BRADENTON, Fla. — Upon hearing he was named the Pirates' starter for the home opener at PNC Park, Jameson Taillon was relieved. The right-handed starting pitcher called himself a "planner," and the news allowed him to plan when he'd throw his remaining bullpen sessions and starts for spring training.
He looked ready for opening day on Friday, when he struck out five and allowed only one hit — a solo home run — in five innings during the Pirates' 12-9 victory over the Braves at LECOM Park.
Taillon, making only his third start of the spring, had a no-hitter through three innings until Ozzie Albies led off the fourth with a solo home run. The Pirates' starter then walked two batters later in the inning, but escaped with a fly out on a nice sliding catch by Corey Dickerson in left.
The Braves did not hit a ball out of the infield through three innings and were unable to hit Taillon's curveball, which complemented his four-seam fastball and sinker well. Taillon threw 24 of his first 28 pitches for strikes. He now has a 2.79 ERA in 9 2/3 innings this spring and is getting closer to being stretched out for opening day.
• Josh Bell, Gregory Polanco, Pablo Reyes and Ryan Lavarnway hit solo home runs for the Pirates, who had 15 hits. Dickerson went 2-for-3, driving in three runs with a triple in the top of the first inning. He has seven hits in his last 17 at-bats.
Polanco went 2-for-4 with a double and the home run, and Elias Diaz hit a two-run homer in the third inning.
• Josh Smoker, Sam Street and Tyler Eppler also pitched for the Pirates. Smoker, a left-handed relief pitcher, struggled for the first time this spring, allowing four runs on four hits, including two home runs, with two walks in 1 2/3 innings.
Rob Brantley hit two solo home runs off Smoker, who is competing with Kevin Siegrist for a spot in the Pirates' bullpen. Street, a minor-league callup from Australia, gave up one run on two hits in the seventh inning, and Eppler, a Triple-A starting pitcher, recorded the save in the last two innings despite allowing two home runs in the ninth.
• Hurdle's lineup for the game:
1. Josh Harrison, 2B
2. Jordy Mercer, SS
3. Gregory Polanco, RF
4. Josh Bell, 1B
5. Starling Marte, CF
6. Corey Dickerson, LF
7. Colin Moran, 3B
8. Elias Diaz, C
9. Jameson Taillon, P
• The Pirates will host the Twins on Saturday at LECOM Park with first pitch at 1:05 p.m. Chad Kuhl is scheduled to start with Edgar Santana, Kevin Siegrist and Tyler Jones also scheduled to pitch.