FORT MYERS, Fla. – Cole Hamels looked fine facing a Red Sox lineup that seemed ready for opening day. John Lackey did equally well against a Phillies side with a few familiar names.
Lackey pitched five sharp innings, Hamels threw six good innings and Boston beat Philadelphia 6-1 Thursday night.
Hamels, set to start on opening day, gave up one run and four hits. He struck out five and walked two.
"Now that we're kind of playing more of the big-time guys, guys' swings are obviously a lot better," Hamels said.
"I think my body's starting to catch up. You build up the pitch count every five days," he said. "Obviously, as spring goes on, your body starts to kind of get going."
Hamels struck out former teammate Shane Victorino looking at a curveball to lead off the sixth.
"That's probably one of the best ones I've thrown in a really long time," Hamels said. "Even with last season. So I guess I'll have to hear from him, because I know he's obviously not used to seeing me throw that, even though he was out in center field."
Victorino's bases-loaded triple off Michael Stutes highlighted Boston's five-run seventh.
Lackey allowed one run and four hits, with no walks and one strikeout. He made his first appearance in a Grapefruit League game since March 10 after pitching in a minor league game in his last outing.
Lackey recorded 13 groundball outs.
"Felt good with the ball being on the ground a lot, for sure," Lackey said. "It was a good sign for me."
Red Sox manager John Farrell liked what he saw.
"The one thing he has going in his favor," Farrell, "is because he throws on such a downhill plane, on days when he might not have his best velocity, he still has the ability to put the ball on the ground. We saw it tonight on a number of occasions. I don't think we could have anticipated much more coming into camp for him."
The Phillies got a run off Lackey in the first when Pete Orr singled, Jimmy Rollins doubled and Michael Young had an RBI groundout.
The Red Sox scored in the second when Will Middlebrooks led off with a double, Jonny Gomes singled and Daniel Nava hit a sacrifice fly.
NOTES: With two outs in the ninth, Phillies C Carlos Ruiz was hit in the left hand by a pitch from Anthony Carter. His condition was not immediately known after the game. ... Boston DH David Ortiz, who had been shut down for more than a week in an attempt to give his ailing heels some relief, come through well after two days of working out and taking 50 swings off a tee in the batting cage. ... Red Sox SS Stephen Drew was examined by concussion specialist Dr. Michael Collins and cleared to begin baseball activities. Drew has not played in a game since March 7 when he was hit in the helmet by a pitch. The Red Sox said they are likely to limit Drew to minor league games. ... The Red Sox reassigned RHPs Chris Carpenter, Terry Doyle and Oscar Villarreal and LHP Chris Hernandez to minor league camp. ... Phillies RHP Roy Halladay, who had been weakened by a stomach bug, is scheduled to start a minor league game on Saturday. LHP prospect Adam Morgan will start on Friday against the Braves in what would have been Halladay's regularly scheduled day. ... The Phillies are contractually obligated to tell INF Yuniesky Betancourt on Sunday if he made the team. ... Phillies OF Delmon Young, recovering from offseason ankle surgery, took balls in the outfield and ran the bases during workouts in Clearwater. Young will open the season on the disabled list. Team officials have estimated that he could be ready to be activated in mid-to-late April.
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