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Notebook: Burnett struggling at Indianapolis

By Joe Rutter, TRIBUNE-REVIEW
Monday, May 1, 2006
Sean Burnett's return to the majors hit a snag Sunday at Triple-A Indianapolis when he failed to get out of the first inning in an 8-6 loss to Columbus. Burnett, who hasn't pitched for the Pirates since September 2004 because of shoulder and elbow surgeries, allowed six runs (five earned) on seven hits before being yanked after two-thirds of an inning. The disastrous outing hiked Burnett's ERA to 7.20.

  • Over two road trips and 13 games, the Pirates have crafted a 1-12 record. That doesn't bode well for the three-city, seven-game junket that begins tonight in Chicago with a two-game series against the Cubs.

    "We're going to get it right," manager Jim Tracy said. "Two trial runs, and it hasn't worked out too well."

  • The Pirates finished April with 32 homers, one shy of the club record set in 1996. Jack Wilson's homer yesterday was his fifth, setting a club mark for homers by a shortstop in April.

  • General manager Dave Littlefield said Kip Wells is about 10 days away from throwing off a mound at extended spring training. Wells, recovering from surgery to repair an artery in his right shoulder, remains on track from a return in late June or early July.

  • Mired in a 2-for-28 slump, second baseman Jose Castillo sat in favor of Freddy Sanchez. It was only the third time in 26 games that Castillo didn't start.

    Digits

    0 Pirates games rained out in April

    1992 The last year the Pirates went through April without a rainout

    16 April rainouts from 1993-2005

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