FORT MYERS, Fla. (AP) — Aaron Cook is headed to the minors. If he keeps pitching the way he did Monday, he might not stay there long.

Cook threw five solid innings, Adrian Gonzalez had two hits and the Boston Red Sox beat the Washington Nationals 4-2.

Cook allowed only two hits, including Danny Espinosa’s leadoff homer in the fourth. He struck out two, walked one and has a 1.88 ERA.

Boston signed the veteran right- hander to a minor league contract in the offseason to provide pitching depth and another option at the back of the rotation.

The Red Sox were cautious with Cook early in the spring because of past health issues.

“Coming in I did not expect him to be giving us five pretty good innings the last day of spring training,” said manager Bobby Valentine said. “So it’s a very pleasant development. I thought his sinker was really good today. And it’s great to have that kind of depth in our starting rotation. I think a few handful of outings like that where he builds up his pitch count and maintains his strength will be a pleasant happenstance.”

Franklin Morales worked a perfect ninth for the save.

The teams meet againtoday in Washington.

NOTES: Nationals infielder Steve Lombardozzi and outfielders Tracy, Carroll and Xavier Nady have all won spots on the opening-day roster … Gonzalez raised his spring training average to .357. … Injured Red Sox players who will stay behind in Fort Myers to continue working out and rehabbing at the team’s training complex include pitchers Rich Hill, Daisuke Matsuzaka, Andrew Miller, John Lackey, Chris Carpenter and Bobby Jenks, left fielder Carl Crawford and outfielder Ryan Kalish.