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Buchholz, Porcello Pleased With Spring Debuts

BOSTON (CBS) -- The Boston Red Sox needed an extra inning to get a win over the Northeastern Huskies on Tuesday, but two of their starting pitchers didn't need much effort to get through their work for the day.

Clay Buchholz got the start for Boston, and tossed a 1-2-3 first inning. He needed just 13 pitches to get his three outs, and struck out Northeastern's Rob Fonseca to end the inning.

"It was definitely good to get back out there. Only being the second time a lot of us have faced hitters, I felt good with everything," Buchholz said after the 2-1 win. "I was only limited to 13 pitches, but I tried to throw everything and the ball was moving like it's supposed to."

Buchholz said he worked in a few adjustments to his delivery, including a modification to his leg kick, and that everything feels fine so far.

"The adjustments in my delivery I've been working on felt more smooth, particularly compared to last year," he said.

Rick Porcello, who is also in the running to be Boston's opening day starter, followed Buchholz on Tuesday and tossed two scoreless, 1-2-3 innings. He struck out James Hand looking to end the second inning, and got Matt Cook looking to start the third. Porcello's day ended with back to back groundouts.

"It felt good to get out there, just trying work on the little things and throw strikes," Porcello said after his outing. "Location wasn't where I wanted it, but for the first time out my arm felt good and the ball was coming out of my hand well. That's the most important thing right now."

Porcello said he isn't focused on getting the start April 6 in Philadelphia. His goal is for much further down the road.

"Win a world series – that's all that matters," he said. "I don't care how we get there, I just want to get that ring."

The Red Sox took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the fifth when Henry Ramon singled in Brock Holt. That lead stood until the top of the seventh when Northeastern tied the game on a throwing error by second baseman Jeff Bianchi.

Boston walked off with a win when Luke Montz scored on a throwing error by Northeastern shortstop Michael Foster.

David Ortiz went 0-for-2 for Boston with a pair of strikeouts. Hanley Ramirez, getting the start in left field, went 1-for-2 while fellow Red Sox newcomer Pablo Sandoval went 0-for-2 with a strikeout. Mookie Betts and Mike Napoli were among the projected Boston starters to record a hit in their spring debuts.

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