Josh Beckett completed what should be his final step toward returning to the Boston Red Sox rotation.

Slowed by back spasms this spring, Beckett pitched five innings Tuesday in an intrasquad game in Fort Myers, Fla., and manager Terry Francona hopes to start his ace right-hander Sunday at Toronto.

Beckett, who went 20-7 with a 3.27 earned-run average last season for the World Series champions, allowed one run and two hits, struck out six and didn't walk a batter while throwing 64 pitches, 47 for strikes.

General manager Theo Epstein and pitching coach John Farrell will confer with Francona before a final decision is made on Beckett.

"I talked to him after," Francona said. "More likely than not he's going to probably pitch that last game in Toronto. I want to sit with Theo and John and Josh together. There's no reason to have that conversation until he has his work after the start. But everything's fine."

Beckett felt soreness in his back after throwing a warmup pitch before his scheduled start March 8 against the Florida Marlins, and left without facing a batter. He was placed on the 15-day disabled list March 19.

Meanwhile, right-hander Mike Timlin, recovering from a cut on his right ring finger that required two stitches, threw Monday from up to 90 feet and is scheduled to pitch twice for Class AAA Pawtucket on April 7 and 9 before rejoining the Red Sox around April 11.

Timlin is on the 15-day DL, retroactive to March 20 and a day after he cut himself.

Boston: RHP Bartolo Colon (elbow) will start Pawtucket's season opener Thursday as he tries to make it up to the Red Sox.

Cleveland: The Indians were vague about C Victor Martinez's hamstring injury, saying only that he's day to day with a mild strain. The club added that no roster move involving Martinez was under current consideration.

Los Angeles: RH reliever Scot Shields passed his simulated-game test and is expected to come off the DL this weekend after a minor-league rehab appearance. ... The Angels have won 158 straight games when leading after eight innings, the longest current streak in the majors. The last time they blew it and lost in the ninth was nearly two years ago, at Minnesota on April 19, 2006.

Minnesota: The homerless Twins hadn't gone two games without going deep to start a season since 2000.

New York: Derek Jeter made his 12th opening-day start at shortstop, passing Hall of Famer Phil Rizzuto for the franchise record.

Tampa Bay: Carl Crawford's $8.25 million option for 2009 was exercised by the Rays, who declined Rocco Baldelli's $6 million option and agreed to a $10.5 million, three-year deal with reliever Dan Wheeler. Crawford, who is earning $5.25 million this year, is a two-time All-Star and four-time American League stolen-base champion who is just the seventh player since 1900 to increase his batting average over five consecutive seasons. The 26-year-old is one of 10 major-leaguers who have hit .300 or better each of the past three years. Baldelli, 26, has been sidelined since last May because of lingering hamstring problems and what doctors have told him and the Rays is mitochondrial disorder, a condition that causes extreme fatigue. He was placed on the 60-day DL last month. Rather than exercise his option for 2009, the Rays bought out the final three years of his contract for $4 million. The club had a second option for 2010 and 2011. Wheeler will earn $2.8 million this season, $3.2 million in 2009 and $3.5 million in 2010. The 2011 option is for $4 million with a $1 million buyout.

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