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Clint Hurdle named Manager of the Year, Liriano takes Comeback

PITTSBURGH — Several Pittsburgh Pirates players and their manager, Clint Hurdle, have been recognized by The Sporting News for their 2013 season.

Pirates left-hander Francisco Liriano was an overwhelming choice as The Sporting News' National League Comeback Player of the Year.

Liriano received 58 of a possible 80 votes in balloting among current NL players. The runner-up was Pirates reliever Mark Melancon, who got eight votes.

Outfielder Marlon Byrd, who was traded from the New York Mets to the Pirates in August, received six votes to finish third.

In 26 starts this season, Liriano went 16-8 with a 3.02 ERA. He missed the first five weeks of the season while recovering from a broken right arm. Liriano sustained the injury in December, before the Pirates signed him to a free agent contract.

In 2012, Liriano went a combined 6-12 with a career-worst 5.34 ERA with the Minnesota Twins and Chicago White Sox.

Clint Hurdle, who led the Pirates' to their first winning season and playoff berth since 1992, was named The Sporting News' National League Manager of the Year.

Hurdle led the Pirates to 94 wins during the regular season, a victory over the Cincinnati Reds in the NL wild-card game and brought the team within one game of the NLCS.

The Buccos' skipper received five of the nine possible votes.

Channel 11’s news exchange partners at TribLIVE contributed to this report.