The Boston Red Sox have plenty of questions heading into the season, and shortstop Xander Bogaerts doesn’t want to be one of them.
“I will be completely ready for opening day,” Bogaerts said after going 0 for 2 with one strikeout in Boston’s 8-2 victory over the Tampa Bay Rays on Friday, his first spring training game this year. “I feel completely ready right now.”
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Bogaerts, 28, is coming off a season when he batted .300 with 11 homers and 28 RBIs while earning AL MVP votes for the third year in a row. But he reported to the Red Sox complex in Fort Myers, Florida, with a sore shoulder, which manager Alex Cora attributed to Bogaerts pushing himself too hard at home in Aruba during the offseason.
He was in the lineup at designated hitter on Friday because he hasn’t been cleared to play the field yet.
“Everything felt good. I’m looking forward to getting in there more often,” he said. “It’s all about me getting in the routine with baseball activities. Looking forward to being in the lineup opening day.”
Bogaerts said he hoped to appear in the field next week.
“I don’t know how they think, but I think I’ll be able to play by Tuesday,” Bogaerts said.
Cora said that hadn’t been decided yet.
“Obviously, Xander has some ideas; we probably have some others,” Cora said. “The goal is for him to be ready for opening day. On that one, we are probably on the same page.”
RED SOX 8, RAYS 2
Garrett Richards struck out seven in four scoreless innings for Boston. He allowed one hit and walked three. Michael Chavis hit his third home run and Christian Arroyo also connected.
Chris Archer made his first start for Tampa Bay, retiring all four batters he faced. Postseason sensation Randy Arozarena struck out twice and walked, and is hitting .133 this spring.
ATHLETICS 5, PADRES 4
Fernando Tatis Jr. led off the game with his second spring home run, a smashing return after missing six days with a non-virus bug. The San Diego shortstop got two hits and is 6 for 12 in exhibition play. His homer came off Sergio Romo.
Chris Paddack made his third start, pitching three innings and giving up a run on three hits. C.J. Abrams, the Padres’ top prospect, hit his first home run.
Chad Pinder and catcher Tyler Soderstrom, Oakland's top prospect, each hit doubles.
CARDINALS 4, ASTROS 3
Adam Wainwright kept up his strong spring, pitching four shutout innings of one-hit ball. In three starts so far, the 39-year-old St. Louis star has allowed just one run and two hits in nine innings, striking out nine with one walk.
Yadier Molina and Tyer O'Neill homered for the Cardinals. Robel Garcia and Ronnie Dawson homered for Houston.
DODGERS 9, INDIANS 2 (6 1/2)
Walker Buehler made his third start for Los Angeles, yielding two runs on five hits in three innings, striking out four. David Price followed with three scoreless inning.
Max Muncy and Austin Barnes homered for the Dodgers.
Eddie Rosario had a two-run single. Andrés Giménez went 0 for 3 and is in a 1-for-14 slump since collecting hits in his first four at-bats. Giménez is battling Amed Rosario for the starting shortstop job. Both players came to Cleveland in the Francisco Lindor trade with the Mets.
Anthony Gose, formerly a speedy outfielder with Toronto and Detroit who's been trying to pitch since 2017, threw a perfect inning for the Indians, striking out Corey Seager and retiring Justin Turner on a fly ball. The 30-year-old left has pitched four scoreless innings this spring.
BREWERS 8, CUBS 3 (7)
Brandon Woodruff made his second start for Milwaukee, allowing five hits in two scoreless innings. Keston Hiura hit an RBI double and Jace Peterson had a bases-loaded triple.
Jake Arrieta struggled in his second start for Chicago, surrendering two runs on four hits and three walks in 3 1/3 innings. Joc Pederson went 2 for 2 with a double, raising his average to .579 in his first spring with the Cubs.
GIANTS 9, ROCKIES 8 (8)
Germán Márquez was roughed up in his second start for Colorado, yielding three earned runs on six hits and three walks in three innings. Trevor Story hit his third home run.
Kevin Gausman made his first start for San Francisco, allowing one hit in two scoreless innings. Scott Kazmir, out of the majors since 2016 and attempting a comeback at 37, allowed two hits in a scoreless inning, striking out two in his first appearance for San Francisco.
RANGERS 3, WHITE SOX 2
Chicago ace Lucas Giolito struck out five in four shutout innings, allowing two hits and a walk. Top prospect Andrew Vaughn had two hits.
Texas starter Jordan Lyles gave up a run and two hits in two innings. Khris Davis went 0 for 3 and is batting just .063 in his first spring with the Rangers.
ANGELS 4, DIAMONDBACKS 3 (8)
Zac Gallen made his third start for Arizona, allowing three hits and a walk in 3 1/3 innings with four strikeouts.
José Quintana made his third start for Los Angeles, throwing three scoreless innings, yielding a hit and a walk. David Fletcher had a two-run double.
MARLINS 4, METS 2
Marcus Stroman made his third start for New York, striking out four in 3 1/3 innings while allowing one run on four hits and a walk. Bullpen newcomer Trevor May surrendered three straight singles after beginning the sixth. Pete Alonso had an RBI double and was hit by a pitch, scoring on a single by Brandon Drury.
Pablo López made his third start for Miami, yielding one run and four hits in four innings. Starling Marte led off the game with a single, stole second and scored on a single by Jesús Aguilar, who had two hits.
BRAVES 8, TWINS 5
Michael Pineda, who last pitched a full season in 2016, made his first spring start for Minnesota. He struck out six of the eight batters he retired, allowing one earned run and five hits. Luis Arraez had a two-run double to cap a five-run fourth that included RBI singles by Kyle Garlick and Keon Broxton.
Johan Camargo homered for Atlanta, Pablo Sandoval had an RBI single and Jason Kipnis doubled and singled.
YANKEES 4, TIGERS 2
Jameson Taillon made his second start for New York, yielding two hits and three walks in 2 2/3 innings, striking out four. Brett Gardner had an RBI single. Veteran catcher Rob Brantly hit his second home run.
Miguel Cabrera drove in Detroit's first run with a sacrifice fly. Julio Teheran made his first start in his second appearance, allowing two runs and four hits and a walk in three innings. Starter José Ureña followed Teheran, throwing three perfect innings.
PHILLIES 6, ORIOLES 2
Zack Wheeler made his third start for Philadelphia, pitching four innings and giving up two runs on four hits and a walk. Alec Bohm doubled and scored on a double by C.J. Chatham.
John Means went four innings in his third start for Baltimore, allowing one run on two hits and a walk. Austin Hays had an RBI single.
PIRATES 2, BLUE JAYS 1 (8)
Chase De Jong made his first start in his second appearance for Pittsburgh, allowing a hit and a walk in three scoreless innings. Dexter Fowler walked to lead off the game, stole second and later scored when Thomas Hatch picked off Colin Moran at first base. The Pirates signed free agent Trevor Cahill to a one-year deal, and the 33-year-old right-hander will compete for a spot in the rotation.
Hatch made his first start for Toronto, walking two and giving up an unearned run in two innings. Shortstop Jordan Broshans, the Blue Jays' top prospect, had a sacrifice fly.
MARINERS 4, REDS 3 (8)
Luis Castillo made his spring training debut for Cincinnati and struck out one and walked one over two hitless innings in the start for the Reds. Brandon Finnegan, invited Friday to big league camp, followed Castillo with two perfect innings that included two strikeouts.
Seattle starter Nick Margevicius gave up two runs and five hits in three innings. Eric Filia's RBI single in the the seventh drove in Julio Rodriguez with the go-ahead run for the Mariners, who rallied after trailing 3-0 after four innings. The game was called after eight innings due to rain.
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