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Tabata homers in Pirates exhibition loss

FORT MYERS, Fla. – Justin Morneau hit a three-run double for Minnesota and newcomer Vance Worley pitched two scoreless innings in his spring debut for the Twins in a 5-4 victory over the Pittsburgh Pirates on Monday.

Worley was acquired in a trade with Philadelphia for outfielder Ben Revere. The right-hander gave up two hits and struck out one.

Jose Tabata homered for the Pirates.

Kyle McPherson, in contention for the fifth spot in Pittsburgh’s rotation, needed just 12 pitches to finish his two innings. The right-hander gave up one hit.

“For Kyle’s first time out, our biggest interest was in the up and down twice,” Pirates manager Clint Hurdle said. “Obviously, we’re going to monitor him and not give him too many innings. We’ve got plenty of time to get his pitch count where it needs to be.”

McPherson, a September call-up by the Pirates, said that experience helped prepare him for competing for a spot this spring training. McPherson had a 2.73 ERA in 10 appearances last season with the Pirates, including three starts.

“I was able to see how they went about their day and their routines. I got used to the atmosphere,” McPherson said. “It’s not like I was shell-shocked or anything like that, but like I said I was able to get my feet wet.”

Worley went 6-9 with a 4.20 ERA in 23 starts for the Phillies last season with 107 strikeouts in 133 innings. As a rookie in 2011, he went 11-3 with a 3.01 ERA in 25 appearances, including 21 starts.

“I like the way he looks out there,” Twins manager Ron Gardenhire said. “He looks like a gunslinger out there. His windup, the way he stands out there. The ball was coming out of his hand well.”

Camp notes: Pirates LHP Wandy Rodriguez will start today against the Orioles. He will make two starts for the Pirates before leaving for the World Baseball Classic.

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