--C Jason Jaramillo made his major league debut Thursday and went 1-for-3. His first hit was a single off the Astros' Russ Ortiz in the fourth inning. Jaramillo was acquired from Philadelphia in an offseason trade for C Ronny Paulino.
--CF Nate McLouth batted cleanup for the first time in his major league career and went 1-for-4 Thursday. However, he struck out in a key situation, leaving runners on the corners to end the seventh inning with the Pirates trailing 6-3. --LHP Dave Davidson, who was at Class AAA Indianapolis, was designated for assignment to make room on the roster for OF Delwyn Young, who was acquired from the Dodgers in a trade. Davidson made two relief appearances for the Pirates at the end of the 2007 season.
--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.
