BRADENTON, Fla. – A.J. Burnett prepared for his opening-day start by allowing two runs and two hits in 4 2-3 innings Saturday in the Pittsburgh Pirates' 5-4 loss to the Minnesota Twins.
Cole De Vries made his second start and fourth appearance of spring training for Minnesota and gave up one run — not earned — and one hit in three innings.
Minnesota's Ivan De Jesus Jr., who started at shortstop after Chase d'Arnaud was scratched because of a pregame thumb injury, hit a solo homer off Casey Fien in the fifth that tied the score 2-2. Eduardo Escobar doubled against Vin Mazzaro in the seventh and scored on Ray Olmedo's single.
Pittsburgh's Brad Hawpe hit a two-run, two-out single in the ninth off Anthony Slama. With runners on the corners, Virgil Vasquez retired Darren Ford on a groundout.
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