If you are going to suffer your first loss in spring training, losing to the defending World Series Champions isn’t an awful way to do so.
The Boston Red Sox lost their first spring training game of the season Thursday afternoon, falling 9-3 to the St. Louis Cardinals.
The game was not without its strong points for the Red Sox. Starter Josh Beckett held the Cardinals scoreless for the three innings he pitched. He only allowed two hits.
While Felix Doubront maintained Beckett’s steadiness coming in for relief, left hander Jesse Carlson was not as lucky. He allowed three runs in the sixth to give the Cardinals the 3-0 lead.
Jose Iglesias kept his powerful spring training performance going and got the Red Sox back in the game in the top of the eighth. The shortstop hit a three-run triple to even the game at 3-3.
The Cardinals quickly answered at the bottom of the eighth. Chris Carpenter, the former Chicago Cubs pitcher acquired by the Red Sox in the Theo Epstein compensation agreement, had a less than stellar debut inning. He gave up a bases loaded walk and a Shane Robinson three-run double to hand the Cardinals their first win of Spring Training.
The game saw a lot of position player substitutions after a rain delay halted the game in the third inning.
The Red Sox will send Clay Buchholtz to the mound at 7:05 p.m. Friday evening against the Pittsburgh Pirates.