--3B Andy LaRoche was not in the lineup Thursday after starting 26 straight games. He did pinch-hit in the eighth inning and struck out. LaRoche had reached base in 24 of the last 25 games before Thursday but has hit just .225 with three RBIs in May.
--INF Eric Hinske made his first start of the season at third base and went 2-for-3. The position is far from unfamiliar to him. He has played 444 games at third in his eight-year career. --RHP Ross Ohlendorf credited expanding his arsenal of pitches for turning in his best performance of the season. He allowed one run and two hits in six innings Wednesday for the win against St. Louis. Ohlendorf had been relying almost exclusively on his sinking fastball during the early part of the season but has been throwing more four-seam fastballs, curveballs and changeups in recent starts.
BY THE NUMBERS: 17 -- Consecutive games the Pirates have lost to the Milwaukee. That is the most games one major league team has won over another since Baltimore beat Kansas City 23 times in a row during the 1969 and 1970 seasons.
QUOTE TO NOTE: "The record speaks for itself. Apparently, they've got our number. I don't think anyone knows why." -- 2B Freddy Sanchez, on the Pirates losing 17 straight games to Milwaukee.
