BRADENTON, Fla. -- On the fourth day of March, Francisco Liriano looked ready for the first week of April.
Liriano made quick work of the Twins in his Spring Training debut, retiring all six batters he faced and striking out four of them over the first two innings of the Pirates' 2-2 tie at McKechnie Field.
The Pirates left-hander struck out the side in his first inning, fanned the first hitter he faced in the second, recorded two more quick outs and called it a day. He figured he probably could have thrown as many as 40 pitches in his first outing of the year.