Mar 21, 2016 4 min read

FORT MYERS, Fla. – Juan Nicasio kept up his shutout streak, striking out eight in five innings as the split-squad Pittsburgh Pirates beat the Minnesota Twins 2-0 Monday.

Nicasio has not allowed a run in 15 innings over his five Grapefruit League starts. He gave up five hits and walked two in this outing, with runners on base in every inning but his last.

“He had everything going today,” said bench coach Dave Jauss, acting as the manager while Clint Hurdle was with the other squad. “And it was good that he worked with more men on base today than he did five days ago, just for training purposes.”

Twins right-hander Kyle Gibson also had a strong outing, going 4 1/3 innings, giving up one unearned run.

A single by Nicasio helped set up a run in the third, which scored on a two-out throwing error by third baseman Eduardo Nunez.

Nicasio has struck out 24 this spring, including 18 over nine innings in his last two starts.

“Again the delivery was really good, the stuff was really good, the fastball actually was better even than in the last outing when he had all the punchouts in Baltimore,” Jauss said. “The fastball was down with really good life against their full lineup. Then you add that he was able to punch some people out with runners in scoring positon with less than two outs.”

Nicasio is competing for a spot in the Pirates’ rotation.

“Decisions when people are doing good are really good decisions,” Jauss said. “Watching him out here this whole spring training has been a good thing to see.”

Nicasio, who said he has not been told if he will be in the rotation or the bullpen, is happy with his spring.

“I’m pitching really good right now, ” he said. “I have my three pitches really good – my fastball, my slider, my changeup. I’m working with my changeup but my slider is sharp right now.”

Hector Olivera extended his hitting streak to seven games and drove in three runs as the Atlanta Braves roughed up opening day starter Francisco Liriano and the split-squad Pirates 7-3.

Liriano hit a home run, but departed after 3 2/3 innings. He allowed seven hits and four earned runs, with one walk and five strikeouts.

“Didn’t have any fastball command today,” Liriano said. “It kept sailing all over the place, up and down.”

“That’s what we’re here for, to get better at things we need to work on. Hopefully, next time will be a lot better. . One more start to get myself ready for opening day,” he said.

Olivera singled twice and has hit safely in 15 of his past 16 games.

After navigating around some trouble early, Liriano allowed five consecutive hits in a three-run third. In three Grapefruit League starts this spring, Liriano has given up 12 hits and six runs in 8 2/3 innings.

“Frankie’s not a guy you’re going to lose any sleep over,” Hurdle said. “We’ll give him the ball again and see how he does.”

Nick Swisher doubled twice and drove in two runs. The batters in the middle of the Atlanta lineup – Adonis Garcia, Swisher, Jeff Francoeur and Olivera – had two hits apiece.

Pirates right-hander Daniel Bard, a minor leaguer trying to make his way back to the majors, allowed three runs on three hits and two walks without recording an out in the fourth. Bard was Boston’s setup man from 2009-11.

Catcher Elias Diaz was shut down Monday because of right elbow discomfort. Expected to start the season with Triple-A Indianapolis, Diaz will rest for a week and be re-evaluated. … Third baseman Jung Ho Kang (knee) faced live pitching the past two days at the Pirates’ minor league facility but has not yet progressed to the baserunning stage of rehab. General manager Neal Huntington said Kang still is expected to return to the lineup in mid- to late April. “If he’s ready earlier, that’s fantastic,” Huntington said. “If he’s ready later, we’re in a good spot still.”

Pirates: Off on Tuesday. On Wednesday, they travel to Sarasota, where left-hander Jeff Locke is scheduled to pitch against the Baltimore Orioles. Mark Melancon and Cory Lubke also are lined up to pitch.