Burkett has things under control in his debut
BY STEVEN KRASNER
Journal Sports Writer
FORT MYERS, Fla. -- Although
John Burkett
didn't figure in the decision in the Red Sox' 8-7, 10-inning loss to the Minnesota Twins yesterday at City of Palms Park, he certainly made an impression in his Boston debut.
The veteran right-hander started and threw three shutout innings, not allowing a hit in an efficient 35-pitch outing. Burkett whiffed three and hit a batter. Burkett also dropped a throw for an error covering first base, but that paled in comparison to his strong showing.
"Just trying to throw my pitches and be healthy," said Burkett. "Today, my cutter was really good. That was about as good as I can throw it. I located it pretty well."
"He can carve you up," said manager
Joe Kerrigan
. "He has a great idea of what he's doing with every pitch."
Tim Wakefield
followed Burkett to the mound, but the knuckleballer didn't have much success in his two-inning stint, getting tagged for six runs on five hits. Included in that barrage was a two-run homer by
Michael Cuddyer
as the Twins reached Wakefield for three runs in each of his innings.
"Just one of those days," said Wakefield. "Just trying to build up endurance and arm strength, that's all."
"Wake had trouble with his knuckleball," said Kerrigan. "We could see it spinning from the dugout. His ball was rolling over."
Very impressive
Dernell Stenson
, trying to prove he still should be coveted after seeing his stock drop in the organization, launched a two-run, ninth-inning homer to right through a strong wind, tying the game at 7-7.
Stenson, who slumped last year in Pawtucket, batting only .237, has impressed Kerrigan.
"He crushed that ball," said Kerrigan. "We've seen that swing all spring. (Batting coach)
Dwight
(
Evans
) is happy with the way he's been swinging the bat. He's going to get some playing time in the outfield. We still think he's a good player."
Positive Pedro
Pedro Martinez
tossed a pair of 20-pitch "innings" of batting practice yesterday, throwing to
Rey Sanchez
,
Todd Betts
,
Quilvio Veras
and Stenson. Martinez mixed in a few sharp breaking balls and changeups.
The three-time Cy Young Award winner said he was feeling strong.
If his shoulder and arm respond as expected to yesterday's workout, Martinez will make his first spring start Tuesday at home against Atlanta.
"I'm getting better every time," said Martinez, trying to rebound from rotator-cuff troubles. "I feel like a healthy Pedro Martinez like before I got hurt, so that's a good sign."
Catering to the players
New owner
John Henry
already has made some changes in the team's clubhouse. On Friday, Henry noticed that the players were being fed cold cuts for sandwiches, and were using plastic utensils. He quickly ordered that the players be fed hot meals and that silverware be available to them instead of the plastic utensils. Lasagna was on yesterday's menu.
Henry also has been making it clear that he does not intend to move the team's training headquarters from Fort Myers to Melbourne, Fla., where he owns a complex being used by his former team, the Florida Marlins. The Marlins are expected to move to another facility next year.
The Cleveland Indians, meanwhile, are exploring a move from Winter Haven to Fort Myers, where they would share City of Palms Park with the Sox for games.
Good-bye, Dan
Ex-general manager
Dan Duquette
put in an appearance at the park during batting practice.
"Just came to say good-bye to my friends," said Duquette, who visited the minor-league facility to say hello and good-bye before driving to City of Palms Park.
Duquette, who was fired Thursday, spoke with Kerrigan and minor-league coaches
Dave Jauss
and
Bobby Mitchell
on the back field. Duquette shook hands and shared a joke with Martinez before walking out the gate to the parking lot.
Extra bases
Right fielder
Trot Nixon
made a diving grab of a sinking liner toward the line in the first inning. He quickly threw to first baseman
Tony Clark
, doubling up
Jacque Jones
, who took off when the ball was hit, expecting it to fall safely. . . .
Johnny Damon
was robbed of extra bases on a good running catch in right-center by Cuddyer. He lined a single to center in the third and stole second. . . . Clark had a sizzling double and made a dazzling diving play to his right, robbing
Cristian Guzman
of a hit in the fourth. . . .
Freddie Sanchez
blooped a two-run single to left in the seventh. . . .
Carlos Baerga
, playing second base, booted a routine grounder in the eighth. But on the next batter he started a double play, which was turned nicely by Sanchez. . . . The losing pitcher was
Corey Spencer
, called up from the minor-league camp. The lefty surrendered
B.J. Garbe
's game-winning single.
Filling Fenway
The Red Sox reported they sold 20,000 tickets for regular-season games yesterday on the first day of sales, which is twice as many as were sold on the first day a year ago. Last year the team sold 250,000 individual-game seats. This year the total is up to 375,000.
Already, 16 games are sold out, with only single seats remaining for the New York Yankees series in April (12-15) and the Yankee series in May (24-26), with the exception of the May 25 date. Only single seats remain for the series with the Arizona Diamondbacks (June 7-9) and the Atlanta Braves (June 28-30).
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