CJ HADDAD Red Sox outfielder Francy Cordero launches a pitch over the bullpens in right field at JetBlue Park as part of Boston's 8-3 win over Minnesota Sunday afternoon.

2021’s edition of a Spring Training tradition now 29 years running culminated Sunday afternoon at Jet Blue Park as the Boston Red Sox secured the 2021 Chairman’s Cup defeating the Minnesota Twins, 8-3.  

Formerly known as the Mayor’s Cup, the Chairman’s Cup is awarded to the series winner between the two teams that call Fort Myers home prior to the season. Boston inches closer to tying the all-time series, one that the Twins now lead 14-13-2.

Right-handed pitcher Josh Winckowski made the start for the Sox and was solid over three innings of work. The 22-year-old prospect acquired from the Mets as part of the Andrew Benintendi trade this past offseason allowed one earned run and two hits, walking one and striking out one in his outing.  

Winckowski, a Fort Myers native, was tagged as the Mets’ No. 20 prospect by Baseball America at the time of the trade and holds a 3.35 ERA over 263 Minor League innings.  

The Sox wasted no time getting to work offensively as outfielders Enrique Hernan-dez and Franchy Cordero hit back-to-back home runs to start the bottom of the first.  

The Twins would tie things up in the fourth before shortstop Xander Bogaerts singled home Chris Herrmann in the fifth.  

In the seventh, Sox slugger J.D. Martinez doubled home two runs and prospect Michael Gettys followed up with an RBI single of his own.

A two-run shot by Cesar Puello in the eighth would cap the Boston scoring.  

Hernandez named leadoff hitter 

After Sunday’s game, manager Alex Cora confirmed that Hernandez would start the season atop a Red Sox order that should perform well this season if Spring Training has been any indication of their potential offensive output.  

“We challenge him to get on base and he’s done that the whole spring,” Cora said of Hernandez. He’s done a good job staying on pitches, working the count, getting his walks, going the other way – what else can we ask of him? He’s a good player all around. We believe that he can do the job and that he can get on base.” 

Going into Tuesday’s Spring Training finale, the Red Sox are tops in the Grapefruit League when it comes to runs scored, batting average, home runs, OPS, RBI and slugging.  

Boston pitching impressive in shutout win 

Red Sox pitchers allowed just four hits and struck out nine Atlanta hitters as part of a 4-0 win over the Braves in North Port Monday afternoon.  

Tanner Houck worked 4 1/3 scoreless innings, allowing just two hits, one walk and struck out six in a winning effort.  

“He was really good,” Cora said of Houck’s outing. “In his delivery – the ball was all over the place, but he threw strikes which is the most important thing. It was a positive outing for him.” 

Cora called Houck an “option” for the Sox moving forward, as some players missed time due to COVID-19 quarantine and some “dead arm” issues for lefty starter Eduardo Rodriguez.  

“There’s a chance he can be part of this,” Cora said.  

Houck said the start felt good and that his work in the weight and training room is starting to pay off.  

Boston would hit three homers in the third inning off starter Ian Anderson in alternating fashion. Hernandez hit his second in as many games (third of the spring overall) before Martinez followed up two batters later.

After a Bogaerts single, Marwin Gonzalez would take Anderson deep to right field to chase him from the game.  

Sox get players back after COVID-19 ‘false positive’ 

Over the weekend, closer candidate Matt Barnes received a positive COVID-19 test that resulted in he and seven other players were put into quarantine due to contact tracing.  

On Monday, it was announced the PCR test Barnes took was discovered to be a non-infectious positive. Barnes and the other players were cleared and returned to the team.  

“He got cleared by the committee and I’m just happy he’s going to be back with us, and that we’ll be at full strength in a couple of days,” Cora said.  

When asked if the days off will impact the players who missed time, especially the pitchers, Cora said, “We’re about to see. I’ll call (Barnes), see where he’s at, and go from there. It’s too soon to make decisions about where they’re at, I’m just happy that they’re going to be with us, that’s the most important thing. 

“Now that we know where we’re at, we’ll plan for the weekend and we have options now. We’ll see who can perform this weekend and go from there.” 

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The Red Sox open the season this Thursday at Fenway against the Baltimore Orioles

— Connect with this reporter on Twitter: @haddad_cj