Mar 6, 2003 1 min read

BRADENTON, Fla. (AP) – Nick Bierbrodt pitched two perfect innings Wednesday in first appearance since he was shot last June, and the Tampa Bay Devil Rays lost to the Pittsburgh Pirates 11-8. Bierbrodt, who had been optioned to Class A Charleston (S.C.), was sitting in a taxi waiting in a drive-through line at a fast food restaurant last June 7 when he was shot in the chest and right arm.

The left-hander retired all six batters he faced Wednesday. In spring training last year, he walked 12 of 28 batters he faced, hit four and threw two wild pitches. But he allowed just one hit.

“All I was thinking about was getting the ball over the plate,” Bierbrodt said. “I wanted to just go back to how it used to be before last year, go out and throw strikes and just have fun. I did have fun. It’s a good start for me.”

Reggie Sanders, Kevin Young and J.J. Davis homered during a four-run sixth inning, and Brian Giles had a three-run homer for the Pirates.

Giles’ three-run homer off loser Matt Perisho in the fifth put the Pirates ahead for good at 5-3, scoring winning pitcher Josh Fogg.