FORT MYERS, Fla. – The Boston Red Sox pounded out 13 hits but couldn’t overcome fielding mistakes, stranded runners and questionable relief Monday night as the Tampa Bay Rays continued their hot spring training with a 9-3 win.

Evan Longoria and Nevin Ashley hit solo home runs off Boston starter Josh Beckett. But the real damage came against the bullpen, as Tampa Bay scored six runs in the last three innings off two auditioning left-handers.

Both Scott Schoeneweis and Alan Embree threw two-thirds of an inning. Schoeneweis allowed two runs and Embree gave up four (three earned).

“Schoeneweis was a little too amped up and Alan just didn’t command very well,” Boston Manager Terry Francona said.

The Red Sox (13-14) left 12 runners on base and committed four errors. The Rays (18-7) had 11 hits.

Boston enjoyed some good moments from Beckett, who had eight strikeouts and allowed two earned runs over six innings. Mike Lowell went 2 for 3 and Marco Scutaro was 2 for 4.

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PIRATES: Pittsburgh removed former starting right fielder Brandon Moss from its 40-man roster and now has 10 days to trade, release or waive him.

Moss, a former Red Sox prospect acquired in the Jason Bay trade in July 2008, hit .081 this spring. He hit .232 with 13 home runs and 64 RBI in 178 games with Pittsburgh.

Moss was replaced on the 40-man roster by right-hander Hayden Penn, who was claimed on waivers from the Florida Marlins.

• Manager John Russell plans to begin the season with his pitcher hitting eighth and moving Andrew McCutchen from leadoff to second in the batting order.

Second baseman Akinori Iwamuri will bat leadoff, and shortstop Ronny Cedeno will be in the No. 9 spot.

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NATIONALS: Manager Jim Riggleman said the team has settled on four-fifths of its starting rotation, with 1997 World Series MVP Livan Hernandez and Craig Stammen earning spots along with opening day starter John Lannan and Jason Marquis.

Riggleman said the fifth starter’s job is “up in the air,” with Scott Olsen, Garrett Mock and J.D. Martin in the running.

 

ROYALS: Alberto Callaspo may not be ready for the season opener April 5 against Detroit because of an irritation in his right side.

Callaspo hit .300 last season with 41 doubles and 11 home runs. He is slated to bat third and play third base.

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Outfielder Rick Ankiel, who had not played since March 11 because of a sore right ankle, returned to the lineup as the designated hitter and contributed a run-producing double in a 10-2 loss to the Angels.

 

ORIOLES: Reliever Koji Uehara expects to start the season on the disabled list because of a strained left hamstring.

Uehara hasn’t pitched since March 18, when he left a game against Toronto with hamstring tightness.

He started 12 games last season before being shut down with an elbow injury in June.

 

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MARINERS: Oft-injured left-hander Erik Bedard took his first step toward reinforcing Seattle’s jumbled rotation by tossing about 20 pitches off the mound out of the stretch position.

Game action remains far off for Bedard, who had surgery in August to repair a torn labrum in his left shoulder. The Mariners estimate he could pitch again by June.

 

METS: Jose Reyes is a step closer to appearing in a game for the first time this spring.

The Mets’ shortstop took batting practice against minor-league pitchers and said the session went better than expected.

Reyes has participated in six workouts since returning to camp Wednesday, following a three-week absence with a hyperactive thyroid that prevented him from doing any physical activity.

He said he still doesn’t know when he will get into a game or if he will be ready for opening day.

 


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