FORT MYERS, Fla. — Clay Buchholz allowed four runs in four innings, and Boston’s defense committed four of the game’s seven errors Tuesday in an 11-3 loss by the Boston Red Sox to the Atlanta Braves.
Buchholz gave up two earned runs and five hits, striking out six.
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WHO: Minnesota Twins vs. Boston Red Sox
WHEN: 1:05 p.m. Wednesday
“He threw a couple of pitches up, which they were able to square up,” Manager John Farrell said. “That was kind of the story of the day. When we missed location they hit the ball hard. I thought Clay threw a number of good curveballs, a number of change-ups.”
A throwing error by second baseman Dustin Pedroia led to a pair of unearned runs in the fourth.
“I don’t even know how hard I was throwing,” Buchholz said. “Velocity comes when you’re in a stadium with 45,000 people. I’m more worried about the ball ending up where I wanted it to go. Overall, 3 of 4 pitches today were good. Got to target the fastball command and take care of it.”
Mookie Betts was 2 for 3 and raised his batting average to .462.
“I got a couple of good pitches to hit and put good swings on them,” he said. “I came here early to spring training and got in plenty of work.”
Betts is competing with Jackie Bradley Jr. and Rusney Castillo for playing time in center.
“It’s not a competition where you hate each other,” Betts said. “We all root for each other. We want each other to do well, no matter what.”
NOTES: Right-hander Joe Kelly, who left Monday’s game with soreness in the biceps on his throwing arm, felt better. “A little bit of soreness there,” Farrell said. “We’re going to get his arm moving with some light catch. He went through a full workup here today. There’s no imaging.” … Catcher Christian Vazquez has been held out for a few days because of elbow soreness. “We don’t want to push this by any means,” Farrell said. … Right-hander Koji Uehara was scheduled to pitch but was scratched. “He strained his left hamstring running this morning,” Farrell said. “That’s why we held him out. He’s day to day right now.”
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