RED SOX REPORT:
THURSDAY, MARCH 11
Bay leaving his Sox in the past
Cora: Beltre/Lowell situation will work itself out
Red Sox notes: Lackey cruises against Mets

By Joe Haggerty
CSNNE.com

PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. -- There's been much ado about John Lackey's inability to pitch out of the gate during the last two seasons, but the new Red Sox hurler looked dominant and powerful Thursday through three shutout innings against the Mets.

Lackey scattered three hits, but worked quickly and surrendered no runs while striking out one on 30 pitches against a Mets lineup that included a healthy smattering of regulars. Lackey had a such rocking-chair day on the mound that he ended up firing 12 more pitches in the bullpen following the start, and that's when the rains began that delayed the game for over a half-hour.

"Fastball down; good movement," said manager Terry Francona. "I didn't see his last outing" -- it was a split-squad day, and Francona was managing the other group of Sox -- "but I'd heard about the same. [He was] efficient. He did a really good job. It was kind of a good thing that he got it in [before the rain] and it didn't get interrupted."

Just as Francona had hoped before the game started, the rains didn't interrupt Lackey's work and he was able to get in his throwing after sleeping through the two-plus hour ride from Fort Myers.

Lackey is encouraged by the way his right arm has felt thus far. He wasn't enthused with any of his offspeed or breaking stuff against the Mets, and he said that improving his changeup is the first order of duty in his next start.

"I'm going to be sore tomorrow, that's for sure," he said. "Every time you move up a little bit, you are a little extra sore. But I'm just taking it one day at a time because the last two springs haven't worked out so good for me. I am just trying to make it through this one."

The bus rides and inclement weather are two things Lackey isn't used to in his first Grapefruit League spring-training experience after 11 seasons in Arizona. Lackey said that as soon as the vehicle took off he put on the country music and "was out" into dreamland.

"I like the humidity out here," said Lackey. "That's one thing about [Florida]. I feel like I can get loose a little easier on this side and feel the ball a little better."

Francona also noted the good breaking ball and downward movement on Junichi Tazawa's fastball while closing out the final two innings of the 8-2 victory over the Mets. Tazawa fanned two batters and walked one in two perfect innings that's added to his two scoreless innings to start the spring.

The performance on the mound and his demeanor around the clubhouse reveals a young pitcher that's come a long, long way since making the jump from the Industrial Leagues last season.

"He got his fastball down today more than he did earlier this spring, which is good to see," said Francona, who noted the differences between Tazawa this spring compared to last March. "I'm sure his confidence level is higher. [He's] stronger. Last year everything he did was first. It was a lot to ask, but he did a great job and now he's on a level playing field with everybody else."

Former Sox outfielder Jason Bay had a "Tito, what are you doing?" reaction when he was apprised of the star-studded lineup the Red Sox brought on the two-plus hour trip from Fort Myers to Tradition Field for a Thursday afternoon game against the Mets.

Lackey, David Ortiz, Dustin Pedroia, J.D. Drew, Mike Cameron and Victor Martinez were among other Sox notables who played in Thursday's exhibition on the east coast of Florida.

Francona said neither Jason Varitek nor Adrian Beltre are likely to make the nearly three-hour trip to Jupiter Friday to play against the Cardinals, even though that was the original plan. Thursday's game was delayed by rain, and rain is once again in the forecast Friday.

Varitek just returned to Sox camp on Wednesday after missing nearly a week while attending to a family issue, and hasn't played in a game since March 3.

Jacoby Ellsbury will also get Friday off as Francona attempts to get each of his regulars "two straight work days" to get their swings down and work on whatever is necessary with hitting coach Dave Magadan. Kevin Youkilis and Billy Hall will be part of the contingent that makes its way over to Roger Dean Stadium for Friday afternoon's game.

"I was thinking about catching [Varitek] tomorrow," said Francona, "but the weather is bad and I don’t think that makes a lot of sense to take a three-hour bus ride. I actually told him and Beltre to stay back. For them I don’t think it makes a lot of sense.

"[Ellsbury] has made all of the [bus] trips, so this is a way to allow him to get those two work days. I’m trying to get everybody to have a couple of work days where he can take a lot of BP. He deserves it. He’s taken a lot of trips and I’m sure he’ll take a lot more."

Francona said Daisuke Matsuzaka’s next bullpen outing will come Saturday, and that next week still remains a very real possibility for Matsuzaka's game debut.

Matsuzaka will be part of a Saturday morning tandem with some pitchers getting innings at the minor league complex down Edison Ave. and Matsuzaka likely pitching on Field 2 beyond City of Palms Park.

"I’m still confused, but Daisuke is throwing throw on Saturday," cracked Francona.

Mike Lowell could return to game action on Monday afternoon at City of Palms Park against the Baltimore Orioles, but Francona wasn’t ready to pencil him into a position in the field – or at designated hitter – quite yet.

“Monday is sort of – I don’t know if it’s etched in stone – but it’s sort of a realistic date," he said. "We’ll see if he gets through the rest of the week. The hard thing for me is you get into is that we want to get Mikey at-bats, but then you have to say, 'Hey, Youk, you're going to have to go somewhere.' I’ll get it figured out. We obviously have first base because Lars [Anderson] and [Aaron] Bates have been getting tons of at-bats this spring."

The Sox were set to watch Quentin Tarantino’s Academy Award-nominated World War II revenge flick "Inglorious Basterds" on the bus ride this morning, but the DVD wouldn’t work and instead watched episodes of HBO’s "Eastbound & Down" on the trip. Francona was shaking his head at the show after taking in a few full episodes with the members of the team.

"It wasn’t the most mature show in the world, but it was funny," said Francona, who claimed no knowledge when asked if the Big Schill, Curt Schilling, was a consultant on the HBO show featuring Kenny Powers.

Joe Haggerty can be reached at jhaggerty@comcastsportsnet.com. Follow Joe on Twitter at http://twitter.com/HackswithHaggs