BRADENTON, Fla. -- Jordan Lyles is competing with three other pitchers for one open spot in the Pirates’ rotation.
However, Lyles is not obsessing over his results or those of Steven Brault, Rookie Davis and Nick Kingham. After eight years in the major leagues, the right-hander has learned not to worry much about the exhibition season.
Lyles made his first start of the spring Monday and allowed one run in two innings as the Pirates beat the Red Sox, 4-3, at LECOM Park. The Pirates improved to 3-0 in Grapefruit League play.
Lyles faced a very watered-down lineup. None of the players who were on the field when the Red Sox closed out the Dodgers in Game 5 of last year’s World Series made the 90-mile trip from Boston’s camp in Fort Myers, Fla.
“You just continue to do what you think is best to get major-league hitters out,” Lyles said. “Obviously, you’re trying to get outs. Nobody is going to stand out there on the mound and say, ‘Here’s the ball, hit it.’ Not giving up runs is the No. 1 goal obviously, but I’m also looking to work on things and find the right spots to work on them.”
The Pirates signed Lyles to a one-year, $2.05 million contract in December as a free agent.
Lyles’ outing came after Brault and Kingham each worked two shutout innings in their spring debuts. Davis, signed to a minor-league contract as a free agent a week after spring training started, has yet to pitch.
“We’re looking to get all these guys out on the mound throwing their pitches for the first time, trying to find a sequence,” Hurdle said. “I don’t think (Lyles) could throw any more balls that looked like strikes but weren’t strikes than he did. I was a little confused at first, but he was just missing.”
Left fielder Bryce Brentz’s solo homer accounted for the run off Lyles. Brentz was in spring training with the Pirates last season before being designated for assignment late in camp.
“Overall, there’s one pitch I wish I had back but, overall, I was happy about it,” said Lyles, who said he threw more changeups than usual. “I thought it went pretty well.”
Rookie Jesus Liranzo followed Lyles and pitched a Houdini-like 1 2/3 scoreless innings, walking two and hitting two batters but also striking out four.
“He did show the ability to stay in the fight,” Hurdle said of Liranzo, whose fastball has been clocked at over 100 mph in the minor leagues.
Eduardo Vera worked two scoreless innings for the win and Brandon Waddell threw 1 1/3 shutout innings.
Elvis Escobar allowed two unearned runs in one inning, both scoring on his fielding error.
• Using all minor leaguers, the Pirates scored three runs in the bottom of the eighth inning to rally from a 3-1 deficit and remain unbeaten.
Top shortstop prospect Oneil Cruz drew a bases-loaded walk and Dylan Busby tied the game with a fielder’s choice grounder. Lolo Sanchez then delivered the game-winning single.
• Francisco Cervelli started at first base, but Hurdle said the move was made primarily to get his starting catcher some at-bats without the wear and tear of catching. Cervelli made four starts at first for the Pirates last season and has made 10 in his 11-year career.
• Jameson Taillon was presented with a canvas print of his 2019 “ALL ME” public service ad from the Taylor Hooton Foundation in a pre-game ceremony. The foundation advocates against the use of appearance and performance-enhancing substances by youth.
Last season, Taillon was the winner of the Pirates’ Roberto Clemente Award for public service.
• The Pirates travel to Fort Myers, Fla., to face the Twins at 1:05 p.m. tomorrow.
Mitch Keller, considered the organization’s best pitching prospect, will start for the Pirates. Scheduled to pitch in relief are Michael Feliz, Tyler Lyons, Brandon Maurer and JT Brubaker.
“It’ll just be the second time I’ve seen (Keller) pitch live, so I’m looking forward to it,” Hurdle said. “I’ve seen a lot of video.”
The Twins will start right-hander Tyler Duffey.
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