Cole surrenders 2 homers in win over Red Sox

Associated Press

FORT MYERS, FLA.

Mike Napoli hit two solo home runs for the Boston Red Sox in a 5-2 loss to the Pittsburgh Pirates on Saturday.

Napoli connected in his only two at-bats, both times against Gerrit Cole.

Napoli had an eight-hour surgery in November to help his sleep apnea. The procedure required breaking his lower jaw.

The slugging first baseman said he’s felt good since the operation.

“My days have been better,” Napoli said. “I have a lot more energy. Things are going good.”

“I was banged up last year, too,” he said. “I was dealing with my toe, my finger. Some back issues going on. Lots of things going on last year. Overall, I’m healthy right now. I’m sleeping at night, it’s totally different.”

Red Sox manager John Farrell has noticed Napoli’s improved situation, noting the home runs “against a guy with very good stuff.”

Starling Marte tripled and doubled for the Pirates, and scored both times on singles by Tony Sanchez.

Marte started in center field. Andrew McCutchen, the Pirates’ regular starter at the position, didn’t make the trip. He was a late scratch from Friday’s lineup because of soreness in his lower body.

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Pirates: Cole pitched 3 2/3 innings, allowing the Napoli homers and two singles to DH Allen Craig. He struck out one. Cole threw 65 pitches.

“He was out there to work on specific things,” manager Clint Hurdle said. “He threw his breaking ball, his changeup. The offspeed pitches, more or less, were strikes. He probably in some cases wanted to bury them, go a little lower.”

“That’s what spring training is for. There is a reason for spring training, and a lot of people take it for granted. They want everyone to throw up zeroes the whole time. They’re working on things. He’s continuing to learn himself,” he said.

Red Sox: Henry Owens pitched three hitless innings, striking out three and walking three.

Vance Worley is expected to start today against the Orioles.