Eric Gagne got back on the mound, and Carl Pavano was pain-free in the latest installment of Yankees-Red Sox.

In a nearly empty stadium, Gagne faced hitters for the first time this year when he threw 11 pitches in a “B” game Monday for the Texas Rangers against Milwaukee minor-leaguers at Phoenix.

The former Los Angeles Dodgers closer said he felt no pain – and that was the most important result for the 2003 NL Cy Young Award winner.

“It’s just good to be out there, be free and not have to worry about anything but making your pitches. It’s been awhile since I felt that way,” Gagne said. “It’s the best I’ve felt in two years. It’s pretty positive.”

The right-hander has had three operations (two elbow, one back) since his 2002-04 stretch with the Dodgers, when he converted a record 84 straight save chances. He was limited to 151â3 innings the last two seasons.

At Fort Myers, Fla., Pavano’s trouble-filled tenure with the New York Yankees took a positive turn.

The right-hander felt “pretty good” while allowing two runs and four hits in the first three innings of a 7-5 loss to the Boston Red Sox after returning from a bruised foot and missing a start Friday because of his girlfriend’s medical problem. He drove 135 miles from Tampa rather than take the team bus.

“It was a long drive,” he said. “It was a nice ride just to clear my head a little bit.”

Pavano, in the third season of a $39.95 million, four-year contract, last pitched in the major leagues on June 27, 2005, before being sidelined by shoulder, back, buttocks, elbow and rib injuries.

In other games:

Nationals 9, Mets 6

At Viera, Fla., Shawn Hill posted his third quality start of spring training for Washington.

Twins 9, Marlins 1

At Fort Myers, Fla., Torii Hunter and the Twins roughed up Dontrelle Willis. Hunter went 3-for-3 with two RBIs, and AL MVP Justin Morneau also drove in two runs.

Cardinals 3, Braves 1

At Jupiter, Fla., Braden Looper allowed four hits in 42â3 scoreless innings.

Reds 3, Blue Jays 0

At Sarasota, Fla., Matt Belisle boosted his bid for the final spot in Cincinnati’s rotation, allowing one hit in four impressive innings to earn his third win of spring training.

Tigers 3, Devil Rays 2

At St. Petersburg, Fla., Casey Fossum made his spring training debut, pitching the first inning of a loss that dropped Tampa Bay to 1-11.

Phillies 6, Astros 6,

10 innings

At Clearwater, Fla., Chase Utley hit a three-run homer for Philadelphia.

Pirates 6, Indians 1

At Bradenton, Fla., Tony Armas Jr. supported his own strong start with a run-scoring single for Pittsburgh.

Dodgers 4, Orioles 2

At Fort Lauderdale, Fla., Erik Bedard allowed four singles and his first run of spring training, pitching four solid innings for Baltimore.

Rangers 11, Brewers 7

At Phoenix, Texas’ Nelson Cruz had a headache after getting beaned by a fastball, one of six players hit during two games between the Rangers and Milwaukee.

Mariners 6, Athletics 5

At Peoria, Ariz., Felix Hernandez tossed four scoreless innings against his expected opening-day opponent. Richie Sexson homered and had his first two hits of spring training.

Diamondbacks 6, Rockies 5, 10 innings

At Tucson, Ariz., Aaron Cook pitched five innings for Colorado, allowing three runs and eight hits.

Cubs 10, Giants 5

At Scottsdale, Ariz., Barry Bonds lost a pair of fly balls in the sun, Gold Glover Omar Vizquel booted a routine grounder, and Carlos Zambrano fell on his face while legging out a triple.