PORT CHARLOTTE, Fla. -- Francisco Liriano will learn his fate tomorrow.
Tomorrow is the deadline for the Pirates to inform the veteran left-hander if he will be on the opening-day roster.
Liriano didn’t help his cause Friday as he had a roller coaster 1 2/3-inning outing as the Pirates lost to the Tampa Bay Rays 3-2 in an exhibition game at Charlotte Sports Park.
He allowed only one run but gave up three hits, walked three and struck out three.
Liriano has one more walk than strikeout – 9-8 – in 9 2/3 innings this spring while giving up five runs and seven hits.
“To be honest, I don’t know,” Liriano said when asked if he thought he would make the team. “They haven’t told me at all about that. We’ll see what happens.”
The Pirates have made it clear throughout spring training that they think Liriano could be an effective reliever after spending the vast majority of his 13-year career as a starter. He also pitched himself into franchise lore in 2013 when he allowed one run in seven innings in the Pirates’ stirring victory over the Reds in the wild-card game at PNC Park.
However, Liriano’s erratic performance in Grapefruit League play certainly casts some doubt about whether he can still get major-league hitters out.
On Wednesday, Liriano had the option of opting out of the minor-league contract he signed with the Pirates last month. However, the Pirates asked him to stay in camp a few more days so they could have more time to decide.
If Liriano doesn’t make the team, the Pirates will likely release him because they would have to pay the 35-year-old a $100,000 retention bonus if they sent him to Triple-A Indianapolis. Furthermore, Liriano has no interest in playing in the minor leagues at this stage of his career.
“I feel like I can still pitch in the big leagues,” Liriano said. “It’s spring training for me. The last 12 years in spring, I came to get myself ready (for the regular season) -- not really pitching in spring to put numbers down. It’s something new for me. I’m trying to do better.”
Ray Searage said he feels Liriano has been pressing at times to show he can help the Pirates.
“I’ve been in that spot where you need to make the team in spring training, even though that was eons ago,” Searage said. “It’s tough. You feel like you have to make a great impression every time out. You can tell, at times, that Frankie’s trying too hard and overthrowing.”
Brandon Maurer was the only other player still in major-league camp to pitch for the Pirates as they also used four minor-leaguers in what amounted to a bullpen game.
Maurer pitched one scoreless inning. Also, in camp on a minor-league contract, the former Padres closer told me he would most likely go to Indianapolis rather than elect free agency if the Pirates do not put him om the major-league roster.
• Jung Ho Kang saw his first action at shortstop since suffering a severe knee injury Sept. 17, 2015.
Kang handled three chances cleanly in seven innings, though he was unable to catch a wicked line drive by Brandon Lowe in the first. That play was ruled a single.
At the start of spring training, Kang asked to play strictly third base after playing just three games in the major leagues over the past two years because of legal issues stemming from a third DUI arrest in his native South Korea and wrist surgery.
Kang won the third baseman’s job in his competition with Colin Moran then softened his stance on playing shortstop when Hurdle said he wanted to look at the 31-year-old there.
“It had been a long time,” Kang said through a translator about playing shortstop. “Every inning, I felt more comfortable and natural.”
Kang went 2-for-3 with a double. He also hit his first single of the spring as his other eight hits have been six home runs and two doubles.
“Finally,” Kang said with a smile.
• Pablo Reyes’ RBI single with two outs in the ninth inning drew the Pirates to 3-2. That also gave the Pirates runners on first and second with no outs, but they failed to push across the tying run.
The Pirates’ five-game winning streak ended as they fell to 13-13 in exhibition play.
Reyes had two hits as the rookie utility player continued his strong bid to make the opening-day roster. He is 14-for-45 (.311) with three doubles and two home runs this spring.
• Bench coach Tom Prince served as the manager while Hurdle spent the day watching minor-leaguers work out and play in exhibition games back in Bradenton, Fla.
Every member of the major-league staff spends one day at minor-league camp.
Prince was interviewed for the Reds’ managerial opening last October. However, the job went to David Bell.
• The Pirates play split-squad games tomorrow, facing the Phillies in Bradenton and meeting the Red Sox at Fort Myers, Fla. Both games begin at 1:05 p.m.
Jordan Lyles will start in Bradenton in his last start of spring training against Zach Eflin. Lyles is considered the favorite for the No. 5 starter’s job and is in competition with Steven Brault and Nick Kingham.
All four members of the backend of the bullpen are expected to pitch: Felipe Vazquez, Keone Kela, Kyle Crick and Richard Rodriguez.
The game will be televised by AT&T SportsNet Pittsburgh.
Jameson Taillon will face the Red Sox in his last tune-up before pitching the opener next Thursday at Cincinnati. Rookie Davis and Tyler Lyons are also expected to pitch.
PERROTTO’S VIEWS
Liriano’s career might be coming to an end tomorrow. If the Pirates release him, Liriano isn’t likely to draw much interest from other teams, especially after he also went 5-12 with a 4.58 ERA for the Tigers in 27 games last season.
It seems unlikely Maurer will make the team but it’s good news for the Pirates that he is willing to go to Indianapolis. Searage has helped fix the mechanical issues that plagued Maurer during a horrible 2017 with the Royals and he looks he could help the Pirates this season.
It is hard to draw any conclusions on Kang at shortstop based on seven innings and three chances. Thus, I will not. I want to see more. However, I get the feeling Kang would prefer not to play the position and stay strictly at third base.
Reyes deserves to make the team. He can hit, he can run, he can play many different positions and he’s an energy guy. Plus, he is a loveable guy.