Red Sox defeat Northeastern 25-0

So it's the first game of spring training and it's against a college team, but you've got to like a 25-0 victory for the Red Sox, right?

FORT MYERS, Fla.—FORT MYERS, Fla. -- 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 goo than to do bad," Valentine said. "I was pleased, obviously. How can you not be pleased?"

Perhaps more impressive than anything was the shutout part. With it being the first game of action this year, you'd think the pitching might be a little behind but Jon Lester came out and threw strikes in two innings. Also, every one of the 15 Red Sox position players got a hit, which is promising as well.

Against college kids, of course.