FORT MYERS, Fla. (AP) – Clay Buchholz has had a rough spring in his attempt to make Boston’s rotation, but his latest start was a step in the right direction.

Buchholz, trying to become the fifth starter for the Red Sox, finished with three strikeouts in Boston’s 12-7 victory over the Minnesota Twins on Wednesday.

He beat Francisco Liriano, who was hit hard in two innings. Joe Mauer and Brendan Harris homered for the Twins.

Buchholz gave up three hits, two runs and one walk in 3 2-3 innings. He lowered his ERA from 12.60 to 9.35 in his third spring start, all of which have come against the Twins.

Boston manager Terry Francona was pleased with the way the right-hander commanded his fastball, which allowed him to set up his changeup.

“And the way that changeup is, it makes him pretty effective,” Francona said.

Buchholz made a splash as a rookie last season, going 3-1 with a 1.59 ERA and a no-hitter in his second major league start. He was happy with this outing, too. “Overall, it went real well for me,” he said. “I feel good about it.”

Jason Varitek hit the first of three Boston home runs in the second inning for a 2-0 lead against Liriano, who missed last season while recovering from elbow surgery. In his second spring start, Liriano needed 53 pitches to get through two-plus innings. Only 28 were strikes.

He gave up four hits, three runs and two walks while striking out one, struggling to control his fastball and only getting six outs until relief came two batters into the third. David Ortiz’s RBI double chased him.

“We just wanted to see a few more pitches that inning, a couple more hitters,” Twins manager Ron Gardenhire said.

“He’s a little behind. It’s all about him getting some innings in. It’s about how he feels and the way he handles it. It’s not about anybody else. He’s still got things to clean up. He hasn’t pitched in a long time. Today was not bad.”

Liriano said he felt he was throwing at 90-95 percent, instead of 80 percent in his previous start.

“I’m almost there,” he said. “I was trying to let it go. I think I have enough time to stretch out and be ready for the season.”

Kevin Cash and Jonathan Van Every also homered for Boston. Manny Ramirez went 2-for-2 with an RBI double, and Ortiz was 2-for-3.

Francona said he’d probably play his regulars for most of the rest of spring training, which ends early for the Red Sox. They leave in a week for Japan, where they open the season with two games against Oakland on March 25 and 26.

Notes: Twins RHP Scott Baker will not pitch for at least the rest of the week because of a sore muscle in his back. “It’s not about what he says anymore,” Gardenhire said. “We’re listening to what the trainers are saying. We’re just going to back off. We’re going to give him the time he needs.” … Twins 3B Mike Lamb is set to return to the lineup Friday. He’s been out with a sore left hip.

AP-ES-03-12-08 1759EDT