Padilla pitches well in return from injury

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FORT MYERS, Fla. -- Vicente Padilla returned to game action Saturday for the first time since suffering a slight hamstring strain last Monday.

Padilla pitched an inning of relief in the Red Sox' 10-5 drubbing by the Philadelphia Phillies.

He retired the Phils in order in the eighth inning, getting two flyouts and a groundball.

"I thought he did well,'' said bench coach Tim Bogar. "His leg feels good. I asked him after he came out and he said his leg felt great. I thought he located the ball well. I felt like he was attacking the strike zone and doing the things he was supposed to do.''

Because of the injury and the time lost, Padilla has been ruled out of the competition for the rotation, but he's very much in the running for one of the remaining bullpen spots.

Also, lefthander Rich Hill, recovering from Tommy John surgery, pitched an inning in a simulated game, allowing a hit, a walk and two strikeouts. He threw 20 pitches, 12 for strikes.

Hill is hoping to return to the Red Sox by early May, some 11 months after his surgery.

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