DENVER -- It does not bode well when a fresh trade acquisition is hobbling with a gimpy knee in his second game, then placed on the disabled list after his fourth.

		Minor-League Report Wednesday's results INDIANAPOLIS (66-53) lost at Louisville, 5-3. LHP Cory Stewart (7-10, 5.52) allowed five runs and eight hits in 51/3 innings. 3B Ty Wigginton (.277) was 2 for 3 with his 11th home run, two RBIs and a stolen base. CF Nate McLouth (.297) was 2 for 5. ALTOONA (62-54) lost to Bowie, 4-3. RHP Eddie Candelario (3.47) allowed two runs in six innings. RHP Matt Capps (0-1, 2.45) blew the save by allowing two runs in the ninth. 2B Craig Stansberry (.237) was 2 for 5 with a double. LYNCHBURG (66-51) won at Salem, 6-3. LHP Josh Shortslef (5.17) allowed three runs in six innings. CF Vic Buttler (.306) was 4 for 5 with two RBIs. HICKORY (47-63) was off. WILLIAMSPORT (27-22) lost to Jamestown, 6-2 in 12 innings. RHP Todd Redmond (1.22) allowed one unearned run in six innings. 3B Ed Prasch (.500) was 2 for 4 with a walk. BRADENTON (23-18) beat the Twins, 5-2. RHP Nicolas Suero (4-4, 3.04) allowed two unearned runs in seven innings. CF Andrew McCutchen (.274) had an RBI double and a throwing error.

It is far more ominous when that knee recently underwent major surgery.

But that is what the Pirates have to show for getting outfielder Jody Gerut from the Chicago Cubs July 31 for Matt Lawton.

Gerut was placed on the 15-day disabled list yesterday with what the team described as irritation of the patella tendon in his right knee, the same knee on which he had surgery 11 months ago to repair a torn anterior cruciate ligament. He missed the first six weeks of this season and has been unable to play without a brace since then.

Still, team officials expressed confidence yesterday that the current injury and surgery are unrelated medically.

"From everything we've been told at this point, that's the case," general manager Dave Littlefield said.

He added that nothing that has happened since the trade has changed his mind about the deal.

"We understood when we were investigating before the trade that we were getting a player who was not 100 percent. But we're confident he'll be ready for spring training and that we got a good, productive player."

Gerut was sent back to Pittsburgh last night and will be eligible to come off the disabled list Aug. 26.

To replace him, the Pirates recalled outfielder Nate McLouth, 23, from Class AAA Indianapolis for the second time this season. In 109 games for the Indians, he hit .297 with 20 doubles, 5 home runs and 39 RBIs.

"He's a well-rounded player," Littlefield said. "He gets on base, and he's solid defensively. We feel good about giving him a chance."

McLouth did not start yesterday, partly because of the late notice on his recall, but he flied out to left as a pinch-hitter in the ninth inning.

He received a call at 1:15 a.m. yesterday and was told to be on the first flight to Denver from Louisville, Ky., where the Indians were playing. He made it two hours before game time at Coors Field but did so with no equipment because it already had been shipped to Durham, N.C., site of the Indians' next series.

"All I've got is my cell phone and my wallet," McLouth said.

McLouth's first stint lasted only three days and two at-bats, June 28-30, and it was unclear yesterday how long this one will be. Manager Lloyd McClendon said he plans to start McLouth, a left-handed hitter, in right field against right-handed pitchers. Michael Restovich will get the bulk of the time at the position. When Rob Mackowiak recovers from his knee ailment, he will work into the mix, too.

As well as McLouth has performed at Indianapolis, it remains unclear how he will fit into the Pirates' long-term future.

He has the credentials of a leadoff man -- highlighted by his .364 on-base percentage and 34 stolen bases -- and the Pirates already appear to have one of those in center fielder Chris Duffy. With Jason Bay in left, that would seem to leave right field as a position where power is a must.

"My sense is this guy's not going to be a home run hitter," Littlefield said of McLouth. "You do see guys get stronger in their late 20s, but there's nothing in his history to indicate he's going to hit for power."

Littlefield said he sees the team set at catcher, second base, shortstop and left field heading into 2006, adding he will focus on power at the corners.

"As we look around the diamond, right field is one of those areas where I'd like to see more production. We need to score more runs."

McLouth seems aware of the Pirates' need for home runs, but he said he did not feel he was at the stage of his career where he would benefit from swinging for the fences.

"Power hitters develop, I think," he said. "I could sacrifice 15-20 strikeouts and get a few more home runs, but that's not something I'm willing to do right now.

If that's the player I'm going to be, it's going to happen over the next few years. You look at Brian Giles, Magglio Ordonez, Jim Edmonds, they all hit a lot of doubles before they were hitting home runs."

North Side notches

Mackowiak and Duffy (strained hamstring) were held out of the lineup again. McClendon said he hoped to have them available for the series opener in Houston tonight.

The Pirates were delighted with reliever Mike Gonzalez's first rehabilitation appearance with Indianapolis Wednesday night in Louisville. He needed 16 pitches to retire the side, struck out one batter and hit 94 mph with his fastball. His next outing will be two innings tomorrow. After two days off, he will pitch Tuesday and Wednesday. He is targeted to join the Pirates next Friday in Philadelphia.

Starter Oliver Perez will pitch his first simulated game today in Houston, then have another Wednesday in New York.