Yoenis Céspedes

Porcello hit on pitching thumb by Cespedes' grounder

Published Mar. 8, 2017 4:04 p.m. ET

PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. (AP) Reigning AL Cy Young Award winner Rick Porcello was struck on the pitching hand by Yoenis Cespedes' fourth-inning grounder during his start Wednesday for the Boston Red Sox against a New York Mets' split squad.

Porcello threw a couple of pitches, and the 28-year-old right-hander tried to finish the inning.

''It's fine right now,'' Porcello said. ''It happens quickly, so you're just trying to get the sting out of it. I was able to throw a couple of pitches, and the second warmup pitch I was able to get down in the zone, and didn't think it would affect me making pitches.''

Porcello gave up a homer to Jay Bruce and a double to Lucas Duda, then left the game.

Making his second exhibition outing, Porcello gave up a run in the third when Curtis Granderson came home from third as Neil Walker was caught stealing second. Porcello struck out Tim Tebow looking with a 92 mph fastball in the third in the former NFL quarterback's first spring training at-bat.

''I felt really good,'' Porcello said. ''The ball was coming out of my hand a lot better. I've got a couple of mechanical things I'm still battling.''

Porcello was 22-4 with a 3.15 ERA last season.

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