Yes, it’s only spring training and there is a noticeable absence of many big-leaguers due to the World Baseball Classic, but the Red Sox and Yankees still met for the first time this spring on Thursday with Boston winning 11-7 at Steinbrenner Field in Tampa, Florida.

The teams don’t face off in the regular season until June 9 in the Bronx, but on Thursday the Red Sox scored 11 runs on 13 hits, including six home runs.

“Good day for the organization,” Manager Alex Cora told reporters after the win.

Narciso Crook had a two-homer game, and Tyler Dearden (solo), Daniel Palka (two-run), Eddinson Paulino (solo), and Phillip Sikes (solo) also collected round-trippers.

The Red Sox lineup was almost entirely minor leaguers facing a lineup that included Giancarlo Stanton, Josh Donaldson, Anthony Rizzo, and Aaron Judge for at least one at-bat each.

Crook, who the Red Sox signed to a minor-league deal in November, provided an early lead when he hit a two-run homer off Yankees starter Clark Schmidt in the top of the second. He solidified the lead later on, taking Tyler Danish deep for three runs.

The 27-year-old outfielder debuted with the Cubs on June 30 of last year, and went 2 for 8 with a double, run, and pair of RBI in four big-league games.

• Carlos Rodón’s debut for the New York Yankees is going to have to wait. The veteran left-handed pitcher will begin the season on the injured list due to a left forearm strain.

Rodón will be shut down for 7-10 days, squashing any chance he’ll will be ready by opening day, New York GM Brian Cashman told reporters Thursday. The Yankees signed Rodón to a six-year, $162 million deal in the offseason to join a starting rotation that includes Gerrit Cole, Nestor Cortes and Luis Severino.

PADRES: Michael Wacha was one of the last pitchers on the free-agent market this offseason, but the contract was well worth the wait for the veteran pitcher.

Wacha signed last month with the San Diego Padres for a guaranteed $26 million over four years. Depending on bonuses and player or team options, the deal could be worth $39 million over three years. Despite the delay, Wacha looks ready as ever, pitching three innings on Thursday against the Cleveland Guardians, giving up two unearned runs.

“This is my 10th spring training, I’ve kind of gotten it figured out,” Wacha said after his outing. “Obviously over the years there have been some tweaks here and there, but even (before signing) I was continuing to do that.”

Wacha gave up three hits and struck out two, and the runs were unearned because of his own error covering first base while receiving a throw from first baseman Matt Carpenter, who was also his teammate with St. Louis.

Wacha, 31, was 11-2 with a 3.32 ERA in 23 starts for Boston last year. Besides the Cardinals, he has pitched for the New York Mets and Tampa Bay.

PHILLIES: Bryce Harper has joined his teammates at spring training and hasn’t ruled out being back by the All-Star break following Tommy John surgery.

“Things can change either way,” the two-time National League MVP Harper said. “I could be after, I could be before. But as right now that’s the date we kind of solidified. We’re not going to rush. We’re going to be smart about it.”

Harper was hurt in April and last played right field on April 16 in Miami. He had surgery in November.

Entering the fifth season of a $330 million, 13-year contract, Harper is currently taking swings with a bat but not facing pitches.

WORLD BASEBALL CLASSIC: Shohei Ohtani allowed one hit in the four innings he pitched, struck out five and was the winning pitcher in Japan’s 8-1 victory over China in Group B at Tokyo.

Ohtani also doubled off the left-field wall in the fourth to score two at the Tokyo Dome and increase Japan’s lead to 3-0.

The fans got what they came for — Ohtani pitching, hitting and not disappointing the 41,616 who showed up.

Besides Ohtani, the fan favorite was Lars Nootbaar of the St. Louis Cardinals, who made a sprawling catch is center and also led off and hit the first pitch he saw for a single in the first.

Japan will next play South Korea on Friday while China takes on the Czech Republic.

• Robbie Perkins hit one of Australia’s three homers to beat South Korea 8-7 in Group B at the Tokyo Dome.

• The Netherlands, after beating Cuba in the opener, won its second game in two days in Group A at Taichung, Taiwan. Xander Bogaerts homered in the third to give the Dutch a 1-0 lead. Jurickson Profar added to the lead in the fifth with another one-run home run.

• Cuba lost its second game in Group A play, falling to Italy 6-3 in 10 innings in what is a disappointing start for what used to be Latin America’s top power. Italy scored four in the 10th to clinch the victory. Cuba picked up one in the bottom of the 10th.