TOKYO — Bartolo Colon will start Friday’s exhibition game against the Los Angeles Dodgers and is scheduled to throw anywhere from 60-75 pitches.

“It depends on the workload and how his innings are,” said Francona.

Josh Beckett, who enjoyed an excellent side session Tuesday, could join the Sox in Oakland even though he’s not eligible to come off the disabled list until April 3 when the Sox are enjoying a day off in Toronto

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A group of about 12 players from Single A Lancaster will join the Sox in Los Angeles for the exhibition weekend against the Dodgers

The Lancaster team had to fly from Fort Myers to California anyway, so the Sox will take advantage to provide some depth for the series.

Joining the Sox: pitchers Lincoln Holdzcom, Hunter Jones, T.J. Large and Jose Vaquedano; infielders Lars Anderson, Argenis Diaz and Joe Thurston; and outfielders Reid Engel and Jason Place.

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The Sox succeeded in convincing the Dodgers to allow the Sox to utilize the DH for all three games in Los Angeles . . . With a single Tuesday, Mike Lowell extended his Opening Day hit streak to nine straight seasons. Lowell is hitting .314 (11-for-35) in Opening Day games in his career . . . The four RBI for Manny Ramirez Tuesday was the most for a Sox player on Opening Day since Jack Clark had four on April 8, 1991, his first game in a Sox uniform.

smcadam@projo.com