Scenes lacked direction

Buchholz and Hansen are all over the lot

While the fans watched the action, Red Sox slugger David Ortiz kept his sun-shielded eyes on the fans at City of Palms Park. (Brita Meng Outzen/Associated Press)

FORT MYERS, Fla. - Even though the trophy was out on a table in the interview room, being photographed by NESN for stock footage yesterday, it isn't quite ready to be claimed for another year by the Red Sox. With two four-run innings, against Clay Buchholz and Craig Hansen, the Twins managed to stay alive in the race for the Mayor's Cup with an 8-2 win - and beat up on some young Red Sox arms in the process.

"I think it's lack of command," manager Terry Francona said. "You look at the two innings where we gave up our runs, [Clay] and Hans. The ball came out of their hands real well, especially with Clay, a lot of two-strike hits . . . I think it all came back to the command of his fastball. With Hans, he started out throwing the ball real well, then once he got a little out of joint, he lost his release point or had a couple different ones, and things got away. I think he has too good of stuff for that to happen."

Buchholz struggled in his first inning, allowing a solo home run to Jon Knott, the first batter he faced, followed by Adam Everett (double), Denard Span (single), Nick Punto (RBI single), and Michael Cuddyer (two-run double).

"The last two bullpens I've been a little up in the zone," said Buchholz, who came back with a 1-2-3 fourth inning. "I've worked on trying to get it down, it's just maybe trying to throw too hard, too far back in my windup instead of letting it get out in front. It's early, so I've still got a couple things to work on, couple things to try to perfect before we actually get rolling."

Hansen allowed four runs on two hits and three walks in the ninth inning.

Tim Wakefield started the game with an uneventful two innings, in which he threw 25 pitches and allowed a single to Jason Kubel in his first action of the spring.

"I felt good," Wakefield said. "I was really focused on trying to make sure my mechanics were repeatable and consistent. Felt like I had pretty decent stuff. Threw some fastballs for strikes when I needed to, and the knuckleball felt pretty good."

The Sox lead the five-game race for the Mayor's Cup, 2-1.

Contractual matters

With a week until the March 11 deadline to renew contracts of players not yet arbitration eligible, there was no news on a deal with closer Jonathan Papelbon.

"We still haven't moved at all," Papelbon said. "I mean we're kind of at a standstill right now. We haven't done [anything] really."

Asked if he'd prefer to sign a long-term deal or renew his contract each season, Papelbon said, "I would kind of prefer to go year-to-year to be honest, but we'll see what happens. I'm in no rush. Something will happen."

Papelbon is looking for a raise from his $425,550 salary last season, when he converted 37 of 40 save chances. He had 35 saves in 41 tries the previous year.

Bobby Jenks, the closer for the White Sox, signed for $550,000 for this season, an increase of $100,000. Jenks saved 40 games last season after collecting 41 the year before. Yankees closer Mariano Rivera recently signed a three-year, $45 million deal.

Another player Papelbon likely watched closely was Francisco Rodriguez, who lost his arbitration case but was awarded a $10 million salary. Chad Cordero of the Nationals was paid $525,000 in 2006, when his service time was similar to Papelbon's, then was bumped to $4.15 million in 2007 after winning his case in his first arbitration year. He signed for $6.2 million this offseason, without going to a hearing.

Other Red Sox subject to the deadline include Jon Lester, Dustin Pedroia, Manny Delcarmen, and Jacoby Ellsbury.

Tripping the light

No, it was not Julio Lugo's shirt, despite the joking from Javier Lopez. The black lace shirt, given to Papelbon by his dance instructor, was actually a $1,000 Versace number, according to the closer-turned-dancer.

Gussied up for a private dinner benefiting the Mike Lowell Foundation, Papelbon, who declined an invitation to be on ABC's "Dancing with the Stars," and teammates Pedroia, Alex Cora, and Lowell, danced in the Cuban-themed "Dancing with the All-Stars" event. It raised $190,000 for the Foundation through live and silent auctions, including a $32,000 bid on an authentic 2007 World Series ring. Lowell won the competition, which Papelbon called "rigged."

"I haven't had a heart attack, I think I've come close," Francona said. "My chest hurt I was laughing so hard. I got a headache I was laughing so hard. Pedroia is a moron. I mean, you can write that. Pedroia is a moron. He looked a puppet on a string."

Pedroia, for the record, ripped off his shirt to reveal "Daddy" written across his chest with glitter, throwing his shirt to team owner John Henry.

"I can't tell you," Pedroia said, of his reasons, laughing. "It's personal . . . I thought my body pulled it off and [Papelbon's] didn't."

Schedule change

Bartolo Colon will throw a bullpen session today, scheduled for 9 a.m. Colon and pitching coach John Farrell had said the session would be tomorrow. Francona will not be there to monitor it, as he'll be heading to Jupiter for today's game against the Marlins . . . Players scheduled to go to Jupiter include Kevin Youkilis, Jed Lowrie, Ellsbury, Bobby Kielty, Brandon Moss, Kevin Cash, Chris Carter, Pedroia, and Cora. Jason Varitek and Sean Casey are scheduled to play in a "B" game against the Twins that also features Josh Beckett . . . Francona reported that Cash got the ball to second base in 1.87 seconds on Carlos Gomez's stolen base off Lester in Saturday's game against the Twins.

Gordon Edes of the Globe staff contributed to this report. Amalie Benjamin can be reached at abenjamin@globe.com.