field power in batting practice, particularly to left.  John Lackey looked sharp during live batting practice, keeping his fastball down. It's still early, but he has been a revelation so far.

February 19, 2013 ... The outfielders practiced in the main stadium, taking fly balls off the faux Green Monster in left field and chasing balls into the triangle in center. The team defensive work was on pickoffs and rundowns. The position players took batting practice, as usual.  Brock Holt, an infielder who came over in a trade with the Pirates along with Joel Hanrahan, had a tough session of batting practice, mis-timing his swing throughout.  Outfielder Jeremy Hazelbaker, who is in his first major league camp, looked comfortable in the defensive drills; he covers a lot of ground quickly.  Jackie Bradley showed off a strong arm.  Jose Iglesias drilled two consecutive balls off the fence in left-center during batting practice then knocked the next pitch well over the fence.  David Ortiz is adding a little more each day, including defensive work.  Mike Napoli took 100 ground balls at first base, twice as many as Sunday. Now that he has been cleared, he'll be working daily with coach Brian Butterfield.  The pitchers were on the field for about 90 minutes. Alfredo Aceves stayed longer, patrolling center field on Field 3 during batting practice with a bat. When the ball came his way, Aceves would chase it down then slap it back to the infield.

February 20, 2013 ... Lyle Overbay is putting in a lot of extra work to try to make the team as a backup first baseman. He stayed late to work with coach Brian Butterfield.  Hard not be impressed with shortstop Stephen Drew and his work in the field. He is fully recovered from that ankle injury.  Jason Varitek was back in camp and in uniform, touring the stations with the catchers and helping run a few drills.  The Red Sox have no plans to use Jarrod Saltalamacchia at first base.  Tim Wakefield will be in Dunedin Monday to get a first-hand look at knuckleballer Steven Wright.  Pedro Martinez watched the bullpen sessions, spent about 45 minutes talking to Ben Cherington, then signed autographs for dozens of fans.

February 21, 2013 ... The Red Sox on Wednesday obtained Mike Carp from the Seattle Mariners for a player to be named later or cash. The 26-year-old Carp is a first baseman and occasional left fielder coming off a poor season. Seattle designated him for assignment last week and wasn't expecting much in return.  In what was the last major full-squad workout before games start, the pitchers went through some fielding drills before 10 of the starters threw live batting practice. The position players worked on cutoffs and relays before joining the pitchers for BP.  Alfredo Aceves threw live batting practice with the expected vigor after his lob-filled outing on Sunday.  Daniel Nava, who has been focused on learning first base, spent time after the workout with coach Brian Butterfield. Nava has been dogged at trying to learn the intricacies of a new position.  Ryan Westmoreland, the former top prospect who has undergone two brain surgeries, reported to minor league camp, walking with the aid of a cane. He remains determined to restart his career.

The Red Sox beat Northeastern 3 to 0; The Red Sox also beat Boston College 11 to 1 in  split squad games. Seven relief pitchers combined on a four-hitter in the first game. They struck out 14 over the seven-inning game.  Jarrod Saltalamacchia had an RBI double. Pedro Ciriaco and Jose Iglesias added run-scoring singles. The Sox had 11 hits against the Eagles, six for extra bases.  Andrew Bailey, who has been throwing the ball since the first day of camp, looked sharp in his inning against BC. His fastball command has been excellent.

February 22, 2013 ... It was a quick workout for the Sox before they fled Fenway South for the 20th annual "Red Sox Children's Hospital Celebrity Golf Classic" at The Forest Country Club in South Fort Myers. Seven pitchers had bullpen sessions, Jon Lester and Alfredo Aceves among them.

February 23, 2013 ... The Tampa Bay Rays beat the Red Sox 4 to 3.  The Rays led, 2-0, until the seventh inning when Jose Iglesias cracked a two-run homer over the wall in left. The lead was brief as Tampa Bay's Leslie Anderson hit a two-run shot off Oscar Villareal. The Sox rallied in the ninth as Jeremy Hazelbaker doubled and scored on a single by Xander Bogaerts. But Daniel Nava struck out looking to end the game.

February 24, 2013 ... The St. Louis Cardinals lost to the Red Sox 5 to 3.  The Red Sox bounced out to a 2-0 lead in the second inning on a Pedro Ciriaco RBI single after Mauro Gomez led off with a single. A double-play grounder by Jose Iglesias got the second run in. Leading, 2-1, in the sixth, Mark Hamilton forced in a third run with a bases-loaded walk followed by a Ciriaco sacrifice fly. The Cardinals got two off Andrew Bailey in the sixth, making it a 4-3 game. The Sox added one more on a JC Linares single that scored Jonathan Diaz, who was hit with a pitch and stole second.  Lefthander Jon Lester pitched two scoreless, hitless innings and struck out one. He threw 24 pitches. Rubby De La Rosa, the young righty obtained in the August megadeal with the Dodgers, hit 100 miles per hour on the radar gun in the ninth inning in his second spring training appearance, throwing six pitches, all strikes. Daniel Nava stroked two hits, one a righthanded double, while Gomez and Ciriaco also had two hits apiece.

February 25, 2013 ... The Red Sox split their squad for two games.  They beat the Blue Jays 4 to 2 and lost to the Rays 6 to 3.   In Dunedin, five pitchers combined on a seven-hitter with 10 strikeouts against Toronto. R.A. Dickey allowed two runs on four hits to take the loss. Jarrod Saltalamacchia, Jackie Bradley Jr. (3 for 3), and Mitch Maier (2 for 3) drove in runs. In Port Charlotte, Alfredo Aceves allowed two runs in two innings and Chris Hernandez allowed three runs. Dustin Pedroia homered.  Allen Webster, a 23-year-old righthander, allowed a run against the Jays. Then he struck out Jose Bautista, Edwin Encarnacion, J.P. Arencibia, and Brett Lawrie in succession. His fastball hit 99 miles per hour on the stadium radar gun.

February 26, 2013 ... After Ryan Dempster's two scoreless innings, Red Sox pitching went south. Clayton Mortensen was touched up for three runs on two hits in two innings. Jose De La Torre allowed four hits and five runs in one inning, and Pedro Beato gave up four runs and four hits in one-third of an inning. The Sox committed three errors in taking their worst beating in spring training so far in losing to the Cardinals 15 to 4.  Ex-Sox third baseman Mike Lowell came to camp to work with Will Middlebrooks on his footwork and throwing. Lowell came on the invitation of second baseman Dustin Pedroia, who enjoyed a great relationship with Lowell on the field.

February 27, 2013 ... The Sox lost to the Baltimore Orioles 5 to 3. The Sox lost a 2-1 lead when Chris Davis belted a two-run homer off Junichi Tazawa in the sixth inning. The Orioles added two more runs in the seventh off lefthander Drake Britton, who allowed four hits.  Pedro Ciriaco was 2 for 4 with an RBI single and a triple subbing for an injured Will Middlebrooks.  The first five Red Sox pitchers -- Franklin Morales, Joel Hanrahan, Koji Uehara, Andrew Bailey, and Andrew Miller -- allowed one earned run on three hits and struck out seven in five innings.  Jonny Gomes homered off lefty Zach Britton. It was his first of the spring.

February 28, 2013 ... After falling behind, 3-1, in the second inning, the Sox roared back, sending 10 batters to the plate in the third inning and scoring four runs. Then they scored five runs in the fourth inning to beat the Pirates 16-6. Starter John Lackey gave up a three-run homer in the second inning to Jared Goedert. Lefty Chris Hernandez, who is targeted for the Triple A Pawtucket rotation, allowed a two-run homer by Felix Pie in the fifth inning.  Jonny Gomes needed three stitches in his left knee after banging into a fence Wednesday trying to bring back a home run.

March 1, 2013 ... The Sox beat the Pirates for the second straight day 5 to 2. They scored three runs in the first inning off Jeff Locke. Mike Napoli had an RBI single in his first game of the spring. Stephen Drew added an RBI double.  Steven Wright allowed two runs on three hits and three walks in 21/3 innings. Both runs came in the eighth inning. Wright left with the bases loaded. Alex Wilson came in and got Oscar Tejeda (a former Red Sox prospect) to line back to the mound.   Rubby De La Rosa struck out two in two scoreless innings. He has thrown four scoreless innings this spring.  Pedro Ciriaco is 4 of 12 this spring, picking up where he left off last season.

March 2, 2013 ... In the first game of the vaunted Mayor's Cup series, the Red Sox extended their winning streak to three games by beating the Twins 2 to 1. They managed only six hits against seven Minnesota pitchers, but made them count. One was an opposite-field home run by Juan Carlos Linares in the second inning. Ryan Sweeney added an RBI single in the fifth.

March 3, 2013 ... Facing a team made up of mostly Yankees minor leaguers, the Red Sox took a 1-0 lead in the second inning on Mike Napoli's long home run to center field. But sloppy defense led to New York scoring three runs in the sixth inning. The Sox were held to four hits, none after the fifth inning and lost the game 5 to 2.  Starter Ryan Dempster dominated for three innings. Koji Uehara and Andrew Miller (three strikeouts) then were perfect for an inning each.  David Ortiz feels more optimistic that he'll be in the Opening Day lineup after running the bases and feeling as if he can manage the expected soreness in his Achilles'.

March 4, 2013 ... The Red Sox took advantage of a big two-run error in the seventh by Tampa Bay catcher Mark Thomas. Five Sox pitchers, including starter Felix Doubront, held the Rays' predominantly junior varsity lineup to five hits in a 5 to 1 victory.  Brock Holt went 0 for 3 as the Sox' leadoff hitter. He is trying to unseat Pedro Ciriaco as the team's utility player. Holt is hitting .278 while Ciriaco, who went 1 for 3 with an RBI and played third base, is at .313. Ryan Sweeney, vying for an extra outfield spot, continued to struggle. He went 0 for 2 and is now down to .211.  The Sox signed 19 players and now have all players on the 40-man roster in the fold.  Daniel Nava continues to look good taking infield practice at first base and is expected to get into the mix at that position with Lyle Overbay and Mike Carp.

March 5, 2013 ... In an exhibition game against Puerto Rico's team for the World Baseball Classic, John Lackey looked strong with three shutout innings. He allowed three hits without a walk and struck out two. Lackey threw 31 of 45 pitches for strikes.  The Red Sox won 4 to 3.  Daniel Nava started in right field and did not get a ball in four innings before he moved to first base. Nava started two games in right last season and the Sox want to see how versatile he is.

March 6, 2013 ... Jon Lester allowed one run over four innings despite command issues that led to three walks as the Red Sox beat the Pirates 9 to 3. But it was a rough day for knuckleballer Steven Wright (2 innings, 5 hits, 3 walks, 5 earned runs) and hard-throwing prospect Rubby De La Rosa (2 innings, 3 hits, 1 walk, 2 earned runs). Tim Wakefield was on hand to see Wright pitch and they spoke afterward about correcting his release point.

March 7, 2013 ... Facing a split-squad Twins team, the Sox had 16 hits while six pitchers combined to strike out 14 in beating the Minnesota Twins 12 to 5. Mike Napoli belted his second home run, a three-run shot in the fourth inning. It was high and deep to left, something he has made a habit of. Dustin Pedroia was 2 for 4 with a double and two RBIs. Jackie Bradley Jr. had two more hits and is 10 for 20 this spring.  Clay Buchholz threw three shutout innings and struck out four without a walk. He worked at a quicker tempo, something the Red Sox have been encouraging.  Koji Uehara threw a scoreless inning. He has been perfect so far, retiring all 12 batters.

March 8, 2013 ... Ryan Dempster was cruising along until the third inning when he gave up four consecutive hits with two outs. That gave the Twins two runs and eventually the victory. The Sox were held to four hits in losing to the Twins by a score of 2 to 0. Jacoby Ellsbury, Ryan Sweeney, and Jonny Gomes had singles and Christian Vazquez a double off the wall in left.  Ryan Sweeney, who is trying to make the team as a nonroster player, got on base twice.

March 9, 2013 ... Felix Doubront was touched up by the first two batters of the game -- an Alexi Casilla double to right and a Lew Ford RBI single. Doubront settled down and went three innings in his second outing of the spring, allowing two runs but striking out five. The Sox' offense was nonexistent against Orioles young studs Dylan Bundy and Steve Gausman, who dominated the first five innings. The Sox managed only seven hits in losing 5 to 2.  Andrew Bailey allowed no runs on two hits in one inning as his ERA was lowered to 6.75. The Sox went 0 for 5 with runners in scoring position.

March 10, 2013 ... Trailing, 2-0, the Sox scored three runs in the fourth inning on a home run by David Ross and three more in the seventh as Jeremy Hazelbaker (double) and Pedro Ciriaco (single) drove in runs. John Lackey and five relievers held the Rays to five hits and two walks.  Lackey allowed two runs on four hits over 32/3 innings. He was pleased with throwing 66 pitches and getting up and down four times. The Red Sox lost to the Rays 6 to 2.  With David Ortiz probably headed to the disabled list, Ryan Lavarnway could make a play for a roster spot. But he is 3 for 21 in Grapefruit League games with one extra-base hit and has struck out five times.

March 11, 2013 ... The Sox squandered a 7-1 lead when the Marlins took advantage of Rubby De La Rosa's wildness in a five-run seventh and then Marlins outfield prospect Christian Yelich hit a two-run walkoff homer off Chris Carpenter to beat the Sox 8 to 7. The Sox had amassed their lead on a two-run homer by Will Middlebrooks and solo shots by Jackie Bradley Jr. (to lead off the game) and Mike Carp. Jarrod Saltalamacchia knocked in two runs with a double. Jon Lester shut out the Marlins over his last four innings after allowing a first-inning run.  Bradley Jr. is now 14 for 27 after three more hits in the leadoff spot. He's batting .519. Saltalamacchia is hitting .381 after going 1 for 3. Carp, who may make the team with David Ortiz unlikely to start the season, homered to the opposite field. Alex Wilson pitched a scoreless inning and Anthony Carter struck out three in 11/3 innings.

March 12, 2013 ... The Sox scored two runs on four hits in the second inning as Dustin Pedroia and Mike Napoli drove in runs. Ryan Sweeney (2 for 3) singled in a run in the fourth. Clay Buchholz and three relievers allowed two earned runs on nine hits with the Sox beating the Blue Jays 5 to 3.  The legend of Allen Webster continued to build. The 23-year-old righthander threw three innings, allowing an unearned run on three hits. He struck out three without a walk. Webster has allowed two earned runs in 11 innings and struck out 14 against one walk.  Mike Napoli, playing on back-to-back days for the first time, was 2 for 3 with a double and the RBI. He is 7 for 16 this spring with four extra-base hits.

March 13, 2013 ... Koji Uehara has pitched five scoreless innings with five strikeouts, and Anthony Carter has not allowed an earned run in 6 1/3 innings. David Ortiz's heel situation is a major concern.

March 14, 2013 ... The Sox beat up on Twins starter Mike Pelfrey, scoring five runs on six hits and three walks in the first two innings. Mike Napoli had an RBI single in the first inning and Will Middlebrooks a three-run double in the second. Ryan Dempster allowed one run over four innings.  Dempster has had a terrific spring. In four starts, he has allowed three earned runs over 12 2/3 innings. The righthander has walked two and struck out nine. Dempster threw 73 pitches.  The Red Sox sent lefthanded reliever Franklin Morales back to Boston to have his sore lower back examined.

March 15, 2013 ... In the first game of a doubleheader, the Sox took the lead in the 10th inning but could not hold on and tied the Orioles 3-3. Juan Carlos Linares homered to give the Sox a 2-1 lead. But with two outs in the bottom of the inning, Oscar Villarreal allowed a single by Russ Canzler before Maine native Ryan Flaherty homered to right field. In the nightcap in Fort Myers, Jarrod Saltalamacchia's two-run homer helped propel the Sox to a 5 to 0 win over the Twins.  Felix Doubront pitched four scoreless innings.  Pedro Ciriaco was scratched from the lineup for the second game because of back spasms.

March 16, 2013 ... A junior varsity lineup punched out 15 hits as the Sox improved to 4-0-1 in their last five games and beat the Rays 9 to 2. Lyle Overbay had a two-run single in the first inning off Roberto Hernandez, the pitcher once known as Fausto Carmona.  Shortstop Stephen Drew (concussion) exercised while being monitored. It remains uncertain when he will play again.  David Ortiz (right heel) has been running on a low-impact underwater treadmill and increasing the scope of his activities. He could return to batting practice as soon as Monday.  Pedro Ciriaco (back spasms) improved after not playing Friday.

March 17, 2013 ... Jon Lester and two relievers combined on eight perfect innings before the Rays scored a run on two hits in the ninth. The Sox had nine hits and improved to 5-0-1 in the last six games in beating Tampa Bay 5 to 1. Jonny Gomes was 3 for 3 with a double and four RBIs, all coming against righthanded pitchers.  The hope was that David Ortiz might take batting practice on Monday. But now that is in doubt.  The Red Sox wore their green uniforms and caps on St. Patrick's Day. The tradition was started in 1990 when Roger Clemens purchased green caps for the entire team.

March 18, 2013 ... The Red Sox held a 2-1 lead through six innings, largely because Clay Buchholz allowed only one hit and one run in his five innings. Boston took its 2-0 lead in the first. Shane Victorino hit a leadoff triple, and after Jackie Bradley Jr. reached on an infield single and Jarrod Saltalamacchia walked to load the bases, Ryan Lavarnway lined a two-run single to left. The Pirates used the long ball to take the lead and then add on. Gaby Sanchez homered in the seventh with a man on vs. Chris Carpenter, then Mike McKenry hit a solo blast in the eighth. The Sox got one back in the ninth on Jeremy Hazelbaker's RBI single, but lost to the Pirates 4 to 3.  Buchholz ran his scoreless streak to 9 1/3 innings before allowing the Walker homer.  Daniel Nava, vying for a job as the backup outfielder/first baseman, helped his cause with two hits. Lavarnway, who had been struggling the entire camp, had the two-run single.  Koji Uehara (another scoreless inning) looked solid as well.

March 19, 2013 ... Trailing, 7-1, the Sox sent 12 batters to the plate in the eighth inning and scored six runs. Jonathan Diaz had a two-run single before Jackie Bradley Jr.'s single to left field tied the score. But Baltimore's Danny Valencia, who played 10 games for the Red Sox last season, hit a home run over everything off Terry Doyle in the top of the ninth giving the Orioles an 8 to 7 win.  Will Middlebrooks was 2 for 3 with two hard-hit balls, a single and a double to right-center that hopped into the bullpen. Daniel Bard, who had not allowed a run this spring, had a rough seventh inning. He gave up three runs on two hits, a hit batter, a walk, and a balk.

March 20, 2013 ... All four of the Yankees' runs were scored in the second inning when Felix Doubront lost his mechanics and allowed five hits, a walk, and a wild pitch. The Red Sox never recovered and couldn't solve Vidal Nuno, who pitched five two-hit innings for the Yankees in their 4-0 shutout win.  The only Sox player with multiple hits was Jackie Bradley Jr., who got two of the four.  David Ortiz took 50 more swings in the batting cage for the second straight day, but still no word on when he'll start his running program.

March 21, 2013 ... After Phillies starter Cole Hamels allowed one run over six innings, the Sox scored five runs with two outs in the seventh. Jarrod Saltalamacchia and Daniel Nava walked against Michael Stutes. When Jose Iglesias grounded to short, the throw to second was late and pinch runner Matty Johnson scored from second. After Jacoby Ellsbury walked, Shane Victorino slammed a three-run triple to right. Dustin Pedroia (2 for 2, 2 walks) doubled in a run.  The Red Sox beat the Phillies 6 to 1.  John Lackey worked five strong innings against a representative Phillies lineup. He allowed one run on four hits and struck out one without a walk.

March 22, 2013 ... The game was scoreless until the eighth inning, when an error by third baseman Drew Sutton allowed the Blue Jays to score the only run. The Jays had seven regulars in the lineup and beat the Red Sox 1 to 0.  Alfredo Aceves pitched five two-hit innings with five strikeouts and two walks in his best outing of camp.  Stephen Drew continued to work out and hit in Fort Myers, but there is no timetable on when he'll get into a game as he recovers from a concussion. Ortiz continued to work on his hitting but hasn't run yet.

March 23, 2013 ... The Sox scored three runs off Pirates starter Jeff Locke, a North Conway, N.H., native, and took a 3-1 lead into the eighth inning. Junichi Tazawa, who already had pitched 1 2/3 innings, got an out before walking two. Anthony Carter came in and allowed two hits, one a two-run homer by Pedro Alvarez that gave the Pirates the lead and 5 to 3 win.  Clay Buchholz went 5 1/3 innings, allowing one run on four hits with a walk and five strikeouts. He has given up two earned runs over 18 2/3 innings and struck out 16.

March 24, 2013 ... The Red Sox got out to a quick 6-0 lead against Cliff Lee thanks to Jackie Bradley Jr.'s three-run, second-inning homer. Bradley sent the ball into a jet stream to the bullpen in left. Boston added to its lead with three in the third.  The Phillies came roaring back in the eighth on Chase Utley's two-run bomb and Ryan Howard's solo shot against Noe Ramirez. Boston won it with a run in the ninth when Shannon Wilkerson singled to third base, scoring Xander Bogaerts. for the 7 to 6 win.  Bradley's homer and four RBIs may have solidified his place on the 25-man roster. Mike Napoli went 3 for 4 to improve his average to .314. Jose Iglesias also stroked three hits and is now batting .273. Middlebrooks went 2 for 4 with a double and an RBI. Andrew Bailey threw a scoreless inning. Victorino made a great catch in center, robbing Howard of extra bases.  Daniel Bard allowed two hits and a run, although he struck out the side, in his inning of work. His stuff is still good, but his mechanics continue to not be consistent; his arm appeared to be in different slots.

Faced with the possibility of a dank April, dubious prospects, and swaths of empty red and blue seats, the Red Sox are ripping a page from the strategy manuals of down-market teams across Major League Baseball. They are offering free food and reduced-price beer. Yes, at Red Sox games, though only in April.  Kids under 14 will eat free -- well, before the third inning, provided they go to specially designated concession stands to pick up their Fenway Frank, Goldfish, and carton of juice. Around the park, buy one hot dog, get a second for free. Hot chocolate will be sold for half-price. And beer, which flows from the Fenway taps like liquid gold and costs almost as much, will be sold for $5 per 12-ounce cup, down from between $7.50-$8.50.

March 25, 2013 ... Seven homers, five by the Orioles gave them a 12 to 9 win. The Red Sox took a 3-0 lead on Will Middlebrooks' RBI single and Christian Vazquez's two-run homer in the second. Wilson Betemit's three-run homer off Sox starter Graham Godfrey tied it in the bottom half of the inning. After the Sox broke the tie with a run in the third on consecutive singles by Jonny Gomes, Mike Napoli, and Middlebrooks, the Orioles immediately responded with three runs as the Orioles took a 9-4 lead, but the Red Sox scored two in the sixth and three in the seventh to tie it.  Gomes hit a two-run homer and Jackie Bradley Jr. a two-run single against tough reliever Pedro Strop. Hardy added a three-run homer in the seventh.  Jacoby Ellsbury reported soreness in the right ankle he rolled Sunday, but manager John Farrell said Ellsbury could be back on the field by Wednesday.

March 26, 2013 ... John Lackey, recovering from Tommy John surgery, went 5 1/3 innings Tuesday against Tampa Bay's Triple A team. He allowed three runs on seven hits, with seven strikeouts and four walks. He threw 101 pitches, 54 strikes.  Jon Lester will be the Opening Day starter against the Yankees in New York.  Lyle Overbay was released.

March 27, 2013 ... The Sox had a 1-0 lead through six innings. Daniel Bard allowed three in the seventh and lefthander Ryan-Rowland Smith two more in the ninth, as the Red Sox lost to the Marlins 5 to 1.  Jon Lester, Andrew Miller, and Andrew Bailey held the Marlins to four hits over the first six innings and struck out six.   Jonny Gomes was 2 for 4 with a home run.  Will Middlebrooks walked twice.  Jose Iglesias (1 for 2) is hitting .283 this spring. He was picked off, however.   Bard may have punched his ticket to Pawtucket by allowing three runs on three hits and a walk in the seventh. He has given up six earned runs in his last three outings and that doesn't include a rocky inning in a minor league game. His control is wavering again.  Stephen Drew, who has not played since being hit in the head by a pitch March 7, will not be with the Red Sox on Opening Day.

March 28, 2013 ... The Sox scored twice in the sixth inning to take a 3-0 lead. David Ross had a two-run single. Three more came across in the eighth inning. Jackie Bradley Jr. (26 of 59, .441) singled in a run, as did Ross and Jose Iglesias, as the Red Sox beat the Twins 6 to 1.  Clay Buchholz, Joel Hanrahan, and Koji Uehara allowed two hits over the first six innings and struck out nine.  Jose Iglesias was 2 for 4 and is 19 of 64 (.297) this spring.  Alfredo Aceves had an adventurous two innings. He allowed a run on three hits and a walk and also committed a throwing error. But he did strike out three.  The Sox had Jacoby Ellsbury back in the lineup after missing two games with a twisted right ankle. He was 2 for 3 with a double and a walk.  Shane Victorino, who missed Wednesday's game with a sore right wrist, was 2 for 3.

March 29, 2013 ... The Sox did not get their first hit until the sixth inning when Jacoby Ellsbury had a one-out single. They finished with only six hits and lost to the Twins 8 to 3.  Pedro Ciriaco, who was slowed by back spasms, started at shortstop and played into the eighth inning. He was 1 for 3 with a triple. The Sox wanted to make sure he was set to start the season.  David Ortiz (right heel) and Stephen Drew (concussion) are increasing the intensity of their on-field workouts, but neither seems ready for a game.

March 30, 2013 ... Daniel Nava had two hits and drove in a run as the Sox wrapped up a long stay in Florida with a 4 to 2 win over the Twins. Shane Victorino had a two-run single.  Felix Doubront threw five shutout innings in his spring wrap-up. He scattered six hits, walked one, and struck out six. After a slow start to his spring because of a sore shoulder and poor conditioning, Doubront had a 3.00 ERA in five spring starts.  Righthanded reliever Koji Uehara retired both batters he faced to complete a dominating spring. In 10 appearances, Uehara threw 92/3 scoreless innings. He allowed four hits, walked two, and struck out 12.  Closer Joel Hanrahan allowed a run in the ninth on two hits and walk. Counting the game against Puerto Rico's WBC team, Jon Lester, Clay Buchholz, Ryan Dempster, Doubront, and John Lackey had a 2.13 ERA this spring.  Lackey stayed behind and will pitch four innings in a minor league intrasquad game Sunday morning to finish his work. He then will fly to New York.  The Red Sox sent down Ryan Sweeney and Allen Webster to Pawtucket  and Daniel Bard to Portland.