--RHP Jimmy Barthmaier of Class AAA Indianapolis, who is on the 40-man roster, will miss a month because of a strained flexor mass in his pitching elbow. He made his major league debut with the Pirates last season.
--RHP Bryan Morris of High Class A Lynchburg, considered one of the Pirates' top prospects, has been diagnosed with a significantly restricted range of motion in his shoulder and will be sidelined at least six weeks. Morris was acquired from the Los Angeles Dodgers last July 31 as part of the three-team trade in which the Dodgers acquired Manny Ramirez from Boston and the Red Sox acquired Jason Bay from the Pirates. --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.
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.
