FORT MYERS, Fla. — Brian Johnson allowed three runs on four hits in 22/3 innings of work and the Boston Red Sox lost to a St. Louis Cardinals split squad 7-2 in a spring training game at Jet Blue Park.

Johnson struck out four and walked three for Boston. He allowed two runs in the second and one before departing in the third.

Tim Tebow hopes to make a good impression on the New York Mets in spring training. He started off well, hitting nine home runs in batting practice on Monday. Associated Press/John Bazemore

Xander Bogaerts and Mitch Moreland had two hits each for the Red Sox.

St. Louis starter Michael Wacha allowed four hits and an unearned run in two innings. Jose Martinez hit two home runs and drove in four.

YANKEES 4, ORIOLES 1: All-Star third baseman Manny Machado started at shortstop for Baltimore in place of J.J. Hardy, who’s expected to be out until mid-March with back trouble.

Vidal Nuno, acquired this month from the Dodgers, pitched two scoreless innings in relief for the Orioles.

Aaron Judge tripled and reached base three times for New York.

NOTES

METS: Tim Tebow quickly got into the swing of spring training, hitting nine home runs in batting practice during his first workout with New York.

The former Heisman Trophy winner and NFL quarterback is hoping to make to the majors as an outfielder. He signed a minor league contract last September.

Tebow, 29, played in the Arizona Fall League, struggling against top prospects from other teams. He hit .194 and struck out 20 times in 62 at-bats for the Scottsdale Scorpions.

“It’s so much about how you’re able to handle things mentally, and that’s not just the highs, it’s also the lows,” the lefty hitter said.

“Baseball can really exploit that if you’re not ready for it – to be ready for the droughts and be able to handle the highs and lows. I think I was 0 for my first 13 (in Arizona), so I was like, ‘OK, that’s going to happen.’ But I’m going to bounce back, and I think I was able to do that,” he said.

Tebow said similar poor results as a member of the New York Jets in 2012 also were part of a learning process.

“I’m grateful for the highs there – which weren’t really many – but for a lot of the lows,” said Tebow, who was released after one season with the Jets in which he threw just eight passes and ran 32 times.

RANGERS: Josh Hamilton’s bid to make Texas’ Opening Day roster has ended after yet another surgery on his left knee.

Hamilton had an arthroscopic procedure in Houston to repair some damaged meniscus cartilage in his left knee after experiencing pain last week while running at training camp. There were no issues with the surgically repaired ACL in that knee.

The 2010 AL MVP, in camp on a minor league contract, faces six weeks of rehabilitation before he will be able to start running again, then would need several weeks or more of baseball activity to be ready to play in games.

CUBS: Chicago hope to meet with city officials in the next few months to plan a bid for the 2020 All-Star game.

During a City Club of Chicago luncheon, Cubs Chairman Tom Ricketts reiterated the team’s desire to host the game at Wrigley Field. He says he’s not sure exactly when discussions with the city will happen.

Mayor Rahm Emanuel helped bring the NFL draft to Chicago in 2015 and 2016 after decades in New York. The Cubs beat Cleveland for their first championship since 1908 last fall in a World Series that drew as a whole its highest rating since 2004.

An All-Star game in 2020 would be a huge showcase after a $600 million transformation to baseball’s second-oldest ballpark and its surroundings.

“We’re starting the dialogue right now,” Ricketts said. “I’m not sure what specific meetings are set. I think it’s going to have to be a team effort. We’ll work with the city.”

REDS: Anthony DeSclafani was scratched from his first scheduled start of spring training because of a tender elbow, another setback for Cincinnati’s top starter.

The 26-year-old right-hander felt some tenderness in his elbow after throwing batting practice this month. Manager Bryan Price said skipping the start, scheduled for Tuesday, was more of a precaution.

DeSclafani was on target to start the Reds’ season opener last year before straining an oblique during his final spring training appearance. He had setbacks during his recovery and wasn’t activated until June 10. He made 20 starts, going 9-5 with a 3.28 ERA.

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