FORT MYERS, Fla --
WHO: Red Sox vs. Tampa Bay Rays
WHEN: 1:05 p.m.
WHERE: jetBlue Park
TV/RADIO: NESN/WFXT; WEEI 850 AM
STARTING PITCHERS: LHP Brian Johnson vs. RHP Chris Archer
OTHER SCHEDULED PITCHERS: RHP Fernando Rodriguez Jr.
FRIDAY'S SCHEDULED PITCHERS: LHP Chris Sale, RHP Brandon Workman, LHP Roenis Elias, LHP Bobby Poyner.
IN-GAME OBSERVATIONS:
- After a shaky first inning, Brian Johnson has settled in. Johnson was tagged for three runs in the first inning, but came back to strike out the side in the second and held the Rays scoreless in the third.
- The (hitless) streak is over! Mookie Betts snapped out of an 0-for-16 skid to start the Grapefruit League season. It may have only been an infield hit, but that didn't stop Betts from mock-pointing to the sky in appreciation, or receiving a playful hug of congratulations from first base coach Tom Goodwin.
- J.D. Martinez, who was 0-for-2 in his debut Wednesday, is 2-for-2 today. He doubled in the first to deliver the first Red Sox run, and added an opposite-field single to right in his next at-bat.
- Johnson's day is through. He threw three innings, allowed three runs on four hits, walked one and struck out four. He threw 51 pitches, 32 for strikes.
LINEUPS:
RED SOX
NEWS AND NOTES
- Dustin Pedroia is hitting every other day and taking ground balls. The plan for next week is for Pedroia to, and if everything goes well over the weekend, he'll start his running progression next week. "As you guys know,'' said Alex Cora, 'the louder he is, the better he feels and he's been very loud the last few days. So that's a good sign. He feels so much better right now.''
- Chris Sale makes his Grapefruit League debut Friday in Jupiter against the Marlins with a goal of getting him to 50 pitches. David Price will pitch in a Grapefruit League game for the first time Saturday and will be throwing 40-45 pitches.
- Drew Pomeranz continues to make strides. After long-toss to 120 feet, he'll throw some more on flat ground before throwing a bullpen early next week.
- Tyler Thornburg continues to throw bullpens every other day and has met every benchmark as he comes back from thoracic outlet syndrome surgery.