LOS ANGELES -- When is a critical home run almost completely devoid of meaning?

So far, that has been the case every time for Adam LaRoche, at least as it relates to snapping out of his season-long slumber at the plate.

Consider that, when he hit his first with the Pirates April 7, he went 0 for 15 in his next four games.

	MINOR-LEAGUE REPORT Sunday's results INDIANAPOLIS (10-5) lost to Richmond, 8-3. RHP Marty McLeary (1-1, 3.60) allowed eight runs, four earned, and eight hits in 4 2/3 innings. RHP Brian Rogers (1.29) pitched 1 1/3 innings of scoreless relief. RHP Josh Sharpless (0.00) pitched a scoreless inning despite two hits. RF Michael Ryan (.211) went 2 for 4 with a double and an RBI. C Ryan Doumit (.435) went 0 for 3. ALTOONA (7-6) beat Harrisburg, 8-7, when CF Andrew McCutchen doubled and scored on a fielder's choice in the bottom of the ninth inning. RHP Wardell Starling (0-2, 6.92) allowed three runs in five innings. McCutchen (.163) went 2 for 5 with a hit batsman, an RBI and a steal. LYNCHBURG (5-7) was off. HICKORY (7-7) lost at West Virginia, 8-5. RHP Jared Hughes (1-1, 4.02) allowed six runs, five earned, in five innings. RF Jamie Romak (.326) went 4 for 4 with two doubles and two RBIs.

Or that, when he hit the next one April 17, he went 0 for 10 in the next four games.

And now that he drilled No. 3 yesterday to help beat the Los Angeles Dodgers, 7-5?

"We'll see," LaRoche said.

There is plenty of cause for the cautious tone.

LaRoche still wound up 1 for 4, leaving his average at a team-worst .105. He has just six hits all year -- half of which have been home runs -- and has struck out 22 times in 57 at-bats. Only the Cincinnati Reds' Adam Dunn has more strikeouts -- 27 -- in Major League Baseball.

Hey, the Pirates' pitchers have six hits in 25 fewer at-bats.

What can LaRoche do to generate more swings such as the hardy one he put on that Brett Tomko fastball yesterday?

"What can you do?" he replied. "It's just getting ridiculous. I'm hitting extra every day, trying different things, I've talked to the coaches a ton. ... Shoot, I've had other players, a ton of other players on other teams either calling me or pulling me aside on the field to give me advice."

That included, over this past weekend, the Dodgers' Jeff Kent and Luis Gonzalez.

"They just told me, 'Hey, you're going to be fine.' And that's awesome. It's neat that guys care. Kent told me, 'You're fighting yourself up there. I can see it. You're a free swinger. Just let it go.' They've all seen me play enough, and they've all got great points."

But there can be too much information, right?

"No question. At some point, you've got to figure it out yourself."

Grabow in, Perez out

John Grabow will join the Pirates for the start of their homestand Tuesday, his first appearance on the active roster after a sore elbow cost him the first 17 games. He had a 2.25 ERA in four appearances on his Class AAA rehabilitation stint with Indianapolis.

To clear space, the team optioned another left-handed reliever, Juan Perez, to Indianapolis immediately after the game yesterday. Perez had a perfect ERA through eight appearances but had given up four hits and five walks in his 3 1/3 innings.

General manager Dave Littlefield said the move was not made based on one lefty replacing another as much as needing relievers who can pitch longer than Perez usually does. That surely was the deciding factor in keeping John Wasdin.

Nady gets mixed signs

Outfielder Xavier Nady's strained left hamstring showed encouraging signs in strength tests Saturday night, shortly after he was hurt running the bases, but that turned to discouraging after another round of tests yesterday showed "a little less strength," manager Jim Tracy said.

There remains no indication of a tear in the hamstring, but no examination had taken place by the time the team flew back to Pittsburgh. Tracy said there will be no news on the matter until tomorrow.

Buried treasure

Nate McLouth took Nady's place in right field, making him the last position player on the roster to get a start.

The Pirates struck out eight more times for a total of 63 on the trip, or nine per game.

Outfielder Andrew McCutchen, the Pirates' top prospect, is off to a sluggish start with Class AA Altoona, batting .163 with no home runs, five RBIs and 13 strikeouts in 43 at-bats. "Guys have streaks," Littlefield said. "This guy's hit wherever he's been. It's not something I'm overly worried about."