Keith Srakocic, Associated Press The ball gets away from Tampa Bay Devil Rays catcher Josh Paul as Humberto Cota scores from third on a sacrifice fly by Jack Wilson in the fifth inning yesterday. Click photo for larger image.

BRADENTON, Fla. -- If the primary role of the No. 2 hitter is to deliver contact, as many believe, Jack Wilson might be having the greatest spring training in history.

Forget that he is batting .371. Or even that he has been effective in situational hitting.

Just consider this: In 39 plate appearances, he has swung and missed at exactly one pitch, a 3-1 changeup from Cincinnati's Brandon Claussen March 16.

"It's very important for me to do well as the No. 2 guy," Wilson said after the Pirates' 7-5 victory against the Tampa Bay Devil Rays yesterday at McKechnie Field. "It's where I feel the most comfortable, and I take a lot of pride in it, especially with Sean Casey, Jason Bay and Jeromy Burnitz behind me. If I go 0 for 3 and move the runner over three times, I had a pretty good day."

He put on a No. 2 hitter's clinic yesterday with a single, a leadoff walk after which he scored, a willful grounder to the right side to advance Nate McLouth to second base and a sacrifice fly.

Or, as he put it, "A knock, a walk, get 'em over, get 'em in."

Maybe most impressive was the groundout.

Usually, with a man on first and no one out, a left-handed pitcher jams a right-handed batter with a fastball or slider. Wilson anticipated Tampa Bay's Scott Kazmir would do that but instead saw a changeup outside. Wilson adjusted in mid-swing and rolled the ball to first, drawing applause from the 4,036 in attendance.

"I saw a lot of good things out there in terms of situational hitting," Pirates manager Jim Tracy said. "And Jack Wilson's name comes to mind."

Maholm sparkles

Paul Maholm turned in by far his best outing, pitching into the sixth inning and allowing three runs and two hits.

Through five innings, he blanked Tampa Bay on one soft hit and fanned five while throwing 49 of 70 pitches for strikes. But he walked the first two batters in the sixth and gave up a two-run double to Carl Crawford before Tracy pulled him.

"We were all looking for one more inning, but I was very pleased with what Paul did," Tracy said. "The command of his fastball and changeup were terrific."

In his first five appearances, Maholm had an 8.50 ERA.

Cuts coming today

The next round of cuts is expected this morning, before the Pirates' bus leaves for an exhibition against Boston in Fort Myers. The active roster is at 35 and must be reduced by 10 before Sunday.

Duffy vs. Schilling II

Chris Duffy and Curt Schilling will meet again today, as Duffy is expected to be in the lineup today against Schilling and the Red Sox. The previous time they met, March 11, Schilling beaned Duffy, and some public banter followed between the two.

"It's just another game," Duffy said. "There's nothing that went past what was initially said. That's it."

Marte pushed back

Reliever Damaso Marte, expected to make his spring debut for the Pirates, was held out because of what Tracy described as a "very, very stiff neck" after a morning round of catch.

There is no timetable for Marte to pitch, but Tracy said he still could make the opening-day roster.

Marte made three appearances for the Dominican Republic in the World Baseball Classic, but he left that team March 14 because of shoulder irritation.

Other game highlights

Closer Mike Gonzalez converted his first save opportunity of the spring with a quiet ninth. He faced four batters, walked one, and threw 10 of 16 pitches for strikes. "It was fun to be out there like that," he said.

Jose Castillo's 2-for-4 day raised his average to .400. He has reached base in 12 of his past 22 plate appearances.

The Pirates chased Kazmir, Tampa Bay's opening-day starter, after 4 1/3 innings, seven runs and 11 hits. The Devil Rays committed three errors behind him.

Buried treasure

Forget about the Pirates acquiring Atlanta starter John Thomson. Thomson was scratched from a scheduled start yesterday with what the Braves are calling "elbow tenderness."

Oliver Perez will make his final spring start today. Catcher Humberto Cota said he is expecting a strong outing: "Based on what I saw last time, I think this is going to be a good one for him."

The game will be televised nationally by ESPN.