FORT MYERS, Fla. • At a ballpark that can be a horror for pitchers and against a lineup that intends to hammer pitchers all summer, Michael Wacha successfully navigated around trouble for a strong two-inning debut.
Wacha needed 45 pitches to get six outs from 12 batters he faced.
He held the Red Sox to one run, and it was unearned. The run came in the first inning, which Wacha was set to speed through until shortstop Paul DeJong sailed a throw to first base. What followed was two singles and a run to give the Red Sox an early 1-0 lead.