FORT MYERS, Fla. -- In the crowded derby for the final few spots in Boston’s bullpen, veteran righty Brandon Workman made a strong case on Friday night against the Twins, striking out all three batters he faced in the bottom of the fifth in the Red Sox's 10-6 win.

The punchouts came against Marwin Gonzalez (looking), Jonathan Schoop (swinging) and Jason Castro (swinging).

Workman also showed improved velocity, throwing a couple of fastballs at 92 mph.

“Yeah, it felt pretty good today,” Workman said. “I had command of all my pitches. Makes it a little easier when you’re able to throw all of your pitches for strikes when you want to and balls when you want to.”

Workman was also throwing the ball well when camp started but then seemed to hit a lull, and his fastball dipped to the high 80s.

“I definitely know how hard it’s coming out,” said Workman. “I keep an eye on it. With any pitcher, velocity is not everything but it helps you get swings and misses on off-speed pitches. In the middle of the camp I was working through some things but I feel good about where I’m at and how my arm has bounced back. I like where I’m at.”

Workman was asked if he feels like he’s on the team or still battling for his spot.

“I’m looking at it like when it’s my day to pitch I have to go out and pitch well,” Workman said. “I don’t know if that’s pitching for a spot or a pecking order in the ‘pen or whatever it may be. Whether it’s Spring Training, regular season or whatever, when it’s my turn to pitch I want to pitch as well as I can.”

Red Sox manager Alex Cora was also asked if Workman is still fighting for a spot.

“Everybody is,” said Cora. “We got three spots and everybody is in it.”

Righty Colten Brewer, another pitcher in the mix, fired a scoreless inning. Things didn’t go as well for Jenrry Mejia, who gave up three hits and two runs. Mejia is in Minor League camp, but the Red Sox have been calling him up on a frequent basis and Cora said on Thursday he had a shot to make the team.

Benintendi homers, leaves

Cora told leadoff man Andrew Benintendi he could depart Friday’s game if he opened the game with a home run.

Benintendi jumped at the chance, lacing Kyle Gibson’s first pitch over the wall in right for a homer.

In the bottom of the first, Aneury Tavarez took over for Benintendi in left.

“I told him if he hit a home run in the first at-bat, he could go home and he hit a home run,” said Cora. “He’s swinging the bat well. You guys make a big deal when they’re 0-for-20. We make a big deal when they get hot.”

Bogaerts avoids serious injury

In these final few days of Spring Training, the Red Sox just want to stay healthy. They got a brief scare in the bottom of the second inning when shortstop Xander Bogaerts was in a collision with Byron Buxton on a rundown. As Bogaerts made the tag for the out, the brim of Buxton’s helmet dug into the left collar bone of Bogaerts.

While Bogaerts was able to stay in the game, Buxton exited with a contusion on his face.

“It squared me up,” said Bogaerts. “I didn’t want to look down. I don’t know how it looks. It just didn’t feel right. I didn’t want to look. As I went down, I let one of the trainers take a look. It looked fine. So, I was, ‘All right, let's keep going’”

Bogaerts wound up going 2-for-3 on the night, and left in the bottom of the fifth.

“It’s getting stiff now,” said Bogaerts. “I mean, the brim hit my bone. It didn’t feel nice. I’m happy that it wasn’t worse. We’ll see if I wake up and feel a little different tomorrow, but I’m happy it wasn’t worse. I don’t know how he is. Hopefully he’s good and ready to start the season on time.”

Pearce on mend

First baseman Steve Pearce, who injured his left leg in a game on March 17 against the Pirates, is feeling much better and should be ready for Opening Day.

Pearce took live batting practice on Friday and will play in Minor League games on Saturday. The plan is for Pearce to play exhibition games against the Cubs in Arizona on Monday and Tuesday.

“So far. so good. He feels good. That’s a good sign,” said Cora.

Shugart suspended

MLB announced on Friday that Red Sox Minor League pitcher Chase Shugart received a 50-game suspension without pay after a second positive test for a drug of abuse in violation of the drug prevention and treatment program. Shugart was on the roster of Class-A Greenville and his suspension will start at the beginning of the regular season.

Up next

Hard-throwing righty Nathan Eovaldi will make his third and final start of Spring Training on Saturday afternoon at JetBlue Park against the Pirates. It will be the last game in Florida for the Red Sox, who will venture to Arizona to play the Cubs for exhibition games on Monday and Tuesday. Heath Hembree and Darwinzon Hernandez are scheduled to pitch out of the bullpen.