Red Sox Split For Two Games
FORT MYERS, FL (CBS) - The Boston Red Sox will split up once again Friday afternoon to play two Grapefruit league games.
Manager Terry Francona will take half the team to Kissimmee to take on the Houston Astros, while DeMarlo Hale will manage the other half against the Twins in Lee County. It's the third of four split-squad days for the Red Sox.
Jon Lester gets the start against the Twins, just his second start of the spring. In his first outing, also against the Twins, Lester threw two innings, allowing one hit and striking out one. Opening day is just three weeks away, and right now, Lester would line up to be the Red Sox opening day starter against the Texas Rangers.
Tim Wakefield, Hideki Okajima and Jonathan Papelbon will also pitch against the Twins.
With a win, the Red Sox can clinch their fifth straight Mayor's Cup title against the cross-town rival Twins.
Here are the lineups for the two games:
Red Sox vs. Twins
Jacoby Ellsbury CF
Carl Crawford LF
David Ortiz DH
Kevin Youkilis 3B
J.D. Drew RF
Jason Varitek C
Nate Spears 2B
Drew Sutton 1B
Yamaico Navarro SS
Red Sox vs. Astros
Marco Scutaro SS
Jed Lowrie 1B
Dustin Pedroia 2B
Ryan Kalish CF
Darnell McDonald LF
Daniel Nava DH
Josh Reddick RF
Will Middlebrooks 3B
Mark Wagner C