FORT MYERS, Fla. – Daniel Bard isn’t concerned with the stamina needed to start. He’s concentrating on his control.

Bard was hit hard, with Shane Robinson’s bases-loaded triple in the eighth inning chasing him Thursday as the St. Louis Cardinals beat the Red Sox, 9-6.

Bard, trying to convert to a starter after serving as Boston’s setup man, allowed seven earned runs in 2 2/3 innings.

“Physically I could throw more pitches,” Bard said. “Obviously (I) just wasn’t in the zone, wasn’t throwing strike one. (I) just need to be a little more aggressive early in the count.”

The Cardinals trailed 6-4 entering the eighth, but Robinson, a reserve center fielder, cleared the bases with a triple off Bard.

“I actually felt pretty comfortable because I faced Bard all three years of college,” said Robinson, who was at Florida State when Bard was at North Carolina. “I was looking for something I could do some damage with. He gave me a pitch.”

Boston starter Alfredo Aceves, one of the pitchers Bard is competing with, scattered three hits over four innings and struck out four, allowing just one run.

The start was Aceves’ first of the spring. He has a 1.00 ERA in nine innings.

Aceves allowed three hits in the first two innings before retiring six consecutive batters.

With rumors swirling about how the Red Sox may use him, Aceves believes he’s valuable in whatever role.

“The rhythm of the game was a priority for me personally,” Aceves said when asked about Thursday’s outing. “So far so good (this spring). I think everything is good.”

Red Sox Manager Bobby Valentine said before the game that he wants to see all the fourth and fifth starter candidates throw two more times before making any decisions.

Dustin Pedroia hit a solo home run in the fourth to give the Red Sox a 4-1 lead. Jacoby Ellsbury was 2 for 3 for the Red Sox.

• The Chicago Cubs sent right-hander Aaron Kurcz, 21, to Boston as part of the compensation deal for hiring Theo Epstein. Kurcz was 5-4 with a 3.28 ERA last season as a starter and reliever at Class A Daytona.

ROCKIES: Starter Jhoulys Chacin left with a blister on his right index finger after throwing three scoreless innings against the Chicago Cubs.

ROYALS: Kansas City signed shortstop Alcides Escobar to a $10.5 million, four-year contract extension that includes two option years that could drive the value to $21.75 million.

• Eric Hosmer drove in four runs and Lorenzo Cain homered as Kansas City topped the Los Angeles Dodgers 8-5 at Glendale, Ariz.

NATIONALS: Pitcher Chien-Ming Wang left a start in the third inning with a strained left hamstring after colliding with catcher Russell Martin of the New York Yankees.

PHILLIES: Pitcher Roy Halladay said he’s not injured and criticized a report suggesting something may be wrong with him because he’s struggled in spring training.

YANKEES: Michael Pineda moved a step closer to securing a spot in the rotation with 32/3 strong innings as New York beat Washington 8-5 at Viera, Fla.

ANGELS: C.J. Wilson pitched well for the third straight time as Los Angeles defeated Cincinnati 3-1 at Tempe, Ariz.

ATHLETICS: Derek Norris hit a grand slam with two outs in the top of the ninth inning, capping a five-run rally and lifting Oakland to an 11-7 victory against Texas at Surprise, Ariz.

BREWERS: Left-hander Chris Narveson pitched 32/3 scoreless innings and Aramis Ramirez got two hits as Milwaukee defeated San Diego 6-4 at Phoenix.

PIRATES: Garrett Jones homered and drove in four runs, and Pittsburgh scored 10 times in the first inning to rout Minnesota 17-6 at Fort Myers, Fla.

TIGERS: Justin Verlander struck out eight in 32/3 innings and Detroit beat Baltimore 4-2 at Lakeland, Fla.

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