Pittsburgh had the worst ERA in the National League and the third worst in the major leagues behind Baltimore and Texas a year ago, but manager John Russell said he is not surprised by the rapid turnaround.

"I expected our pitching to be a lot better this season," Russell said. "One thing is that you have the law averages. It couldn't be any worse than it was last season.

"But I also saw how well (pitching coach) Joe Kerrigan prepared this staff throughout the winter and spring training to get ready to compete this season. I knew our pitchers would be ready to go and they've done a great job."

Right-hander Ian Snell gives credit for the pitching staff's good early run to catcher Ryan Doumit and Kerrigan.

"Doumit is becoming a really good catcher; he's improving so much at calling a game and a lot of that comes from working with Kerrigan," Snell said.

"Kerrigan has so much knowledge of the game. He knows how to attack hitters in every situation and he is sharing that with Doumit. We have a purpose for every pitch we throw."

Doumit deflected credit to Kerrigan.

"The pitchers are the guys who are going out and doing the job, making the pitches and getting people out, and Joe is just so prepared that it's unbelievable," Doumit said.

"He has a stat for everything. If a guy is 1-for-27 against curveballs with two strikes then you can be sure we're going to throw that guy a curveball with two strikes."

BRAVES 11, PIRATES 1: Zach Duke (2-1) was tagged for six runs and 12 hits in six innings to take the loss after allowing only one earned run in 15 1/3 innings in his first two starts of the season. Craig Hansen followed Duke and allowed four more runs in the seventh inning as Atlanta increased its lead to 10-0.