Pirates lose spring training finale to Toronto in Montreal
MONTREAL – Melvin Upton Jr. homered and left-hander Francisco Liriano tossed 3 2/3 innings against his former team as the Toronto Blue Jays left Olympic Stadium with a 6-4 victory over the Pittsburgh Pirates Saturday afternoon.
Upton made his case for the final spot on Toronto’s 25-man roster with a deep home run to left centerfield in the bottom of the fourth inning. The two-run shot was Upton’s third homer in 14 games this spring.
Liriano faced his former club for the first time since he was dealt to the Blue Jays at least year’s trade deadline. The veteran allowed a pair of hits and walked two while striking out four in his final outing of the spring.
Pittsburgh fell behind 2-0 early but scored in the top of the fourth. Andrew McCutchen walked, Josh Harrison was hit by a pitch, and after Mike Bolsinger replaced Liriano on the mound, Josh Bell hit an RBI single to right field.
Pittsburgh added three runs in the fifth to tie the score at 4-4 as Elias Diaz and Cole Tucker doubled, and Adam Frazier and Eric Wood delivered RBI singles.
Chad Kuhl started for Pittsburgh and pitched into the third inning. He allowed a pair of runs on four hits and two walks with one strikeout. The 24-year-old made five starts this spring and allowed seven earned runs over 14 2/3 innings. His first start of the regular season will be Thursday in the series finale at the Boston Red Sox.
Tyler Glasnow gave up three runs on six hits, including Upton’s home run in the fourth inning. Toronto took the lead for good in the sixth against Glasnow as Jake Elmore scored on a single by Darwin Barney.
The Pirates open the season Monday afternoon at Boston. Gerrit Cole will make his first Opening Day start for Pittsburgh against reigning American League Cy Young Award winner Rick Porcello.
Pittsburgh finished spring training with a 19-12 record, second only to St. Louis in the National League.