--OF Delwyn Young started in right field Wednesday and went 1-for-2 with two walks, the first time he was in the lineup since being acquired from the Los Angeles Dodgers in a trade on April 17. Young had been 4-for-8 as a pinch hitter. He has been working out at second base and will begin taking groundballs at third base next week in an attempt to increase his versatility.
--LF Nyjer Morgan went 2-for-4 with a run and an RBI Wednesday as he continues to prove that he can spark the Pirates from the leadoff spot of the batting order in his first shot to be a regular in the major leagues. However, Morgan has been more of a catalyst away from Pittsburgh than at home -- he is hitting .358 with 12 runs scored in 13 road games but .245 with seven runs in 14 games at PNC Park. --SS Jack Wilson is expected to join Class AAA Indianapolis on Saturday for a three-game rehabilitation assignment. That would put him in line to be activated Tuesday when the Pirates open their next homestand against St. Louis. Wilson has been on the disabled list since April 25 with a sprained left middle finger.
--RHP Ian Snell's fastball velocity and his breaking pitches lacked bite as he gave up five runs and walked five in five innings Tuesday. Manager John Russell allowed Snell to throw 131 pitches in his previous start, also against Milwaukee, six days earlier. While Snell would not blame his woes on the high pitch count, he also didn't discount it.
BY THE NUMBERS: 9/13 -- RHP Jeff Karstens' ugly strikeout/walk ratio through four starts and 20 innings this season.
QUOTE TO NOTE: "It seemed like we went a week without scoring, and I'm sure our pitchers felt like they had to throw a shutout to have any chance to win." -- INF Ramon Vazquez, after the Pirates broke a 22-inning scoreless string May 2 that included being shut out in back-to-back games.
