FORT MYERS, Fla.- Josh Beckett of the Boston Red Sox found some things to like about his outing Friday night. That said, he keeps giving up runs.

Beckett was hit hard, tagged for seven runs in six innings in an 11-8 loss to the Toronto Blue Jays in the first spring meeting of the AL East rivals.

Beckett allowed 11 hits. He walked none, struck out five and hit a batter.

“Results aside, I felt like I did some things that we’ve been working on,” Beckett said.

“I felt like they were a little comfortable for the first time. I got to take some positives away from that. But obviously the results are what they are.”

Beckett has struggled through the exhibition season. He said that he’s getting more accustomed with some changes that he’s made to his delivery.

“Yeah, especially out of the stretch,” he said. “I had plenty of practice today on it.”

Beckett allowed the first batter in each inning to reach base.

“The two good things were he got real stretched out and he felt real good physically,” Red Sox Manager Terry Francona said. “He made some mistakes. It seemed like the first hitter of almost every inning was on. So he was pitching out of the stretch.

“Saying that, once he got to that point I thought he made some good pitches. There were some pitches that still wandered back over the middle, got hit pretty good. But he feels real good physically. I think it’s one of those things where in March, you’re glad he feels good and the runs don’t count.”

Toronto starter Jesse Litsch gave up four runs and 11 hits in 42/3 innings. He later went to a hospital because of dehydration.

Corey Patterson was hit in the helmet by a 95 mph fastball from Red Sox reliever Daniel Bard. Patterson walked off the field on his own but went to the hospital for a CT scan.

n The Red Sox bullpen situation cleared Friday as Scott Atchison and Michael Bowden were optioned to Triple-A Pawtucket. Boston also reassigned Rich Hill, Andrew Miller, Brandon Duckworth and Randy Williams to minor league camp.