Jake Peavy strong in spring debut as Red Sox beat Twins

Mar 13, 2014; Fort Myers, FL, USA; Boston Red Sox starting pitcher

(44) throws during a spring training game against the Minnesota Twins at Hammond Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports

Jake Peavy was solid and Dustin Pedroia had a two-run double as the Boston Red Sox got a Chairman’s Cup victory over the Minnesota Twins Thursday at Hammond Stadium in Fort Myers, FL.

On the mound in his first game action since cutting his finger on a fishing trip earlier this spring, Peavy pitched into the fourth inning, allowing two hits, two walks, and an earned run. He threw 32 of 54 pitches for strikes and wiggled out of a two-on, one out jam in the first. Andrew Miller allowed Peavy’s inherited runner to score in the fourth, part of a rough outing for the lefty. Miller only got nine of 20 pitches over the plate, getting cuffed for two runs on two hits, a walk and a wild pitch, only retiring one batter.

Dustin Pedroia and Shane Victorino accounted for the bulk of Boston’s scoring. The second baseman rapped a two-run double in the fifth and the right fielder had an RBI single in the third. The two players accounted for four of Boston’s seven hits on the day.

Xander Bogaerts took advantage of two of Minnesota’s four defensive miscues on the day for the other run, reaching base and scoring on an error and a missed pickoff attempt, respectively, in the third.

Matty Ott (1-0) got the win after rescuing Miller. Brandon Workman also logged three sharp innings, granting two hits and punching out three. Francisco “Frank the Tank” Cordero got the save and has now racked up five scoreless appearances for the Sox, giving up just three hits and a walk and striking out six in five innings pitched this spring.

The Sox improved to 6-8-1 in the Grapefruit League and 1-2 against the Twins in the Chairman’s Cup standings. They travel to Dunedin for a 1:05 tilt with the Jays on Friday.