FORT MYERS, Fla. – John Lackey gave up three runs over 2 2-3 innings in his first spring training start for the Boston Red Sox, a 5-4 split-squad loss to the Miami Marlins on Tuesday.
Coming off a World Series title, Boston wanted to bring Lackey along slowly along with Jon Lester, who made his first appearance Monday.
Lackey missed the 2012 season while recuperating from elbow ligament-replacement surgery and pitched 215 1-3 innings during the regular season and postseason last year. He allowed four hits against the Marlins, struck out two and walked none.
David Ortiz went 0 for 3 with two strikeouts, dropping to .105 (2 for 19) with a home run and eight strikeouts. Dustin Pedroia also is 2 for 19 after an 0-for-3 day.
Left-hander Brian Flynn, a contender for a Marlins' rotation spot, allowed one hits in three scoreless innings and Arquimedes Caminero struck out two in two shutout innings.
Kyle Jensen hit a two-run homer off left-hander Drake Britton in the ninth.
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