SPRING REPORT

On the mound

Chad Kuhl was roughed up in his previous Grapefruit League outing, a split-squad game against the Baltimore Orioles, and seemed to get back on track Saturday. Over 41⁄ innings, he gave up 3 three runs and five hits and struck out two. He said he was working on his rhythm, different signs with catcher Francisco Cervelli and his changeup. Developing more consistency with that pitch has been a goal of Kuhl’s.

“I knew it was a good pitch when it worked,” Kuhl said. “But when it didn’t, it was up. It was just building it to where I can throw it anytime, anywhere, just like I would my fastball, my slider, curveball.”

At the plate

The Pirates beat up on Twins pitching, particularly in a 30-minute bottom of the fourth in which they scored nine runs.

Cervelli, batting second, hit a solo homer in the first. In the third, Jose Osuna hit a two-run single but was caught between the base paths trying to stretch it into a double. An inning later, he added another RBI single. Osuna leads the team this spring with 12 RBIs.

Jordan Luplow hit a tworun homer to straightaway center field, his third of spring, and added an RBI double. David Freese roped a two-run double to left field. Sean Rodriguez smashed a homer to left field.

Up next

Game: Pirates (ss) vs. Boston Red Sox, 1:05 p.m. Sunday. Where: LECOM Park, Bradenton, Fla. TV: AT&T SportsNet; Game: Pirates (ss) vs. Toronto Blue Jays, 1:07 p.m. Sunday. Where: Florida Auto Exchange Stadium, Dunedin, Fla. Radio: KDKA-FM (93.7).

— By Elizabeth Bloom