Mar 17, 2015 4 min read

BRADENTON, Fla. – Francisco Liriano is set to start on opening day for Pittsburgh, making him the first Pirates pitcher in quite a while to draw the honor two years in a row.

Manager Clint Hurdle made the announcement Tuesday. The Pirates begin the regular season on April 6 at Cincinnati.

Liriano will be the first Pirates pitcher to start on opening day in consecutive seasons since Oliver Perez in 2005-06.

“We just want to put to rest that we’ve had nine different opening day pitchers in a row,” Hurdle said.

“We wanted to settle down and kick that one to the curb.”

The 31-year-old Liriano emerged as the Pirates’ ace in 2013, when he went 16-8 with a 3.02 ERA and led the franchise to its first postseason appearance in two decades. In 2014, while dealing with groin and oblique injuries, he overcame a 1-7 start to finish 7-10 with a 3.38 ERA.

The left-hander signed a three-year, $39 million deal with the Pirates in December.

“Frankie has earned it, in our minds,” Hurdle said.

Hurdle said the coaching staff discussed “a number” of options for the opening day starter, namely right-handers Gerrit Cole and A.J. Burnett, who was the Pirates’ opening day starter in 2013. Ultimately, Hurdle said, the decision came down to “the volume of work.”

“When Frank has been healthy, he has been a very solid anchor in our rotation.” Hurdle said.

Cole will start Game 2, followed by Burnett, Vance Worley or Jeff Locke, and Charlie Morton. After the Pirates visit Milwaukee, Cole is in line to start the home opener April 13 against the Detroit Tigers.

“We feel this is our best fit getting out of the blocks,” Hurdle said.

Chris Carter was 3 for 3 with two doubles and four RBIs to break out of a spring-training slump and lift the Houston Astros over the Pirates 13-7 Tuesday.

Carter had entered 1 for 13 with two RBIs in the exhibition season.

Pirates left-hander Jeff Locke conceded six runs and seven hits in three innings, leaving him with a 9.00 ERA.

“Left some pitches over the plate and they just fell in,” Locke said.

Locke is competing for a rotation spot with right-hander Vance Worley, who pitched four scoreless innings Sunday. Locke said the Pirates have given no indication regarding when a fifth starter could be announced.

“Everything has been so hush-hush and kept under a hat,” he said. “I think the best you can do is try to keep everything the same. Try to be the best Jeff you can be every time you go out.”

With the Pirates trailing 4-0, Pittsburgh’s Neil Walker hit a three-run homer in the third off Roberto Hernandez.

Carlos Correa hit his first home run of spring training, a sixth-inning drive off John Holdzkom.

Astros: Houston manager A.J. Hinch said LHP Dallas Keuchel is expected to start the Astros opener at home against Cleveland on April 6. Keuchel was 12-9 with a 2.93 ERA last year.

Pirates: LHP Francisco Liriano will be the Pirates’ opening day starter April 6 versus Cincinnati. He will be the first Pirates pitcher to start on opening day in consecutive seasons since LHP Oliver Perez in 2005 and ’06.

Astros: Hernandez allowed three runs and four hits in three innings. The right-hander, who signed a minor league contract in February, has allowed five runs in eight innings in the exhibition season.

Pirates: Locke said he would accept a bullpen assignment should the Pirates put him there. He added: “I don’t think feel like that’s where I’m best suited. Those decisions are out of my hands.”

Pirates: CF Andrew McCutchen remains day to day with lower body soreness. “I’m taking my time,” he said. “Rather be safe than sorry.”

Astros: After an off day, Houston will visit the New York Mets on Thursday in Port St. Lucie, Fla. RHP Collin McHugh is expected to start.

Pirates: A.J. Burnett is the planned starter against Detroit’s Shane Green Wednesday night in Bradenton. Burnett has allowed one hit and two runs in 4 1/3 innings this spring training.