Lester inconsistent in loss, Pedro Ciriaco unfazed

From RedSox.com/By Evan Drellich / MLB.com:
FORT MYERS, Fla. -- Jon Lester's second Grapefruit League outing was a lesson in inefficiency and escape Friday night against the Twins.
The left-hander threw 81 pitches, just 47 of them for strikes, in four innings of Boston's 2-1 loss. He hit two batters, including Joe Mauer, and gave up a combined five hits to the Nos. 6-9 hitters in the Minnesota lineup. To his credit, Lester allowed just two runs and one walk, adding in a strikeout on a night he couldn't find the strike zone.
"I felt all right," said Lester. "Physically, [I] felt fine, [I was] just a little out of whack, little out of rhythm. [I] couldn't really make the adjustment and be consistent, repeat. That was the big thing for me tonight. I just couldn't repeat, and it led to a lot of pitches."

Well I guess it's good to see Lester stretching it out a little bit. Sure, it would have been nice if the results were a little better but it is the spring after all. This is the time to struggle with control and Lester could simply be working on some things with his repertoire.

Some positives from the pitching front? Andrew Miller had 2 strikeouts in his first inning of work since going down with elbow inflammation. Also, Andrew Bailey rebounded from his shaky first outing to go 1 inning, striking out 2 as well.

Offensively the Red Sox were paced by who else? Pedro Ciriaco. The pride of San Pedro de Macoris had a double and scored the teams only run as he continues to defile the grapefruit league to the tune of a .588 batting average. Kevin Youkilis was 1-2 with the lone RBI as he attempts to break out of his slow start.

The Red Sox and Orioles have a split-squad day Saturday at 1:05 p.m. ET, with the Sox playing one in Fort Myers and the Orioles hosting the other contest in Sarasota. Josh Beckett will start for Boston at JetBlue Park, while Aaron Cook starts on the road as he tries to stake a claim to that last rotation spot.