Doubrant sharp as Red Sox beat Marlins 4-1

JUPITER, Fla. – Felix Doubrant succeeded against the Marlins while Alfredo Aceves flopped against the Phillies.

Doubrant bolstered his bid to make the Red Sox rotation, allowing one run and five hits over six innings to help a Boston Red Sox split squad defeat the Miami Marlins 4-1 Saturday.

"That's what I was looking for. More than five innings, get ahead in the count, get outs early, don't go 3-and-2," Red Sox manager Bobby Valentine said.

Doubrant struck out two and walked one, throwing 53 of 78 pitches for strikes. He lowered his ERA in four appearances to 2.70.

"He kept his composure and pitched well. It was a positive outing," Valentine said. "He's progressed as well as anyone in camp. He came in shape, he stayed in shape."

Trying to earn a bench spot with the Marlins, Austin Kearns homered in the second. He is hitting .360 and leads the team with three homers and seven RBIs.

"He has opened a lot of people's eyes. I like what I see," Marlins manager Ozzie Guillen said. "We need a right-handed hitter off the bench. We need a right-handed hitter who can play the outfield. He has been playing pretty good this spring."

Miami left-hander Wade LeBlanc gave up three runs and five hits in five innings. He allowed three runs — two earned — and four hits in the first, when leadoff man Jose Iglesias reached on a throwing error by shortstop Nick Green. LeBlanc then settled down and retired his final 10 batters. His ERA rose from 0.61 ERA to 1.37 in three starts and two relief appearances.

"LeBlanc threw the ball very good. We didn't help him on the field," Guillen said.

NOTES: Pedro Ciriaco and Ryan Lavarnway each went 2-for-3 for Boston. ... Red Sox pitchers retired their last 14 batters. ... Anibal Sanchez, Miami's No. 5 starter, allowed one run and two hits in four innings in a minor league game. He struck out six and walked one, throwing 31 of 53 pitches for strikes. ... Miami LHP Randy Choate retired three hitters on eight pitches, all strikes, in a minor league game. Choate, who had been sidelined by a strained muscle in his right side, is scheduled to make his exhibition debut Monday in Lakeland against the Tigers.