More photos » Jim Cole - AP

8 months ago: Boston Red Sox pitcher John Smoltz, center, playing for the Double A Portland Sea Dogs, gets pulled by manager Arnie Beyeler, left, as catcher Mark Wagner looks on in the fourth inning during a baseball game against the Manchester Fisher Cats in Manchester, N.H., Tuesday, May 26, 2009. Smoltz, 42, is in line to make his Red Sox debut next month after recovering from shoulder surgery. (AP Photo/Jim Cole)

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Hey, that guy did well.

But on the major league side, the Red Sox did not. They lost to the Twins, 5-2.

Jon Lester wasn't very good. He gave up five runs, six hits, three walks and struck out four in six innings of work. Daniel Bard (1IP, 1BB, 1SO) and Takashi Saito (1IP, 3SO) relieved Lester.

The offense wasn't there either. The 1-2-9 spots did the most damage. Jacoby Ellsbury, Dustin Pedroia and Julio Lugo each had two hits. Pedroia had an RBI and Ellsbury scored two runs. David Ortiz, hitting in the 6th spot for the first time, went 1 for 3 with a walk.

This is one of those games that you just kind of say: "Eh, can't win 'em all." Lester wasn't effective, but you've got to imagine he's going to turn it around at some point. Between our two aces, Josh Beckett is certainly coming around a lot faster.

Game No. 3 is Wednesday, featuring Daisuke Matsuzaka and Kevin Slowey.