Phillies 10, Red Sox 5
Alfredo Aceves took a step back in his bid to make the starting rotation of the Boston Red Sox.
Aceves was pounded for nine runs and 10 hits in three innings Saturday as a Boston split squad lost to the Philadelphia Phillies 10-5.
''This was one of those days where nothing went good,'' he said. ''I'm moving on. Today, I was a little up. I checked out the video after the outing, and I was up.''
He allowed solo home runs to Pete Orr, Freddy Galvis and Carlos Ruiz, and also had a walk, a wild pitch and a hit batter.
Aceves had allowed just one run in his three previous spring training outings, spanning nine innings.
''One outing is not going to tell you the value of a pitcher,'' he said.
Still, his ERA ballooned from 1.00 to 7.50.
''It just looked like he was out of sorts from the get-go,'' said bench coach Tim Bogar, who was acting as the manager with Bobby Valentine traveling to Jupiter to face the Marlins. ''He couldn't control any of his pitches. Then when he did he left it right over the middle of the plate. They didn't miss any of them. He just seemed out of whack today. He didn't seem like himself. Haven't seen that since last August. So it's one hiccup. He's fine.''
Felix Doubront, also competing for a startling slot, allowed one run and five hits in six innings against the Marlins.
Philadelphia's Cole Hamels allowed two runs and four hits in four innings, struck out three and walked two. He faced 19 batters and threw 53 of 86 pitches for strikes.
''I was just happy I was able to throw a lot of everything,'' Hamels said. ''I threw all four pitches and got work on them. I felt comfortable. I felt like I got a lot better work in.''
NOTES: Jacoby Ellsbury had a two-run triple for the Red Sox. ... Boston LHP Rich Hill, rehabbing from elbow-ligament replacement surgery in June, pitched a simulated inning. He threw 20 pitches, allowing one hit and one walk with two strikeouts. ... Dustin Pedroia returned to the lineup Saturday, two days after sustaining a bruised right forearm when hit by a pitch. ... Placido Polanco is expected to play Sunday. He has been sidelined since March 17 by a sprained finger.