PHOENIX -- There is no end in sight for the rehabilitation of John Van Benschoten, the Pirates' top pick in the 2001 draft.

More than two months after he was expected to return to competition, he again is being limited to long-tossing with trainers in Bradenton, Fla., and has no schedule for when he might return to a mound, much less participate in extended spring training games.

	MINOR-LEAGEUE REPORT Wednesday's results INDIANAPOLIS (25-20) lost at Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, 2-1. LHP Tom Gorzelanny (3-3, 2.56) allowed two runs and seven hits in seven innings. He struck out seven and walked none, throwing 62 of 88 pitches for strikes. RF Adam Boeve (.476) went 0 for 3 with a walk, committed a fielding error and threw out a runner at home. ALTOONA (29-17) beat Bowie, 11-9. RHP Chris Rojas (0-0, 2.45) allowed one run in 3 1/3 innings. 3B Brant Ust (.250) hit his second and third home runs and had five RBIs. RF Ray Sadler (.227) hit his first home run. LYNCHBURG (19-25) won at Potomac, 8-2. RHP Wardell Starling (3-2, 2.66) allowed two runs in six innings. DH Neil Walker (.231) went 2 for 5 with a double and his first RBI. C Rich Suomi (.245) went 3 for 4. HICKORY (17-26) lost at Augusta, 8-4. RHP Joe Bauserman (2-3, 4.43) allowed five runs, four earned, in four innings. C Steve Lerud (.231) went 2 for 4 with his sixth home run and committed his ninth passed ball. CF Andrew McCutchen (.287) went 1 for 4 with a walk.

Van Benschoten had surgery early last year on his right, throwing shoulder, and he pitched off a mound Jan. 11 in minicamp. But this latest pause is the third since then by his count.

"I'll go out there and throw a bullpen and think everything's going great, and the shoulder starts hurting again, and I'm back to this."

Van Benschoten also has had two surgeries on his left shoulder, and he still complains of chronic discomfort in that area.

"Sore all the time," he said. "But that's still not an issue with pitching. It's the throwing arm that's holding me back."

Time would appear to be ticking for Van Benschoten. He turned 26 a month ago and has pitched only one full season above the Class AA level, including a six-game stint with the Pirates in late 2004. If he fails to return this season, that will be two full years wiped off his development.

Still, all concerned are adamant he can rebound.

"Oh, I'll be back," Van Benschoten said. "I'm not worried about that."

"I wouldn't say it's discouraging at all," general manager Dave Littlefield said. "It's part of the common process of coming back from surgeries. We're seeing that with Sean Burnett right now. Not everything goes the way you want it to go. It's a process."

Randa's recovery slow

Third baseman Joe Randa, still on the disabled list with a fractured right foot and related inflammation, has little idea when he might play again.

Yesterday, he jogged on the warning track, a modest sign of encouragement. But he is not expected to try baseball-type activity until next week, maybe much later.

"It could be three more weeks for all I know," Randa said. "It's progressing. I'm starting to put more pressure on it. But we just can't seem to get that inflammation out of the joint. The frustration level right now is ... off the charts."

Randa most recently played May 1.

Yogi Batista?

At the expense of the Pirates, Arizona rode the three-game sweep to first place in the National League West Division and extended its recent tear to 8-2.

Despite that, Miguel Batista, the Diamondbacks' starter last night, found a few rather unusual words of praise for his opponent.

"They're a very good team, on their way to being better," he said of the Pirates. "I won't say they're going to make the playoffs, but they might keep some people out. Any team going to Pittsburgh who thinks they're going to improve their numbers, is going to leave with their heads between their tails."

This from a pitcher who has written poetry books.

Buried treasure

The Pirates activated center fielder Jose Bautista from the bereavement list and returned utilityman Yurendell DeCaster to Class AAA Indianapolis. DeCaster, getting his first taste of the majors after 10 years in the minors, appeared as a pinch-runner in one of the three games on his brief stay.

It was confirmed that first baseman Sean Casey will spend the weekend with Class AA Altoona in Erie for three games, beginning tomorrow. The Pirates are not ruling out that Casey could rejoin them after that series. He is scheduled to play first base in the first two games, then be the designated hitter in the finale.

After the day off today, the Pirates will play games on 17 consecutive days.