March 12, 2011 2:00 AM
KISSIMMEE, Fla. (AP) — Dustin Pedroia is more than glad to play deep into these exhibition games.
The former AL MVP tripled and doubled Friday and a Boston Red Sox split squad beat the Houston Astros 9-3.
Coming back from a season cut in half by a fractured left foot, Pedroia drove in two runs against Brett Myers with a double in the first inning.
Pedroia’s seventh-inning triple was one of four triples for the Red Sox, including two by catcher Mark Wagner.
“It felt good to stay in the game for a while and play seven innings, get four at-bats,” Pedroia said. “You feel more involved in the game, so that was fun.”
In Boston’s other game at Fort Myers, Justin Morneau went 0-for-2 in his spring training debut for Minnesota, but the Twins beat the Red Sox 3-2.
Morneau played in a “B” game earlier this week, but this was the 2006 AL MVP’s first Grapefruit League action since he sustained a season-ending concussion last July 7.
The first baseman struck out swinging and reached base on an error by Red Sox left fielder Carl Crawford, with both at-bats coming against ace left-hander Jon Lester.
PORTSMOUTH — Aidan O’Leary scored 21 points to lead Creek A.C. to a 65-51 win over Atlantic Plastic Surgery in the playoffs of the Portsmouth Recreation boys basketball league.
Tyrone Orlen scored 17 points in defeat.
DORAL, Fla. (AP) — Hunter Mahan stretched his lead to four shots Friday in the Cadillac Championship until he stumbled with a pair of bogeys toward the end of his second round, had to settle for a 1-under 71 and suddenly had the no. 1 player right on his heels.
PGA champion Martin Kaymer, in his second week atop the world ranking, played bogey-free in a steady breeze for a 70 that put him one shot behind Mahan and in the final group, a position that is becoming familiar.
Mahan was at 9-under 135.
Francesco Molinari, going after his second World Golf Championship, had a 68 and joined Kaymer at 8 under.
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