MINOR-LEAGUE REPORT Tuesday's results INDIANAPOLIS (36-22) split a doubleheader at Rochester, winning, 5-3, and losing, 3-2. Zach Duke (11-3, 2.84) pitched a seven-inning complete game in the opener. He allowed three runs, two earned, and six hits while striking out five and walking one. C Ronny Paulino (.423) hit a three-run home run, his second. RF Jon Nunnally (.243) hit his fourth home run. In the second game, Cory Stewart (4.38) allowed two runs and three hits in five innings. 1B Graham Koonce (.249) had two hits. ALTOONA (34-29) won at Norwich, 10-4. Paul Maholm (4-2, 3.48) allowed three runs and seven hits in five innings. 1B Josh Bonifay (.257) hit his 11th and 12th home runs, 2B Craig Stansberry (.211) his third. LF Rich Thompson (.272) had three hits. LYNCHBURG (39-26) won at Kinston, 7-2. Derrick Van Dusen (3-2, 4.78) allowed one run and five hits in six innings. DH Pat Magness (.302) hit his ninth home run, a three-run shot. 2B Taber Lee (.281) had three hits. HICKORY (21-42) lost at Rome, 5-3. Yoann Torrealba (3-2, 3.14) allowed four runs and five hits in four innings. SS Brian Bixler (.265) had two hits.

NEW YORK -- For years, Oliver Perez has been compared to Randy Johnson. By opposing hitters, media and fans.

Tonight, for the first time, they can be compared by way of head-to-head confrontation.

"This is going to be special for me," Perez said. "That's the pitcher I've always liked to watch."

Perez and Johnson each will take momentum into the finale of the Pirates' series with the New York Yankees. Perez is 4-0 in his past five starts with a 3.26 earned run average. Johnson pitched seven scoreless innings Saturday in St. Louis to improve to 6-5.

Perez said that, while he does not emulate Johnson, the game's dominant left-hander most of the past decade, he pays close attention to any televised performances.

"I like to watch how he works, how he uses his slider," he said. "But he has his stuff, and I have my stuff. I just like how he pitches. That's it."

Perez seems flattered by comparisons to Johnson.

"Someday, he's going to be a Hall of Famer. You just have to be happy about that."

But Pirates manager Lloyd McClendon bristles anytime he reads or hears Perez being likened to any of the game's greats.

"Oliver knows how his manager feels about that," McClendon said. "He wants Oliver to be Oliver."

Still, McClendon admitted to some eagerness for the matchup.

"It should be a hell of a game. And, hopefully, it's a low-scoring game. I think that's more to our liking and gives us a better opportunity to win."

He also expressed optimism that Perez will not be distracted by facing Johnson or pitching in Yankee Stadium for the first time, and there is some precedent to support that.

On June 21, 2002, Perez made his second major-league start against the Yankees as a member of the San Diego Padres. Before a home crowd of 55,858, he allowed one run in 6²/₃ innings to beat New York and David Wells.

North Side notches

Yankees catcher Jorge Posada offered no sympathy for Pittsburghers put off that this series was not played at PNC Park: "Put that into perspective. We get no day games on the road, those getaway days other teams get to make their travel easier. And that's because teams want to bring the big crowd to night games to watch us. That's really unfair to us. Besides, we can't play every game on the road. There's nothing wrong with playing at Yankee Stadium. It doesn't get any better than that." New York has one weekday afternoon game to end a series.

The Pirates have beaten Johnson three consecutive times after he won the previous six.

Boston announced its rotation to face the Pirates this weekend: Wade Miller, Tim Wakefield and Butler native Matt Clement.

The Pirates signed their ninth-round draft pick, pitcher Derrik Moeves.