--3B Andy LaRoche has opened up his batting stance to enable him to see pitches longer and pull inside pitches. The move seems to be working as LaRoche is 6-for-12 since opening the season 0-for-18, despite going 1-for-4 with two strikeouts Sunday.
--OF Craig Monroe became the first Pirates player to drive in six runs in a game in three seasons when he hit three-run home runs in consecutive innings Saturday against Atlanta. The last Pirate to have a six-RBI game was Jose Castillo against Milwaukee on May 30, 2006. Monroe had trouble adapting to being a bench player for the first time in his career last season when he hit only .202 in 58 games for Minnesota. He said he is adjusting this season by taking the approach that he is going to the plate only looking for his pitch to hit. BY THE NUMBERS: 2.62 -- The Pirates' team ERA, best in the major leagues, after back-to-back shutouts against Atlanta on Friday and Saturday. They were last in the National League with a 5.08 mark last season. The ERA rose to 3.34 after an 11-1 loss to the Braves on Sunday.
QUOTE TO NOTE: "I'm not surprised. We were so bad last season that the law of averages said we had to get better." -- Pirates manager John Russell, on the improved ERA.
