HOUSTON -- Of all the concerns the Pirates had entering 2005, how to replace Jason Kendall at the top of the order ranked right near the top.

It would seem Matt Lawton has addressed that emphatically. He is hitting .278 with an on-base percentage of .383. Place those figures next to Kendall's .240 and .318, and they look even better.

Ask Lawton to evaluate his work, though, and he shakes his head.

"If I was giving a grade, I'd say C-minus," he replied. "Seriously. I feel like I've done nothing more than survive my first month here. Trust me, I haven't done what I'm capable of."

The primary source of Lawton's frustration is the 21-foot Clemente Wall in PNC Park's right field. It is only 320 feet from home plate and is a left-handed power hitter's fantasy, but he has hit only one ball over it. Or anywhere.

Last year, he hit 20 home runs for the Cleveland Indians.

"I look at that wall every day like ... dang," he said. "I think of myself as a different type of leadoff hitter. I need to be scoring runs and driving in runs. I need to be hitting home runs. I haven't been driving the ball the way I can. I'm not hitting the gaps."

He paused.

"But I will. It's still early. I'm just getting ready for my game to take off."

Lawton displays an appreciation for what Kendall meant to the Pirates' offense, but he is reluctant to compare himself.

"Jason Kendall and I are totally different players. Different hitters, too. He could get on base by getting hit by pitches and do other things. If he hits three home runs and .300, he could be happy with that. I'd be very disappointed with that. I need to be hitting the ball hard."

Hitting cavalry?

The team announced last night it will promote first baseman Brad Eldred, its top power-hitting prospect, to Class AAA Indianapolis today. He hit two more home runs last night, giving him 13 in 21 games with Class AA Altoona. That home run total is the most in professional baseball. In 60 Class AA games, Eldred has homered 30 times.

The team also is trying out catcher Ryan Doumit in right field and first base in Indianapolis. Management does not feel Doumit is ready to catch in the majors, but it is confident he could hit in Pittsburgh now. He is batting .344 with six home runs and 18 RBIs.

North Side notches

Reliever Salomon Torres does not have a strain or tear to the upper-back muscle that has troubled him since spring training, an MRI showed yesterday. Torres, whose outing Saturday was cut short by pain in the area, had the MRI done in Pittsburgh yesterday, then flew to Houston for the game. Manager Lloyd McClendon was uncertain as to Torres' availability.

Houston's starter tonight, Ezequiel Astacio, will be making his major-league debut. He was 0-3 for Class AAA Round Rock with a 4.30 ERA.

Catcher Benito Santiago, inactive while the Pirates wait for him to regain full strength and weight, took extra batting practice and engaged in running drills. He will be re-evaluated Thursday.

General manager Dave Littlefield attended Altoona's game last night.