FORT MYERS, Fla. -- Dustin Pedroia had a hit and an RBI in his first game since straining an abdominal muscle 10 days ago while playing for the United States, and the Boston Red Sox beat the Pittsburgh Pirates 11-4 Friday.
Red Sox manager Terry Francona skipped the game to attend his son Nick's graduation from Marine Corps Officer Candidates School in Quantico, Va. Bench coach Brad Mills ran the club.
Pedroia was quickly tested, handling a grounder by Pirates leadoff batter Nyjer Morgan. In the bottom of the first, Pedroia hit an RBI grounder. He then led off the third and was credited with a hit when third baseman Andy LaRoche's throw to first sailed into the photographer's well. Pedroia advanced to second and was replaced by pinch runner Ivan Ochoa.
"[I] felt good," Pedroia said. "I think the biggest thing is seeing how it feels [Saturday]. Hopefully, I'm not sore or anything like that. Definitely want to take it slow. I've been doing all my treatments and stuff. It was good to get back on the field and get a couple of at-bats and get back in the game rhythm."
With the Red Sox playing in Jupiter Saturday, Pedroia will stay behind and, barring any setbacks, be back in the lineup Sunday against the Phillies in Fort Myers.
"I think that's the biggest thing, was it his second at-bat? He had those big swings and fouled a couple balls off," Mills said. "So when he got back [to the dugout] I said how'd it feel after those big swings and he said he felt good. So that was a big positive in the right direction."
Red Sox right fielder J.D. Drew left the game in the fifth inning after being hit on his right hand by a pitch from Donnie Veal and was sent for X-rays, which were negative. He has a bruised hand, and is considered day to day.
Red Sox starter Clay Buchholz pitched five innings, giving up an unearned run on four hits and a walk, striking out three.
"Again, a big step in the right," Mills said of Buchholz's performance. "I thought he was throwing the ball real well. And his demeanor, his tempo on the mound have all been improving this whole spring. And it's sure nice to see."
Buchholz, who lowered his ERA to 0.66, was also satisfied by his outing.
"It felt good," he said. "On the flip side, last outing I didn't get to four innings and I threw one less pitch than I did today. So it's still a work in progress for me."
Pittsburgh starter Jeff Karstens, who is among four pitchers competing for two open spots in the rotation along with fellow righties Ross Ohlendorf, Jason Davis, and Virgil Vasquez, worked three innings and gave up four runs and three hits, including a three-run homer to Jason Varitek in the second inning, and three walks.
"Whoever throws the most strikes, shows the most control, is going to be who they are going to go with [in the rotation]," Karstens said. "The thing that bothered me about the walks, though, is I was getting ahead 0-2, 1-2 then not making pitches to finish hitters off. You can't walk guys when you have them in pitcher's counts."
Brandon Moss, serving as the Pirates' designated hitter in his first Grapefruit League game since sustaining a badly bruised thumb while trying to make a diving catch against Minnesota on March 7, went 1-for-4 with an RBI.
"He got through it fine," Pirates manager John Russell said. "There are no limitations on him and he'll play the outfield [Saturday, against Cincinnati at Sarasota[."
"I was seeing the ball well but I'm going to have to get used to catching back up to the speed of the pitches after sitting out a couple of weeks," Moss said. "There is no pain, no soreness or stiffness. So I'm encouraged."
