Minnesota fails to retain possession

FORT MYERS, Fla. -- Playoff atmosphere. Almost like Red Sox-Yankees, 2003 and 2004.

The Sox and Minnesota Twins went at one another for the fifth and final time in Grapefruit League play last night, and the Sox won the coveted Mayor's Cup with a 5-4 victory over Johan Santana at Hammond Field.

The victory gave the Sox a 3-1-1 series win and returned the Cup to City of Palms Park for the first time since 2004. A good omen, perhaps.

The Twins had been pretty cocky concerning the Cup this spring. They brought it to City of Palms Park on their bus when the teams first played in February, and it was on display in the home clubhouse before last night's game. The Twins have won the series in 10 of 15 springs since the Red Sox moved here from Winter Haven.

Making his final spring start, Curt Schilling dominated, yielding only two singles in 4 2/3 innings. Schilling threw 56 pitches, after which he said, "I'm ready. We're healthy, except for Mike [ Timlin]. Now we've got to go out and win games."

"He looked great," said manager Terry Francona. "That's a good way to go into the season."

Coco Crisp hit a pair of doubles off Santana in the first four innings, and Manny Ramírez (returning from a two-day break because of a sore throat) had a two-run double as the Sox built a 4-0 lead while Schilling was in the game. The Twins fought back with a pair of runs in the seventh. After the Sox made it 5-2 with a run in the eighth, Brock Peterson hit a two-run double off Javier Lopez to cut the lead to 5-4.

The Twins brought in stopper Joe Nathan for the ninth, and he got the Sox in order. Lopez came back out for the bottom of the ninth. With two outs and nobody aboard, Trevor Plouffe singled to right. Felix Molina was next and grounded to short.

Twins manager Ron Gardenhire sent the Cup to the Sox clubhouse immediately after the win.

"Gardy is a class act," said Francona, who was photographed kissing the trophy.

Eric Hinske caught the ball for the final out, but the ball's location was unknown in the moments after the win.

"[Doug ] Mientkiewicz probably has it," said Francona.

Torii Hunter did not play for the Twins. He was hit in the head by a Kyle Lohse pitch in a night game March 2 and believes the lights at Hammond are inferior. He has vowed never to play another night game at Hammond . . . Jason Varitek went 0 for 2 and is down to .103 . . . Hideki Okajima surrendered a two-run double in the seventh . . . Timlin (disabled list, oblique muscle) will throw a bullpen session today . . . The Sox finish their Florida games this afternoon at City of Palms Park against the Devil Rays. Clay Buchholz gets the start for Boston and Edwin Jackson will toe the slab for Tampa . . . The Sox have hit only 13 homers in 28 spring games . . . The Sox play the Phillies at Philadelphia in exhibition games tomorrow night and Saturday afternoon before flying to Kansas City for Monday's opener. Julian Tavarez starts tomorrow and Daisuke Matsuzaka Saturday. Sox publicist John Blake reports that the combined New England and Japanese media throng will number something north of 150 in Kansas City next week. The Phillies have told the Sox that there will be more media for this weekend's exhibitions than for Philadelphia's home opener. Schilling, Tim Wakefield, Josh Beckett, and Doug Mirabelli will stay behind in Florida for side throwing and some minor league games while the Sox are in Philly. The forecast calls for 70-degree temperatures in Kansas City for Monday.