Ted Williams ... Rod Carew ... Wade Boggs ... Freddy Sanchez?

"Oh, give me a break," Sanchez said yesterday when the subject of the National League batting title was raised. "It's been two months and how many at-bats? Doesn't mean a thing. We'll see who's up there when it's all done."

	MINOR-LEAGUE REPORT Wednesday's results INDIANAPOLIS (30-21) was off. ALTOONA (33-20) lost at Akron, 12-4. RHP Matt Peterson (3-4, 5.92) allowed nine runs in four innings. 2B Craig Stansberry (.253) hit his seventh home run, RF Ray Sadler (.205) his third. LYNCHBURG (24-27) beat Potomac, 12-4. RHP Derek Hankins (3-5, 4.45) allowed four runs in five innings. RHP Yoann Torrealba (3.05) pitched four scoreless innings of relief. 1B Steve Pearce (.391) hit his third home run, his second in as many days. C Neil Walker (.269) went 1 for 5, struck out four times and was picked off first base. HICKORY (22-27) was off.

For now, for whatever it is worth, it is Sanchez up there.

Almost all the way up there.

He went 3 for 4 in the Pirates' 6-1 victory last night against the Milwaukee Brewers to hike his average to .352, but it was not enough to catch the Florida Marlins' Miguel Cabrera, who also went 3 for 4 to go to .354.

Entering the day, Sanchez was at .342, just behind Cabrera's .346.

Not that he was making a big deal of it.

"To tell you the truth, I don't even look," Sanchez said. "If it wasn't for my dad ..."

He shook his head, recalling a phone call from Fred Sanchez Sr. in California earlier in the day.

"I bought him the MLB Extra Innings package the other day, and it's, like, the greatest thing in his life because he can see all our games on TV instead of just the computer. But he has to remind me of every little thing now, hitting streaks and being up there in the leaders. He's calling and saying, 'Hey, look, second in the league!' I didn't even know."

The son's response?

"I told him, 'Dad, get over it. It's not a big deal.' "

Really? No big deal?

"It does feel good to get the hits but, honestly, it feels so much better that the team is getting back on the right track."

Doumit still dormant

Catcher Ryan Doumit did not start for the sixth time in the past seven games, a high level of inactivity for a 25-year-old considered by management to have one of the best bats on the roster.

Doumit acknowledged yesterday it was getting to him, albeit not much.

"It's frustrating not to be in there because I know what I'm capable of doing, and I just really don't feel like I'm getting the chance right now. But I'll wait my turn."

He recognized that Ronny Paulino appears to have had a positive impact on the pitching.

"I understand it. The staff has been doing a great job with Paulino back there and, especially with our team not having the best record in baseball, you have to stay with it."

Doumit could start today.

Wells throws three

Starter Kip Wells pitched three innings in extended spring training yesterday, marking his first competitive game since March surgery to address a blocked artery.

The numbers were not pretty -- three earned runs and nine hits -- but management sounded more satisfied with Wells' ability to maintain velocity than in his previous outing, a simulated game.

"We're very encouraged," manager Jim Tracy said.

Wells will pitch another game in four days, likely in extended spring.

Buried treasure

Third baseman Joe Randa, out with a fractured right foot, has taken batting practice the past two days and is making "very good progress," Tracy said. There remains no timetable for when Randa might begin a rehabilitation assignment.

Coincidence or not, starter Oliver Perez's season turned around when a pack of sombrero-wearing Kiski Area High School students calling itself the "Perez Posse" began showing up at PNC Park's left field and singing encouragement. Perez pitches again tomorrow, and he hopes to see them there: "Tell those guys they have to come every time I pitch now. I'm serious."

Tracy, asked why he kept the same batting order for a third consecutive game: "Twenty-six runs."