M. Spencer Green, Associated Press Tom Gorzelanny will pitch the third game of the season.

BRADENTON, Fla. -- Jim Tracy sounded careful with his wording.

In revealing to reporters yesterday morning how his starting rotation would be filled out, the Pirates' manager announced that Tom Gorzelanny would pitch the third game of the season in Houston and that Tony Armas had beaten out Shawn Chacon in the duel for fifth starter.

As if Gorzelanny's status never was in doubt.

Was it?

"No," Tracy replied when the question came. "You do look at things in spring training. But, to say that Tom Gorzelanny has been just terrible is completely inaccurate. He's had a little trouble in the first innings, then taken off and pitched like he did last year."

Soon after Tracy said that, as if to raise the question anew, Gorzelanny followed the same script in the Pirates' 12-4 loss to Tampa Bay at McKechnie Field.

He again gave up two runs in the opening inning, as he had in his other two starts, and wound up allowing seven runs -- five earned -- in five innings. His ERA is at 9.45.

He again was erratic, walking three to raise his spring total to 14 in 20 innings.

And he again allowed the opponents solid contact when throwing strikes, giving up seven hits for a total of 24.

Sure, the Devil Rays had help. A throwing error by Humberto Cota, a dropped bloop by second baseman Jose Castillo and a lost-in-the-sun fly ball that landed next to left fielder Xavier Nady contributed greatly to the opponent taking a 7-0 lead.

But all those miscues and mishaps could not mask the hits, walks or that two-run home run by Jonny Gomes on an 0-2 hanging slider in the fifth.

"Crazy things will happen," Gorzelanny said. "I still think I could have done better on my part."

"I don't think it was as bad as it appeared," Tracy said. "You give a team five outs, they're going to score. But you can't give up the bases on balls like that."

Entering spring training, four-fifths of the Pirates' rotation was supposed to be set with the young quartet of Gorzelanny, Zach Duke, Ian Snell and Paul Maholm. But Gorzelanny's status was cast into doubt not only by his performance but also by two other left-handers, Shane Youman and Sean Burnett, outpitching him. Youman and Burnett were optioned to the minors Saturday.

Tracy said the team's decision was based mostly on what Gorzelanny did as a rookie in 2006, when he was 2-5 with a 3.79 ERA in 11 starts.

"We have a lot of confidence in Tom Gorzelanny and a lot of reason to feel that way," Tracy said. "You have to be careful of getting too caught up in spring training. We've seen many a player who everybody's wondering about in the spring and, all of a sudden, when the bright lights come on, he's a different player. This is a guy who has pitched some great games for us."

In almost the same breath, though, Tracy seemed to signal that Gorzelanny's leash might not be long.

"One thing that's very certain is that there are resources here that were not available to us a year ago. That's the beauty of where I think our ballclub is headed. This is a business, and you are expected to do a good job. If you don't, we've got other resources."

Gorzelanny sounded appreciative of the chance.

"I'm happy that they're showing that confidence in me," he said. "Believe me: I'll be ready when the lights come on. Everything will be working. I'm going to get guys out."

Armas had a 3.86 ERA this spring, Chacon 2.31, but management chose Armas and relegated Chacon to long relief.

Tracy said Chacon's ability to pitch more often was key.

"They both pitched well, but the ballclub as a whole is served best by doing it this way," Tracy said. "Shawn Chacon has, I believe, more resiliency to where he can bounce back."

Armas impressed management with his efficiency and early strikes, traits that were sorely lacking while with the Washington Nationals last season.

"I've seen him be very aggressive," Tracy said. "In the past, he wasn't always that way."

Armas, who will turn 29 in April, will be the senior member of one of the youngest rotations in Major League Baseball. Only the Florida Marlins appear certain to be younger.

"Yeah, I'm kind of like the old man," Armas said, laughing.

Tracy detailed his rotation, in order, for the Pirates' first two series: Duke, Snell and Gorzelanny will pitch in Houston. Maholm, Duke and Armas will pitch in Cincinnati. And Snell will have the home opener April 9 against St. Louis.

Tracy said Gorzelanny was moved ahead of Maholm because he matches up better with Houston. Gorzelanny is 0-3 with a 5.19 ERA against the Astros, Maholm 1-2 with a 6.53 ERA, so that was a wash. But Gorzelanny held the Astros to three runs and three hits in seven innings in his final start of 2006.