Twins Lose 4-1, Set Roster
FORT MYERS, Fla. (AP) — John Lackey pitched shutout ball into the seventh inning, Will Middlebrooks had two extra-base hits and the Boston Red Sox beat the Minnesota Twins 4-1 on Thursday night.
Lackey, the team's No. 2 starter, gave up four hits with a walk and six strikeouts over 6 1-3 innings in his final tuneup for the regular season.
Kevin Correia, the Twins' No. 2 starter, allowed one run and six hits in five innings with a walk and a strikeout.
Middlebrooks went 2 for 3 with a double and a triple. He drove in the go-ahead run with a double in the seventh and is batting .362 this spring.
Aaron Hicks had two hits for the Twins, driving in their only run with a seventh-inning double. He is hitting .340 this spring.
Red Sox designated hitter David Ortiz went 0 for 2 with a strikeout, dropping his average to .054 with 13 strikeouts.
Twins send LHP Diamond, OF Parmelee to minors
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — The Minnesota Twins have outrighted left-hander Scott Diamond and outfielder Chris Parmelee to Triple-A Rochester, ensuring that veteran Jason Bartlett will make the team out of spring training.
The Twins announced the moves on Thursday after both Diamond and Parmelee cleared waivers. Diamond had a 5.29 ERA in 17 innings during spring training and lost the competition for the fifth spot in the rotation to right-hander Kyle Gibson.
Parmelee hit .195 with one home run in 41 at-bats and failed to impress while competing for a backup outfielder spot.
The Twins decided to go with Bartlett as the team's utility player. He only had three hits in 38 at-bats this spring while trying to make a comeback. Bartlett sat out all of last season because of injuries.