Kevin Youkilis' two-run homer in the third inning was all the scoring the Red Sox needed, as they defeated Team Australia, 3-0, on Sunday night at City of Palms Park, before 5,370

With one out in the third, Mark Loretta walked and scored on Youkilis' first-pitch home run over the left-field fence

The Sox added another run in the sixth as Ron Calloway, who had singled and stole second, scored on David Murphy's single

The Aussies threatened in the second inning, when Brendan Kingman and Tom Brice each singled and advanced to third and second, respectively, on a passed ball, but Jon Lester struck out Matthew Kent swinging and got Brad Harman to ground out

Phil Seibel got the win and Kason Gabbard got the save for the Sox, while Craig Anderson took the loss for the Aussies

Australia sent seven pitchers to the mound for an inning of work each

In a Spring Training-only special, the teams played a full seven innings, despite Boston's lead, to ensure the Australian pitchers could get their work in

The Australians leave Fort Myers, where they had been working out prior to their 'Pool D' competition in the World Baseball Classic, on Monday morning
Their next game is Tuesday against Team Italy

The Red Sox's next game is Monday against the Devil Rays in St. Petersburg

For Jon Deeble, Australia’s 3-0 loss against Boston Red Sox split squad last night at Fort Myers came down to one pitch
Apart from a 2-0 pitch from left hander Craig Anderson that Red Sox first baseman Kevin Youkills lifted high over left field for a two run home run, Deeble had few complaints how Australia played

Australia matched the Red Sox with five hits, played flawless defence and generally pitched well

The Red Sox tacked on an additional run in the sixth inning to take a 3-0 lead that Australia was unable to eat into

The match against the Red Sox split squad, which featured three Boston every day players, was a precursor to the World Baseball Classic, which starts in Orlando on Tuesday
Australia plays Italy in the opening game of 'Pool D' in the World Baseball Classic that also includes Dominican Republic and Venezuela

Deeble gave seven pitchers - Damian Moss, Peter Moylan, Craig Anderson, Adam Bright, Phil Brassington, Phil Stockman and Wayne Lundgren - one inning work in the shortened seven inning match

“I thought we pitched well, they had some pretty good guys” Deeble said
“And, Jon Lester (the Red Sox starting pitcher) is a prospect
It was okay, we pitched well, had good defence and the guys swung the bats okay
We just needed a hit when we had runners on base
We made one bad pitch and that cost us
For us to be successful we need to be perfect
If we are not perfect, we’re not going to win”

Twice Australia had runners in scoring position, including a runner on third with less than two out, but failed to come up with a clutch hit both times

Deeble said it was imperative for Australia to execute in such situations if it was to be successful in the World Baseball Classic

“We have to play perfect baseball
If we are not perfect we are not going to win” he said

What Deeble was pleased about was the performance of knuckleballer Phil Brassington
“The pleasing thing was how (Phil) Brassington pitched” Deeble said
It was a view shared by Australia’s advance scout Neil Burke who sat behind home plate and watched Brassington throw a scoreless one inning of work
Burke said Brassington had the ball “dancing” and described his velocity as the most consistent he has seen it this year

Former Milwaukee Brewer All Star catcher Dave Nilsson collected a hit - a single - with his first at bat

Australia mounted a rally in the second when Brendan Kingman and Tom Brice hit back to back singles, but Red Sox starter Jon Lester struck out Matthew Kent and induced Brad Harman to pop-up to end the inning

Trent Durrington, who joined the Australians after attending the Red Sox major league spring training camp, doubled with one out in the third, but he, too, was left stranded

HITS - Nilsson, Kingman, Brice, Durrington (double), Harman