Twins take finale from Sox 7-3
The loud grunting noise let out by Boston Red Sox pitcher Brad Penny in the fourth inning Thursday at Hammond Stadium wasn’t a sign of stress or overexerting himself to prove he was prepared for the regular season.
The burly right-hander just happens to grunt, a lot, on the mound.
“I usually grunt,” Penny said after the Red Sox’s final spring game in Fort Myers. “I’m a max effort guy.”
Penny hit 96 mph on the radar gun on that pitch, which resulted in a double play, and worked five innings. He thought it was his best overall outing of the spring and is expected to complete the Red Sox five-man rotation.
Pitching concerns were an issue for both the Red Sox (19-13) and the host Minnesota Twins (18-13) in their final spring meeting Thursday. The Twins prevailed 7-3 for their second win in five meetings with the Red Sox, who already had clinched the Mayor’s Cup.
The Twins’ biggest development happened prior to the game when they placed right-hander Scott Baker on the 15-day disabled list with stiffness in his right shoulder. Baker, who signed a $15.25 million, four-year contract last month, originally was announced as the Twins’ opening-day starter.
Left-hander Francisco Liriano now will assume that role Monday when they host the Seattle Mariners at the Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome in Minneapolis.
Liriano started Thursday and threw three innings. He allowed one run on two hits and struck out three.
Baker, 27, who is eligible to come off the DL on April 12, could miss only one turn in the rotation but was disappointed about not being able to make his first opening-day start.
“It stinks,” he said. “The timing is not very good, but starting opening day is secondary to being healthy for the rest of the season.”
Liriano, 25, has overcome his share of adversity, too. He missed all of the 2007 season after undergoing Tommy John surgery on his left elbow.
He struggled early in 2008, while still recovering, then won six of his last seven decisions after August 1.
“It’s an honor for me,” Liriano said of his first opening-day start, “but I feel bad for Baker.”
The Twins are counting on both pitchers for the long haul and hope to have star catcher, Joe Mauer, back as soon as possible. Mauer also begins the season on the disabled list with a back injury.
With Mauer and first baseman Justin Morneau out of the lineup Thursday, the void in the Twins’ batting order was filled by Michael Cuddyer and Joe Crede.
Cuddyer, hitting in the cleanup spot, went 2-for-2 and connected for an RBI double and RBI triple off Penny. Crede, the No. 5 hitter, added an RBI single.
Jason Bay touched Twins’ reliever Brian Duensing for a two-run homer in the fourth, his fourth of the spring.
Penny, a two-time All-Star with the Los Angeles Dodgers, signed a one-year deal with the Red Sox in January. He experienced weakness in his pitching shoulder early in the spring and there was concern he might not be ready for the start of the season.
Penny allowed five hits in his five innings Thursday, walking none and striking out three. He continued his progress, though, particularly feeling stronger and showing more velocity.
“I was able to let it go and be more aggressive,” he said.
The Red Sox wrapped up their exhibition schedule in Florida. They’ll play the New York Mets at new Citi Field Friday and Saturday before opening the regular season Monday against the Tampa Bay Rays at Fenway Park.
The Twins play the Pittsburgh Pirates in Bradenton Friday and then host the Pirates Saturday at Hammond Stadium, before breaking camp and returning to the Twin Cities.
Boston 010 200 000 – 3 7 0
Minnesota 100 202 20x – 7 12 1
W – Luis Ayala. L – Felix Doubront.
2B – Michael Cuddyer (M), Matt Tolbert (M), Rocco Baldelli (B). 3B – Cuddyer (M). HR – Jason Bay (B).