? Pirates manager John Russell was serious when he promised to play more reserves during the current road trip. How about five in one game? Delwyn Young, Craig Monroe, Eric Hinske, Robinzon Diaz and Brian Bixler started Thursday at Busch Stadium. The makeshift lineup gave Russell a chance to give some regulars a rare day off. Outfielder Nyjer Morgan received his first rest after starting the first 27 games. Second baseman Freddy Sanchez and first baseman Adam LaRoche sat for only the second time this season. Center fielder Nate McLouth and third baseman Andy LaRoche were the only regulars to start both games of the abbreviated series in St. Louis.
? Diaz hit his first major-league home run yesterday. Diaz drove Todd Wellemeyer's 2-0 fastball into the left-field bleachers in the seventh inning of the 5-2 loss. Diaz, acquired from the Toronto Blue Jays for Jose Bautista, went 2-for-3 and threw out a would-be base stealer. The home run came in his 23rd major-league at-bat. He hit only 17 home runs in 2,445 minor-league at-bats. "It was a fastball in the middle," he said. "It was 2-0, and I tried to hit it hard, and that's what I did." ? Pirates closer Matt Capps (elbow) did some light throwing yesterday. He's scheduled to throw off the mound today and return to action Saturday.
? McLouth, who hit leadoff for the first time this season, went 1-for-3. He's batting .345 (10-for-29) since returning from a six-game absence with a strained right oblique muscle.
? Pirates starter Ross Ohlendorf got his first career hit, singling sharply up the middle off Wellemeyer in the top of the third inning. The right-hander previously was a career 0-for-18 -- 0-for-11 this season.
? With former Pirates pitcher Oliver Perez (right knee tendinitis) going on the 15-day disabled list, Jon Niese will start for the New York Mets against Jeff Karstens today in the first game of a three-game series at Citi Field. Niese, a 22-year-old left-hander, was 0-2 with an 8.44 ERA in Triple-A Buffalo. He went 1-1 with a 7.07 ERA in three starts last year.
Digits
3 -- Pirates' wins in their past four games against the Mets in New York.
