LAKELAND, Fla. -- It is early in spring training, but the Pirates seem to be paying attention to manager Jim Tracy's plea for patience at the plate.

"People are still rusty at the plate, but I think you're seeing it spread through our lineup already," infielder Freddy Sanchez said. "We know Jim's stressing it, and we're starting to make it happen."

By drawing three more walks in the 4-1 loss yesterday to the Detroit Tigers at Joker Marchant Stadium, the Pirates have 19 through four exhibitions. That 4.75 average is fourth-highest in Major League Baseball and dramatically above their 2.90 mark of last season.

Two years ago, the Pirates had the fewest walks in the majors with 415. Last year, they ranked 14th in the 16-team National League with 471.

That history might explain Tracy's relentless emphasis on a sound approach rather than simply hacking, especially with men on base. He has become visibly irritated when citing a specific approach he did not like.

As a result, no doubt, even habitual free swingers such as Jose Castillo, Ryan Doumit and Brad Eldred are letting more pitches go by than usual.

"I'm not advocating we take the first pitch every time we walk up there," Tracy said. "But, if you're going to take a swing at a first pitch, have it be a really good swing. If we keep preaching that, there won't have to be a whole lot said if you make a weak out on a marginally bad first pitch. It's not the way you play winning baseball."

Other game highlights

Brandon Duckworth's first start since being told he was in the rotation mix was up and down. He needed 28 pitches to escape the first inning -- 13 of those balls -- and gave up a run on two hits and a walk. But he zipped through the second inning on nine pitches and two swinging strikeouts.

The Pirates' best situational hitting came in the fourth: Nate McLouth worked the count full before reaching on an error. Sanchez salvaged a hit-and-run by golfing at a pitch and advancing McLouth. Sean Casey waited out a three-ball count, then lashed an RBI single up the middle.

The score was 1-1 entering the bottom of the sixth, but reliever Jonah Bayliss gave up three runs. The first came across on a wild pitch, the other two on a home run by Mike Hessman.

McClendon on other side

Lloyd McClendon, Detroit's bullpen coach, had little reaction to facing the team he managed for five years.

"Obviously, there are some good memories," he said. "Some bad. But most are very good. It's good to reminisce about that some."

As has been the case since his firing, he said nothing negative about the Pirates.

"I went into the Pirates' job with my eyes wide open. I understand how things work. It's unfortunate in this business, but time ran out. I wasn't the first. I won't be the last."

Buried treasure

Kip Wells' surgery to address a blocked axillary artery is scheduled for this morning in St. Louis. It is not known how long it will take for results to become public.

Victor Santos, a candidate for the rotation, will make his first spring start today against Minnesota at McKechnie Field. Among those following him will be Ryan Vogelsong, another candidate. Willy Eyre or Glen Perkins will start for the Twins.

Reliever Roberto Hernandez has not appeared in an exhibition and is not scheduled to pitch today. A 15-year veteran, he is being allowed to proceed at his established pace for preparing for the season, general manager Dave Littlefield said.