Major League Baseball

Marlins 15, Red Sox 7

Published Mar. 24, 2011 11:30 p.m. ET

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Mike Stanton finally brought his big bat to a spring training game.

Stanton hit two three-run homers and had seven RBIs in his injury-delayed debut, and the Florida Marlins beat the Red Sox 15-7 Thursday.

''He's a big kid, a real strong kid,'' Red Sox starter Clay Buchholz said. ''He hits it a long way.''

Florida hit four home runs - they had seven all spring coming in.

Stanton strained his right quadriceps in a game against the University of Miami on Feb. 27. He has played in minor league games for about the last 10 days.

Stanton struck out in his first at-bat on three changeups. He fell behind 0-2 in his second at- bat before hitting a changeup that Buchholz left up.

The ball was estimated to travel close to 500 feet, hitting the about halfway up a video scoreboard that sits 40 yards beyond the wall in left-center.

''That was pretty impressive,'' Marlins starter Javier Vazquez said.

Boston manager Terry Francona was asked if he saw it land.

''I quit watching,'' Francona said.

Stanton's second home run came on a fastball and just cleared the left wall at the 355 foot sign. Stanton also had a run scoring single.

It's definitely cool to be able to do that your first game but that's what I work on,'' Stanton said.

Stanton made his debut last June 8 and hit 22 home runs in 100 games. He hit mostly sixth or seventh in the lineup. He will be moved to cleanup this season, hitting behind Hanley Ramirez.

''He's got the power,'' Marlins manager Edwin Rodriguez said. ''Not only that, you're going to see a better Hanley Ramirez, Gaby Sanchez. better throughout the lineup.''

Buchholz allowed 11 runs - six earned - and 11 hits in four innings. He entered with an 0.69 ERA.

''Just one of those days,'' Buchholz said. ''You got to let it go.''

John Buck and Logan Morrison also homered for the Marlins and Ramirez was 3 for 3. Buchholz allowed all four home runs.

''It was a bad day for pitching,'' Francona said. ''In spring training you see it happen. In two weeks it won't happen.''

Javier Vazquez went four innings, allowing six runs and eight hits, including home runs to Jarrod Saltalamacchia and Jacoby Ellsbury. Saltalamacchia was 3 for 3 with four RBIs.

NOTES: Red Sox RHP Tim Wakefield started in a Triple-A game. He gave up six runs - five earned - in five innings. ... RHP Jonathan Papelbon started a Double-A game and gave up a homer and two runs in an inning. He struck out one.

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