--LHP Zach Duke's four-hitter against Houston was the first shutout by a pitcher in a Pirates' home opener since John Candelaria blanked the Chicago Cubs on seven hits in 1978. It was Duke's second career shutout, as he checked the Giants on five hits last Sept. 5 at San Francisco. His start Monday was the 100th of his career.
--RHP Jimmy Barthmaier, who is on the 40-man roster and made his major league debut with the Pirates last season, was placed on the disabled list at Class AAA Indianapolis with a sore elbow. Barthmaier was forced to leave his first start of the season with Indianapolis last Friday after walking the first two hitters he faced. BY THE NUMBERS: .083 -- Combined batting average of the LaRoche brothers, Adam and Andy, through the season's first week. They were 3-for-36.
QUOTE TO NOTE: "One of the highlights of my career so far. I don't think I've ever seen one with my own eyes. And it was like, 'Was there nobody out?'" -- SS Jack Wilson, who caught a blooper to start a triple play April 12, told the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.
