Pirates’ Liriano sharp in victory over Reds

Associated Press

port charlotte, fla.

Pittsburgh is getting a look at what a healthy Francisco Liriano can do on the mound.

The left-hander pitched three scoreless innings in his second spring training start, helping the Pirates beat a Tampa Bay Rays split-squad 4-3 on Tuesday.

Liriano, who signed a $39 million, three-year contract during the offseason, allowed one hit and struck out four while throwing 21 of 30 pitches for strikes.

“Everything is good physically. I just want to get better each start,” Liriano said. “I was pretty happy with what I did today.”

Pirates manager Clint Hurdle liked what he saw, too, adding it’s “fun to watch.”

“This is a new spring, a new opportunity for him as well,” Hurdle said. “Even though, it’s familiar surroundings, he’s not ever going to be a guy who’s going to go out there and get his work in. His eyes, that focus, he’s fully engaged any time he gets the ball and gets on the mound. It’s just the way he’s wired.”

Sean Rodriguez drove in two runs for the Pirates with a single and RBI grounder. Liriano singled in his only at-bat, leading off the third inning, and Gustavo Nunez’s run-scoring single broke a 3-3 tie in the eighth.

Burch Smith gave up one run and three hits in three innings in his bid to win a spot of Tampa Bay’s rotation. Nathan Karns, Matt Andriese and Alex Colome, who reported Wednesday after arriving late for camp because of visa problems, are the other contenders for an opening.

“Overall ... it was kind of an average outing,” said Smith, who threw 27 of 44 pitches for strikes.

“You go into the season knowing that you can never have enough starting pitchers, ‘’ Rays manager Kevin Cash said. “I think the intent is to stretch him out, and he’s going to be a factor whether right away or some point during the season.”

UP NEXT TODAY

Pirates: Charlie Morton will on the road in Clearwater against left-hander Cole Hamels and the Philadelphia Phillies.

Rays: No. 4 starter Jake Odorizzi makes his second spring start against Minnesota in Fort Myers. Twins lefty Tommy Milone will face the Rays for the second time in less than a week.