FORT MYERS, Fla.

Clay Buchholz was shaky in his spring debut for Boston, giving up three hits and three walks in 1 1/3 innings as the Red Sox beat the Baltimore Orioles 8-7 Sunday.

Buchholz allowed four runs, one of them earned. He is set to be Boston’s No. 2 starter behind the newcomer David Price.

Hanley Ramirez, who is moving from left field to first base, went 2 for 2 with an RBI and a steal.

“He’s doing an outstanding job thus far,” manager John Farrell said. “He’s running hard. A stolen base here today when he picks out a little bit of a tendency of the guy on the mound. He’s doing what we anticipated or hoped.”

Shortstop Xander Bogaerts hit leadoff for the Red Sox and went 2 for 2 with a walk, scoring a run and driving in one. Rusney Castillo, ready to start in left on opening day, also had two hits and drove in a run.

Christian Walker drove in two runs for the Orioles.

Advertisement

Notes — Orioles: RHP Mike Wright gave two runs on four hits and a walk with two strikeouts in two innings.

“I located really well, but they got me a few times,” he said. “But as far as how I felt and my location, I was pretty happy with it.”

Red Sox: Buchholz wasn’t sharp — throwing 42 pitches, 20 for strikes — but a limited arsenal in his first spring start was a factor.

“First time out there in eight months or so,” he said. “Went out there knowing that I was going to throw (only) fastballs (and) change-ups today, which made it a little bit difficult because I set up a couple of guys for a curveball or a cutter at points and they’re all knowing I’m only throwing two pitches.”

“Tried to make those pitches a little too good in certain situations. I feel like the ball is coming out my hand good. Body felt good. Just missed location on a couple of pitches. I was more down than up.”

South Korean outfielder Hyun Soo Kim continues to look for his first Grapefruit League hit for the O’s. He went 0 for 3 with two strikeouts on Sunday and in five games. He has not drawn a walk yet, either, after walking 101 times in 141 games in South Korea last season … Ryan Flaherty drew three of the Orioles’ seven walks and scored a run.

Advertisement

Orioles: LHP T. J. McFarland left the game with a tender elbow, manager Buck Showalter said. … Ozzie Martinez, who collided with fellow infielder Garabez Rosa in the sixth inning, will be evaluated for concussion-like symptoms. … Righthander Chris Tillman, who has yet to pitch because of a strained hip flexor, makes his first start of the season against Pittsburgh in a ” B” game in Sarasota on Thursday. Right- hander Kevin Gausman will also pitch in that game. . . . INF/ OF Jimmy Paredes, who has a bone bruise in his right wrist, will be reevaluated on Wednesday, Showalter said.

Red Sox: Catcher Christian Vazquez, who missed all of 2015 after Tommy John surgery on April 2, has been cleared for his first Grapefruit League game this season. He will start Tuesday against the Orioles in Sarasota. . . . LH Eduardo Rodriguez, who suffered a subluxation of the patellar tendon of his right knee on Feb. 27, still has fluid in his knee and has yet to pitch off a mound.

Yovani Gallardo, who signed with the Orioles after spring training already began, will start for the first time this spring on Wednesday at Philadelphia.

Up next for the Red Sox: LHP Henry Owens gets the start against LHP Matt Moore and Tampa Bay today.


Comments are not available on this story.