David Kohl, Associated Press Pirates' Ty Wigginton rounds second base past Cincinnati Reds' third baseman Joe Randa after Wigginton hit a two-run home run off Reds' pitcher Eric Milton during the second inning last night. Click photo for larger image. More Pirates Coverage: Pirates Notebook: Sanchez returns quickly after injury Paul Meyer's Baseball Notebook: Playing lowball Minor-League Report: 5/29/05

CINCINNATI -- It was a lineup that looked as if it had been made by tossing darts at a board.

A leadoff hitter who had never led off?

A cleanup man below the Mendoza line?

A guy who topped 200 hits last season dropped to eighth?

If it seemed that Pirates manager Lloyd McClendon lost his mind when he submitted that batting order last night, he might have come across as shrewd and calculating by the time his team was done battering Eric Milton and the Cincinnati Reds, 9-2, at Great American Ball Park.

Asked afterward how he would have reacted if someone had told him that lineup would score nine, McClendon grinned and replied: "I would probably have kissed them."

Turning serious, he added: "Certainly, it's nice to have it. The guys swung the bats pretty well. The approaches were outstanding. They really made pitches come to them, worked their way into fastball counts. For the most part, nobody went out of the zone."

The lineup was unlike any McClendon had used all season, but it more than did the job.

Freddy Sanchez was placed atop the order for the first time in his three-year career, mostly because leadoff man Matt Lawton had been hitting .183 against left-handers. Sanchez doubled, singled and scored twice.

Ty Wigginton and his .196 average took Daryle Ward's place at first base, a position he had not played since being acquired last July. Batting fourth, he blasted a two-run home run.

Michael Restovich, a platoon man with his fourth organization this year, was moved up from his usual No. 7 to No. 6. He doubled and singled.

Humberto Cota was at seventh, even though the catchers have almost invariably batted eighth. He had a solo home run and a two-run single.

	TODAY'S GAME Game: Pirates (Wells 3-3) at Reds (Claussen 1-3), 1:35 p.m. TV/radio: FSN Pittsburgh/KDKA-AM (1020) and Pirates Radio Network.

Even Jack Wilson pitched in, despite falling back into the eighth hole as the team tries desperately to get him going. He went 2 for 4.

"I don't think what we did was a surprise to anyone in this room," Restovich said. "We had guys in this lineup who can produce, and we're all confident in that."

The three home runs boosted the Pirates' May total to 37, most in the National League. With three games left, they need six to match the franchise record of 43 in a month, set in August 1947.

"I'd like to think it's going to be consistent," McClendon said of the power. "I don't see any reason why it shouldn't if our approach stays good."

Seven of the runs and nine of the 15 hits came against Milton, who was chased after three innings. He was the Reds' prized free-agent acquisition in the offseason, signing for three years and $25.5 million, but he fell to 3-6 with a 7.05 earned run average.

"We came out swinging great," Wigginton said. "You've got to get to Milton early, and that's what we did."

Sanchez opened the game with a double and, one out later, Jason Bay whacked an up-and-in fastball from Milton into the second seating level beyond left field. It was his team-best 11th home run, his ninth this month.

After two outs, Jose Castillo singled and took third on Restovich's ground-rule double. Cota brought them home by dropping a single into right-center.

"The big hit," McClendon called it. "He's come up with a few big ones."

Sanchez started off the second with a single and scored when Wigginton fisted another high Milton fastball into the seats in center. It was his fifth home run, all coming in his past eight starts.

Wigginton has been platooning with Rob Mackowiak, the top hitter in Major League Baseball this month.

"I feel absolutely great at the plate," Wigginton said. "It seems like it takes me a couple of pitches to get that feeling. But, if I keep getting to play, I feel like it's there."

To start the third, Cota went with a fastball on the outside corner and drove it the other way for his third home run to make the score, 7-0.

Easy to overlook was the work of Pirates starter Dave Williams, who improved to a staff-best 5-4 by going seven innings and allowing one run and one hit. It was his fifth consecutive outing with three or fewer earned runs.

Williams walked his first two batters, drawing an early visit from Cota and pitching coach Spin Williams. After that, he got Ken Griffey Jr. and Austin Kearns to fly out, then Adam Dunn on a comebacker.

"He was just lobbing his stuff," Cota said. "I told him he still has to pitch, even with a four-run lead."

Dave Williams finished with a season-high five walks and threw 50 balls among his 107 pitches, making for a peculiar line.

"Maybe it was a matter of sitting there for so long in the top of the first," he said. "I walked those guys, and I felt I had to be more aggressive. After that, I pitched my game."

The Pirates face another left-hander, Brandon Claussen, today as they try to take three of four from the Reds before returning home.

And they will do so, McClendon insisted, with the same lineup.

"Going with the hot hand."