FORT MYERS, Fla. — It appears that Jose Iglesias will be the Red Sox starting shortstop on opening day.

Iglesias, 23, who played with the Portland Sea Dogs in his rookie pro season in 2010, was originally destined for Triple-A Pawtucket after the Red Sox signed free agent Stephen Drew in the off-season.

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Ryan Dempster of the Red Sox pitched five innings of Tuesday’s 8-7 exhibition loss to Baltimore, allowing three runs and six hits. Dempster, who pitched for the Portland Sea Dogs in 1998, has a 3.06 ERA this spring. The Associated Press

But Drew, 30, has been sidelined with a concussion since March 7, when he was hit in the head by a pitch. Drew flew to the University of Pittsburgh Tuesday to undergo further tests.

When asked if Drew could be ready for the April 1 opener, Manager John Farrell said, “that window is closing.”

There has never been a question that Iglesias can field the position — he may already be one of the best in the game. But his short sample as a major league hitter (8 for 68) has not been impressive.

This spring, Iglesias looks better at the plate. He’s batting .233, including a 1-for-2 day on Tuesday.

“My approach is different. My swing. A little bit of everything,” Iglesias said. “I have more confidence. I’m more consistent. Everything is good.”

DAVID ORTIZ, the other Red Sox regular who will begin the year on the disabled list, took 50 swings off a tee on Tuesday.

Ortiz, who is still trying to come back from an Achilles tendon injury last year, had not swung a bat in eight days.

“We’ll see how he comes out of that when we see him (today),” Farrell said.

IN TUESDAY’S GAME, Ryan Dempster gave up as many runs (three) as in his three previous starts. All three runs came in the third inning.

“Might not have been as sharp with his strike throwing as we’ve seen in previous outings,” Farrell said. “But he used all his pitches. And he got two double-play grounders.”

Dempster allowed six hits in five innings. His ERA is 3.06 as he remains a part of Boston’s plans for an improved rotation.

“It’s been nice,” Dempster said of the spring. “Comes from making quality pitches. I’m feeling good and I’ll keep building.”

Dempster, 35, came up in the Marlins’ organization and pitched for the Sea Dogs in 1998, going 4-3 (3.22 ERA) in seven starts.

DANIEL BARD was the third Boston pitcher in the game, following a 1-2-3 sixth by Junichi Tazawa. Bard allowed three runs in the seventh on two hits, a walk, a hit-batter and a balk.

“I made adjustments,” Bard said, “but it was a little too late.”

Farrell said the cure for Bard is simple. “It’s a matter of executing right from the start.”

With Bard having an option to the minors, he is still a candidate to begin the season in Pawtucket.

WILL MIDDLEBROOKS paced the Boston regulars with two hits, including a double, to improve his spring average to .313. Most of the offense came from the subs, who scored six runs in the eighth inning to tie the game 7-7. Jackie Bradley Jr. (.439) had one of the hits.

BALTIMORE WON the game 8-7 on Danny Valencia’s ninth-inning home run off Terry Doyle. Valencia was with Boston for the last two months of last season.

Two former Sea Dogs subbed in for Baltimore Tuesday: catcher Luis Exposito (0 for 1) and shortstop Yamaico Navarro (1 for 1, RBI).

Kevin Thomas can be contacted at 791-6411 or at: kthomas@pressherald.com

Twitter: ClearTheBases

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