FORT MYERS, FLA. – In most cases, when a spring training game is tied after nine innings, the teams go home.
But the Twins had an extra pitcher with them Thursday — last year's fifth-round draft pick, Jake Reed, a righthander with a good fastball.
"I kind of wanted to get a look at him," manager Paul Molitor said.
He did. Reed had a long battle with the Red Sox's Allen Craig before he popped out behind home plate. Then Rusney Castillo, the Cuban outfielder who signed with Boston for $72.5 million, hit a first-pitch slider over the fence in left for a 5-4 Boston victory.
Molitor wondered why Reed, whose fastball was 94-95 Thursday (he has thrown harder than that), would open both at-bats with sliders but was glad he got the experience.
"It's always good for those kids who are looking to find their way up here and get a taste of these games," Molitor said.
Oswaldo Arcia was 2-for-4 for the Twins; on his triple, he broke into an ill-advised trot thinking it was a home run. Eduardo Escobar hit his third home run and has 12 RBI in 13 games.
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