SARASOTA, Fla. — Clay Buchholz allowed three runs in three innings as the Boston Red Sox defeated the Baltimore Orioles 5-4 Sunday in a spring training game.

Buchholz faces long odds as he competes for a spot in a rotation that has Josh Beckett, Tim Wakefield, Jon Lester, Daisuke Matsuzaka and free-agent signee John Lackey.

“It’s awkward,” Buchholz said. “I have to win a spot. I know regardless of how I pitch in the spring, I have to show them during the season I can pitch in Boston.”

A year ago, Buchholz, who pitched a no-hitter against the Orioles in Sept. 2007, split the season between Triple-A Pawtucket and the Red Sox.

“I can’t do anything about it,” he said. “It’s no added pressure or added stress.”

NOTES

CUBS: Chicago reliever Angel Guzman is considering whether to have shoulder surgery even though he has been told the procedure won’t necessarily save his career.

“It’s pretty sad, but what can I do? I’m still breathing,” Guzman said one day after learning he had a torn ligament that could sideline him for the season.

After examining Guzman and looking at the MRI of his shoulder, team medical personnel recommended four to six weeks of rest followed by gradual rehabilitation.

But Guzman plans to get a second opinion as soon as possible from Dr. James Andrews, who repaired Guzman’s torn labrum in 2003 and performed Tommy John surgery on the pitcher’s right elbow in 2007.

• Utility infielder Andres Blanco is expected to miss 10 to 14 days with what the team called “a mild to moderate ligament sprain in his right knee.”

 

CARDINALS: Center fielder Cameron Maybin strained his left groin in the eighth inning of St. Louis’ 7-4 victory over Florida on Sunday.

Maybin was injured while stepping on third base as he was trying to score from first on Donnie Murphy’s double and is not expected to play for at least several days.

 

DODGERS: Catcher Russell Martin is expected to miss opening day after an MRI revealed a pulled groin.

Martin first felt discomfort during a running drill a few days before the Dodgers’ first spring game Friday. He started Friday’s game against the White Sox and played five innings, even stealing a base.

A.J. Ellis, who has just 13 career major league at-bats, will get the bulk of the catching duties with Martin out. The Dodgers also have veteran backup Brad Ausmus, who turns 41 in April.

 

DIAMONDBACKS: Right-hander Brandon Webb played catch Sunday, but it’s unclear when he’ll throw again.

Webb, who had shoulder surgery in August, initially was going to throw to hitters Sunday or today, but that session was pushed back a couple of days. Manager A.J. Hinch said Webb might throw a bullpen session next instead of live batting practice, but did not set a date.

 

ROYALS: Third baseman Alex Gordon is expected to be sidelined for three to four weeks with a broken right thumb.

Gordon was injured when he slid headfirst into second base on an attempted steal in the second inning of the Royals’ 2-1 victory over the Texas Rangers on Saturday.

 

TWINS: Closer Joe Nathan is headed back to Minnesota to get his surgically repaired right elbow examined. Nathan said he felt fine while working out, but there was some soreness when he threw 20 pitches Saturday against Boston.

• The Twins signed pitcher Nick Blackburn to a four-year, $14 million deal, including an $8 million club option for 2014.