Jack Wilson called it.

While everyone else in spring training was citing a litany of variables that could contribute to the Pirates' success or failure in 2008, from the bench to the bullpen, he would address any such question quickly and firmly ...

"Interleague play," he would say. "Look it up. That's our season every year."

Well, here comes the season, then, because the Pirates will play in Baltimore tonight for the start of 15 consecutive games against the American League.

To be sure, the grisly history backs Wilson's contention ...

The Pirates are 57-94 since interleague play began in 1997, a .377 winning percentage that is by far the worst in Major League Baseball. That includes a 20-54 in American League parks, as well as a cumulative .250 average and 10 measly home runs from their designated hitters.

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Minor-league report

Thursday's results

INDIANAPOLIS (33-35) won at Toledo, 8-6. RHP Ty Taubenheim (4-8, 4.98) allowed five runs and four hits in five innings. DH Ronny Paulino (.550) hit his third home run, a grand slam, and went 1 for 4 with a walk. SS Brian Bixler (.250) went 3 for 4 with a triple, a walk and a steal. 1B Steve Pearce (.256) went 3 for 5. CF Andrew McCutchen (.284) went 1 for 5. 3B Neil Walker (.228) went 0 for 5.

ALTOONA (27-36) lost at New Britain, 5-1. RHP Josh Hill (4-7, 4.20) allowed five runs and six hits in five innings. RHP Pat Bresnehan (1.89) pitched a perfect inning of relief with two strikeouts.

LYNCHBURG (27-40) lost to Kinston, 7-6. RHP Jared Hughes (2-7, 4.54) allowed three runs and four hits in 5 2/3 innings. RF Jamie Romak (.290) hit his 11th home run and went 1 for 3 with a walk.

HICKORY (28-39)) lost to Greenville, 4-1. RHP Brad Clapp (0-6, 4.04) allowed two runs and five hits in seven innings. RF Erik Huber (.266) went 2 for 5.

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And, for many current players, the memories are painfully fresh: In 2005, the Pirates had a 26-29 overall record but, after a promising start to the interleague schedule, fell apart at Yankee Stadium and never recovered. In 2006, they were lousy all the way through, including 3-12 in interleague. And, last year, they were 26-34 heading into interleague, then had a 5-10 free fall that included more embarrassment in the Bronx and was capped by a fundamental mess of a three-game sweep in Anaheim.

Not since 2001, when the Pirates went 8-7, have they had a winning interleague run.

Why should this be different?

"Because it's a better team," Wilson said. "And it's a tougher team."

When Phil Dumatrait takes the mound tonight at Camden Yards, it will come with two significant markers:

1. His will be the first pitch thrown by the Pirates in Baltimore since Oct. 17, 1979, when Kent Tekulve got the Orioles' Pat Kelly to fly out to Omar Moreno for the final out of Game 7 of the World Series.

2. It will mark the Pirates' first regular-season game in Baltimore, the last city in which they have not played one. Their only previous meetings were in the World Series, including the 1971 victory, also in seven games.

"No pressure there," Dumatrait joked yesterday.

Bryan Bullington had no chance to impress the Pirates upon being recalled May 29.

He was optioned back to Class AAA Indianapolis after the game yesterday without having done anything in his 15 days in Pittsburgh other than throw side sessions. General manager Neal Huntington, having expressed concern that the inactivity would hurt him, will move him back into Indianapolis' rotation.

A corresponding move, the recall of reliever Marino Salas, will come today.

• Sean Burnett, almost as idle as Bullington, pitched for the first time since June 1, and the rust showed: He relieved Tom Gorzelanny in the sixth with two aboard and gave up a walk and two hits in a third of an inning.

• Xavier Nady helped Burnett avoid further damage by nailing Washington's Elijah Dukes trying to stretch a single into a double. It was Nady's ninth outfield assist, most in the majors.

• Although Matt Capps had pitched the previous four days, manager John Russell did not completely rule out that he would pitch in this game, describing himself as "99.999 percent" sure he would not use his closer. He did not.

• The Pirates signed shortstop Benjamin Gonzalez of the Puerto Rican Baseball Academy, their seventh-round -- and highest -- draft pick to date, plus three others: 15th-round pitcher Chris Aure of North Pole High School in Alaska, 25th-round pitcher Brian Leach of the University of Southern Mississippi, and 27th-round center fielder Edwin Roman of the Puerto Rican Academy. Thirteen picks have been signed.