PNC Park has had the same type of relationship with batters as Heinz Field has with kickers:

Hit it just right, or else.

	MINOR-LEAGUE REPORT Tuesday's results INDIANAPOLIS (30-21) won at Syracuse, 16-2. RHP Brandon Duckworth (8-2, 2.55) allowed two runs and four hits in 6 and 1/3 innings. He struck out five and walked two. CF Rajai Davis (.267) went 3 for 5 with a double, a walk and three runs. 3B Yurendell DeCaster (.250) went 3 for 6 with his fifth home run and three RBIs. ALTOONA (33-19) lost at Akron, 7-3. RHP Landon Jacobsen (5-5, 3.72) allowed four runs, one earned, in five innings. SS Javier Guzman (.247) went 2 for 4 with his second home run and second error. LYNCHBURG (23-27) lost to Potomac, 13-4. RHP Dustin Craig (1-1, 2.10) allowed five unearned runs in 223 innings. 1B Steve Pearce (.400) hit his second home run, a two-run shot. HICKORY (22-27) beat Hagerstown, 7-6, on an RBI single in the 11th by CF Andrew McCutchen (.301), who went 2 for 4 with a sacrifice fly and three RBIs. RHP Luis Valdez (3-1, 3.18) allowed one run in six innings.

But that hitter unfriendly aspect is changing this season, as the numbers attest:

There have been 63 home runs in the first 26 games at PNC this season, which projects to 196. The record was 161 in 2003.

The Pirates have hit 36 of those, on pace for 112. Their high was 81 in the same year as the overall record.

Even the left-field bleachers, so often seeming so distant to right-handed hitters, have been plunked by 30 baseballs, almost half the total of 63. At this point last season, only 17 of 37 went to left.

What is going on?

The players who have performed the longest at PNC mostly pointed to the unseasonably warm, dry weather in April and May.

"It's the melting of the polar icecaps in Antarctica," right fielder Craig Wilson said, keeping a straight face. "It's about overall global warming. When it's colder or there's moisture in the air, the ball doesn't travel as well."

Really?

"Well, that and we've got some people capable of hitting the long ball."

Reliever Ryan Vogelsong: "I'm not a weatherman or anything, but that's got to be part of it. If not, I don't know what it is. But I can tell you for sure that the ball is carrying much better than it has in Pittsburgh this time of year."

Starter Oliver Perez: "It seems like the wind changed direction this year. I don't know why. But it used to be hard to hit home runs here."

Indeed, PNC gave up 82 home runs last year, third-fewest in the National League. Only Miami's Dolphin Stadium (78) and San Diego's Petco Park (66) had fewer.

Now, even reliever Salomon Torres can be seen clubbing the ball into the bleachers in batting practice.

"Hey, that's all raw power," Torres said. "And they're all to straightaway center field, too."

Bay honored again

Left fielder Jason Bay yesterday was named National League player of the week a second consecutive time, putting him in excellent position to become the Pirates' first player of the month since Barry Bonds in September of 1992.

Bay's selection was anything but a surprise after a six-game stretch in which he was 13 for 26 with seven home runs and 15 RBIs.

"He deserves it," manager Jim Tracy said. "He was even more overwhelming than the week before."

Bay is the first from the Pirates to win the award twice in one year since Brian Giles in 2000.

Wilson and catcher Ronny Paulino also were considered.

Burnitz benched again

In another sign that Tracy will platoon Wilson and Jeromy Burnitz in right field, he revealed yesterday that Wilson will make a third consecutive start tonight -- all coming against left-handed starters -- and that Burnitz will play Thursday against right-hander Dave Bush.

Tracy tersely downplayed the matter when it was raised.

"They both have to play," he said, "and we want to maximize situations for both of them."

Buried treasure

Mark Cuban, the owner of the NBA's Dallas Mavericks' and a Mt. Lebanon native, told the Chicago Tribune he would entertain the possibility of buying the Chicago Cubs, a franchise estimated to be worth $600 million or more. He also reiterated his interest in buying the Pirates, who are not for sale.

Tracy said he has no preconceived notion of how often to use first baseman Sean Casey in the aftermath of his return from a major back injury. "He's been in the game a lot of years," Tracy said. "I'll communicate with the player."

Dating to Sept. 16 of last year, Freddy Sanchez's .369 average -- 86 for 233 -- is the best in Major League Baseball.