Carp continues impressive spring campaign

FORT MYERS, Fla. -- Put Mike Carp in the game and he hits. Ever since the left-handed hitter joined the Red Sox a year ago, that is pretty much the way it has worked.

In Tuesday's game against the Marlins, Carp went deep for the third time this spring, and second time in three days.

Once again, Carp projects to play a bench role this season for a team that has David Ortiz at designated hitter, Mike Napoli at first base and Daniel Nava and Jonny Gomes as the left-field platoon.

"The best thing about Carpie is that he can sit on a pitch and hit it. He can look for a pitch and address it and drive it," said bench coach Torey Lovullo. "He was sitting all over the first pitch he saw from a left-handed pitcher who made a quality pitch. He just put a better swing on it. Doesn't surprise us. Anything Mike Carp does out there can be exceptional."