BRADENTON, Fla. (AP) _ Jason Kendall went 3-for-4 with his first home run of the spring as the Pittsburgh Pirates beat the Minnesota Twins 2-1 Friday.

Kendall, coming off reconstructive surgery on his right ankle following a gruesome injury last July 4, homered in the third inning off Joe Mays, who allowed three hits in four innings.

Pirates starter Pete Schourek gave up one run _ unearned _ and two hits in four innings.

Schourek was originally scheduled to pitch Tuesday against Texas. However, his turn in the rotation was pushed back because of elbow soreness.

``My first priority in this game was my health,'' he said. ``Once I found out that I was fine, I could put all my energy into getting guys out. I was obviously happy with my start. It was a good outing.''

Pirates manager Gene Lamont, who said he will likely make a decision on the fifth starter by late next week, was impressed.

``I thought he kept the ball down and pitched really well,'' Lamont said.

Schourek, battling Jimmy Anderson for the No. 5 starter's job, seemed to be losing ground after allowing six runs in three innings to Philadelphia in his previous start March 10.

However, Friday's outing lowered his spring ERA to 6.00 in 10 innings. Anderson, who has also pitched 10 innings, has a 0.90 ERA and is to pitch Saturday against Texas at Port Charlotte.

``I feel I'm back in the hunt,'' Schourek said. ``I was trailing before today but now I'm back in it. Of course, you're never out of it until the last day.''

Schourek and Anderson are close friends and are sharing a condominium this spring in Bradenton.

``Pete's elbow is a little sore but if there's any way he can pitch, he will,'' Anderson said. ``He's trying to throw through it. From what I hear, he's pretty much had arm trouble his whole career and pitched through it. He works really hard _ two or three times harder than a regular guy.''

Minnesota tied it in the fourth on a sacrifice fly by Butch Huskey, who went 2-for-2.

With the score 1-all, Warren Morris doubled with one out in the ninth off loser Todd Rizzo. Aramis Ramirez walked and Mike Benjamin lined a game-winning single off the glove of third baseman Corey Koskie and into left field.

Winner Mike Garcia pitched one scoreless inning.

Notes: RHP Francisco Cordova, who has pitched nine scoreless innings in major league exhibition games this spring, was rocked in a minor league intrasquad game Friday morning, allowing four runs and 11 hits in four innings. He gave up a three-run homer to Rob Mackowiak, who figures to be Double-A Altoona's second baseman. Cordova did not walk anyone and struck out five ... RHP Mike Williams, who figures to the Pirates' closer, gave up one run in three innings in the minor league game ... CF Chad Hermansen missed his fifth straight game with a strained left rib-cage muscle. He began throwing Friday and may take batting practice Saturday.