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Minor-league report

Saturday's games

INDIANAPOLIS (64-71) won at Durham, 6-3. LHP Corey Hamman (4-3, 5.03) allowed three runs -- two earned --- and six hits in 5 1/3 innings. He struck out six, walked one. RHP Evan Meek (2.61) pitched two perfect innings of relief and struck out three. SS Luis Cruz (.322) hit his first home run, a two-run shot, and went 3 for 5. LF Chris Duffy (.333) went 2 for 5 with an RBI and two steals. CF Andrew McCutchen (.279) went 1 for 5 with an RBI and steal.

ALTOONA (61-73) beat New Hampshire, 5-2. RHP Yoslan Herrera (6-9, 3.41) allowed two runs and three hits in 6 2/3 innings. 1B Jamie Romak (.229) hit his 25th home run, seventh with the Curve, and went 2 for 3 with a walk and two RBIs. CF Jose Tabata (.274) went 1 for 4 with a walk, RBI and steal.

LYNCHBURG (53-78) won at Potomac, 13-5. RHP Matt McSwain (1-2, 6.16) allowed two runs and three hits in five innings. LF Jared Keel (.235) hit his 17th and 18th home runs and went 2 for 3 with two walks and three RBIs. SS Brian Friday (.296) went 3 for 6 with a double and two RBIs.

HICKORY (49-83) lost to Asheville, 2-0. RHP Rafael De Los Santos (3-9, 5.73) pitched five scoreless innings.1B Tom Hagan (.273) went 3 for 4.

STATE COLLEGE (12-47) won at Mahoning Valley, 2-1. RHP Carlos Amaro (1-1, 2.38) pitched five scoreless innings and allowed six hits. 1B Jeremy Farrell (.306) went 2 for 4.

BRADENTON (35-18) beat the Twins, 3-1. RHP Gabriel Alvarado (4-2, 3.04) allowed one unearned run and three hits in 5 2/3 innings. 1B Carlos Silva (.319) went 1 for 3 with two RBIs.

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MILWAUKEE -- Much of the attention today will center on Milwaukee left-hander CC Sabathia, which is understandable.

Sabathia has been sensational in his nine starts for the Brewers -- 8-0, five complete games, a 1.60 earned run average.

"He's like Randy Johnson when Randy Johnson was Randy Johnson -- if you know what I mean," Brewers catcher Jason Kendall said.

In short, what Kendall means is that Sabathia is dominant.

"Paul's pretty darn good, too," said Zach Duke, referring to Paul Maholm, who will start for the Pirates today.

In his past nine starts, Maholm is 3-2 with a 2.63 earned run average. He also has worked at least six innings in 19 consecutive starts, allowing three earned runs or less in 12 of those, including his past three.

"It's two guys who are locked in," said Duke, who will pay rapt attention to the matchup. "I'm sure there will be good lessons to be learned."

Duke felt encouraged by his performance Friday night, when he used a glove-over-his-head windup designed to loosen his delivery for the first time in a game.

"We're definitely going in the right direction," he said. "The ball had life out of my hand. It's comforting to know that when you're trying stuff to get better that it works. It's a weight off the mind."

Duke is due to start again Wednesday against the Chicago Cubs at PNC Park.

Jason Davis will pitch out of the bullpen the rest of the season. That means Ross Ohlendorf, acquired from the New York Yankees in the Xavier Nady/Damaso Marte trade, will be the sixth starter and likely start one of the games in Cincinnati Sept. 2-4.

The Pirates yesterday sent right-handed reliever T.J. Beam to Indianapolis to make roster room for Tom Gorzelanny. Both Beam and Romulo Sanchez, sent to Indianapolis after the game Friday night to make roster room for Matt Capps, will return to the Pirates when rosters expand Sept. 1.

"They did a nice job -- especially T.J.," Pirates manager John Russell said. "He's in great standing with this organization. He's very much in our future plans."

Catcher Ryan Doumit left the game Friday night because of dehydration. He was available to pinch-hit last night and will return to the starting lineup today.