FORT MYERS, Fla. (AP) – Josh Beckett is off to a strong start this spring, even if he’s faced mostly college students and minor leaguers.

The Red Sox ace and the majors’ only 20-game winner last season threw five strikeouts and allowed two hits and one walk in three innings Monday against mostly minor league players from the Minnesota Twins.

The “B” game, which ended in a 2-2 tie, was played before a few hundred fans and, with a 10 a.m. first pitch, ended about the same time manager Terry Francona and the “official” Red Sox were getting started against the Marlins in Jupiter.

“It feels like we’re in the loser’s bracket of an (Amateur Athletic Union) tournament,” Beckett joked of the small crowd, who got in for free and packed into the lower bowl. “I spent my whole life in the loser’s bracket of AAU tournaments. Because I was hitting fourth, probably.”

In spite of the small stage – Beckett’s second straight, after retiring all six batters he faced in the spring-opening win over Boston College last week – and a near-anonymous lineup, the right-hander said the outing was a step forward.

He gave up a leadoff single by Denard Span and an unearned run when he couldn’t handle a flip from Sean Casey at first base later in the first inning.

He threw 26 of his 53 pitches (35 strikes) in the first and plunked Jon Knott to load the bases with no outs, but recovered with a pair of strikeouts, getting Jose Morales to wave at a high fastball to get out of the jam. “I’ve gotten the same out of both (spring starts),” Beckett said. “I’ve pitched in games during the season with that many people, unfortunately. I thought I threw the ball really well today. I was still a little too strong in the first inning, left some balls up.”

Catcher Jason Varitek, who stayed behind to catch Beckett and went 1-for-4, said working through the early struggles made for a positive morning. He said Beckett gradually found his fastball location after missing high early and agreed with Beckett’s assessment that his offspeed arsenal was sharp, regardless who was in the box.

“Yeah, they’re missing (Justin) Morneau and (Joe) Mauer, but they threw together some pretty doggone good at-bats,” Varitek said.

“Now it’s about building innings, building the strength and feel to his pitches. Then you can add the level of the hitters as we go. He can make however many starts, in all minor league games, and as long as he’s progressing, it’s not about who he’s facing. It’s about his progress.”

Mike Timlin tossed a scoreless fifth with a strikeout, while prospect Michael Bowden, regarded as one of the best arms in the Red Sox system, threw two scoreless innings with a strikeout and a walk.

Outfielder Joe Thurston, who spent the bulk of last season with Philadelphia’s Triple-A affiliate, went 2-for-4 with an RBI-triple and scored the tying run on a passed ball in the sixth inning.

AP-ES-03-03-08 1501EST