FORT MYERS, Fla. (AP) – For at least one day, the Boston Red Sox had plenty of offense without Nomar Garciaparra. Just not enough to win.

David Ortiz, the Red Sox’s cleanup hitter until Garciaparra mends from a right Achilles’ tendon injury, hit a wind-blown two-run single ahead of Ellis Burks’ two-run homer Wednesday in an 8-8 tie with Pittsburgh called by mutual consent.

With both teams nearly down to their opening day rosters and not carrying the extra pitchers they did earlier this spring, they chose not to play extra innings.

“You can tell everybody is getting anxious to get this over with,” Red Sox manager Terry Francona said. “I’m sure when we get to Atlanta (Friday for two exhibition games), our feet will feel a little lighter.”

The Red Sox learned earlier in the day that Garciaparra will be out at least three weeks – a period in which they play the AL East rival Yankees seven times. Until now, Garciaparra had not been expected to be sidelined so long.

“He’s a very good player in the middle of our lineup, so to say we’re not going to miss him, we’d be lying,” Francona said.

The small-budget Pirates don’t have a lineup resembling Boston’s, but rookie Jose Castillo and Bobby Hill are staging a down-to-the-final cutdown race to become their starting second baseman.

Castillo homered for the second straight day – he hit a game-winning shot in the ninth Tuesday against the Phillies – and Hill matched him with a solo drive among his two hits.

Castillo, an excellent fielder who has never played above Double-A, is hitting .290 with three homers. Hill has a .354 average, the highest among the Pirates’ remaining position players, yet could start the season on the bench or in Triple-A if Castillo wins the job.

“I love what these guys are doing,” manager Lloyd McClendon said. “I’ve always said competition should make you better.”

Pirates right-hander Kip Wells tuned up for his opening day start Monday against the Phillies, allowing five hits and five runs over five innings. His pitching line would have been better if shortstop Abraham Nunez hadn’t let Ortiz’s popup fall for a two-run single in the fifth, leading to Burks’ homer in the four-run inning.

“I’m not making any excuses, but I never saw it,” Nunez said.

Wells had a 9.00 ERA in his five starts, which would be more alarming to the Pirates except that he is traditionally a slow starter.

“I feel good about where I am, but at times I continue to fight myself and opposing hitters,” he said.

Red Sox starter Bronson Arroyo gave up two runs and five hits over four innings.

Notes: Curt Schilling starts the Red Sox’s final spring game in Florida on Thursday against the Twins. … The Red Sox drew a spring-record 118,548 for their 16 games in Fort Myers. … Humberto Cota also homered for Pittsburgh. … Former Pirates OF Adam Hyzdu’s RBI single off Pirates rookie Mike Johnston tied it in the eighth. Hyzdu is not expected to make the Red Sox’s opening day roster.

AP-ES-03-31-04 1833EST