--CF Nate McLouth is nearly impossible to throw out on the bases, as he has been caught stealing by a catcher just once in his five-year career. That happened April 22, 2008, when he was thrown out by Florida's Matt Treanor. McLouth has stolen 23 bases in a row since then.
--2B Freddy Sanchez is showing the ability to drive the ball again this season after struggling to recover from shoulder surgery last year. Sanchez has eight doubles, 12 extra-base hits and 41 total bases, all team-leading figures. --OF Delwyn Young had 14 pinch hits as a rookie with the Dodgers last season, ranking fourth in the National League. He came through with a pinch double in the sixth inning Wednesday for his first hit with the Pirates and scored the winning run. Young said the key to pinch-hitting is to look for a pitch you can drive and take a hack.
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.
