Ross hit two of Boston's five homers in 25-0 win

Associated Press Sports

updated 7:09 p.m. ET March 3, 2012

FORT MYERS, Fla. (AP) - Bobby Valentine is using every opportunity this spring to help rid the Red Sox of the memory of their September collapse. He's banned alcohol in the clubhouse, tweaked the rival New York Yankees and now, in their exhibition opener, he's let his ballclub loose - against a college team.

Red Sox 25, Northeastern 0.

Cody Ross connected twice and Adrian Gonzalez hit one of Boston's five homers as a star-laden lineup roughed up Northeastern in the first game of a college doubleheader Saturday. The Red Sox host Boston College in the nightcap.

"Discount the competition, but it's better to do good than to do bad," Valentine said. "I was pleased, obviously. How can you not be pleased?"

His players gave him a lot to be pleased about. Every one of the Red Sox 15 positions players had at least one hit in the seven-inning game. Ryan Sweeney hit a three-run shot and went with three runs scored and five RBI.

"(Red Sox batting coach) Dave Magadan's been working with Ryan on getting a little rhythm at the plate rather than being still and he checked that," Valentine said. "He had a little more of that rhythm to it. The last at-bat (when he hit the home run) he was tired. There's no doubt. And in order to get something out of it he had to kick it up another gear, and he had more rhythm and it was a great swing."

Ross, who joined the team as a free agent in January, had a solo shot to lead off the second inning and a grand slam in the fourth.

"It was good," Ross said. "It's one of those days where you just want to go out and get the cobwebs dusted off. Just as a team go out and try not to get hurt, just play the game, and we played well today."

For Ross, a right-handed hitter, both his home runs cleared the replica Green Monster in the Red Sox spring training park.

"Any time you swing the bat well, whether it's Little League or if it's against college pitching or major league pitching if feels good," Ross said.

Gonzalez hit a three-run shot in the second inning. Che-Hsuan Lin added a two-run homer in the fourth.

Left-hander Jon Lester started for the Red Sox, going two innings. He gave one hit with two strikeouts and threw 22 pitches, 16 for strikes.

Right-hander Justin Germano went two innings, giving up one hit with one strikeout.

Right-hander Michael Bowden pitched two innings with three strikeouts. Right-hander Matt Albers pitched the final innings, giving up a hit with two strikeouts.

? 2012 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

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Source: http://nbcsports.msnbc.com/id/46616604/ns/sports-baseball/

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