Boston catcher Jason Varitek, left, consoles Josh Beckett after the pitcher felt pain in his lower back while warming up before Saturday’s spring-training game against the Marlins.

AP / Charles Krupa

VERO BEACH, Fla. — Red Sox pitcher Josh Beckett is listed as day-to-day with back spasms in the lower back. The right-hander was scheduled to start against the Marlins Saturday in Fort Myers, but after throwing one warm-up pitch, he grabbed his back and walked off the mound.

When the Red Sox arrived at Vero Beach yesterday to face the Los Angeles Dodgers at Dodgertown, manager Terry Francona was pleased with the report on Beckett.

“He actually looked way better than we anticipated,” said Francona. “He was tested thoroughly, and it’s been determined (the injury) is muscular in nature. His lower back is having spasms right now, and we need to ease that off and then get him back to doing what he’s been doing.”

There’s no timetable on his return to his normal routine.

“I don’t think it’s going to be terribly long,” said the manager. “But it’s not like he’s going to go out and run a marathon tomorrow. He’ll be OK. . . We were all relieved today to see him moving around the way he was. I think he was even surprised.”

When asked whether this latest setback would keep Beckett in the United States when the team makes its trip to Japan next week, Francona said that’s too far ahead to make plans.

The manager did point out that the Sox will be more concerned with the pitcher’s season-long health first and foremost.

Meanwhile, Beckett remained at City of Palms Park yesterday and said he would hold off on speaking with the media until today.

Goodbye to Dodgertown

Sixty years of Los Angeles Dodgers spring training games at Dodgertown will come to an end next week when the team bids adieu to the Grapefruit League and will move to the Cactus League next year in Arizona.

Both Red Sox and Dodger players, managers and coaches were talking about how special Holman Stadium is. Francona recalled getting a few hits off Orel Hershiser once, and the manager also discussed the old-school style ballpark with no dugouts and the fans a few feet away.

Extra Bases

The Red Sox made the cross-state trek yesterday morning via the friendly skies and it took the team 23 minutes to fly from Fort Myers to Vero Beach. Francona said the players appreciate ownership’s generosity. In the past the Red Sox have bused here. The sellout crowd at Holman Stadium witnessed a solid pitching performance by Dodgers pitching prospect Clayton Kershaw. The 19-year-old worked a 1-2-3 fourth inning and showcased some nasty off-speed pitches. He retired the Sox’ Mike Lowell, J.D. Drew and Sean Casey. “I wish he had a Red Sox uniform on,” said Francona. “I can see why he’s the buzz of spring training. He’s got phenomenal stuff.” . . . Speaking of phenomenal, Dodgertown set an attendance record yesterday as 9,293 fans watched the game.

smcadam@projo.com