If Oliver Perez is in any way disturbed by the Pirates' decision to lift him from the rotation, it is not showing.

He appeared to be in an almost playful mood yesterday as he prepared for the pitchers' batting practice, laughing and joking as he spoke with reporters for the first time since the team announced the move Tuesday.

	MINOR-LEAGUE REPORT Wednesday's results INDIANAPOLIS (42-35) beat Rochester, 5-2. LHP Mike Connolly (1-1, 7.45) allowed two runs and six hits in 5 2/3 innings. RHP Scott Strickland (1.29) pitched 1 1/3 scoreless innings of relief for his fourth save. CF Rajai Davis (.264) went 2 for 4 to extend a 13-game hitting streak and stole two bases. SS Taber Lee (.236) hit his second home run. ALTOONA (45-31) lost to Bowie, 6-1. RHP Landon Jacobsen (7-6, 3.44) allowed five runs, four earned, in 5 2/3 innings. LYNCHBURG (35-40) was off. HICKORY (35-40) split a doubleheader with Kannapolis, losing, 1-0, and winning, 5-4. In the first game, RHP Joe Bauserman (3-5, 3.68) allowed one run in 6 1/3 innings. In the nightcap, RHP Dustin Craig (2-3, 4.91) allowed three runs, two earned, in 3 2/3 innings. For the day, CF Andrew McCutchen (.269) went 0 for 5 with a walk and a run. WILLIAMSPORT (3-4) beat Auburn, 3-2. RHP Brad Clapp (1-0, 1.80) allowed two runs, one earned, in five innings. 3B Alexander Peralta (.280) hit his first home run.

Asked if he is angry, he smiled as he replied: "No, no, no, I just have to go to the bullpen and try to do my best and get back to doing some good things. I'm just going to help the team and try to do everything I can."

Asked when he might be ready to pitch, he grinned and answered: "Right now. Every day. I'm in the bullpen, right?"

That apparent positive attitude aside, Perez did make clear his aim of returning to the rotation as soon as possible.

"I want to be a starter. I hope I can be back there soon. I'm going to work hard to make that happen."

He was noncommittal, though, when asked if having shorter stints on the mound might allow him to regain some of that long-lost velocity.

"Maybe that's the right way. I don't know."

Casey shelved

First baseman Sean Casey was held out of the game last night because of a bruised left rotator cuff. He fell and landed on the shoulder during a rundown Tuesday night.

Manager Jim Tracy described the shoulder as "jammed" and Casey's status as day to day.

Jack stays at leadoff

Shortstop Jack Wilson was atop the order for a second consecutive day, perhaps a sign he will stick in that spot.

For him, it is not new, given that he batted leadoff throughout his minor-league career -- "Blast from the past," he called it -- but it still surprised him a bit, mostly because he is batting .198 in June.

"I think this team needed a change, but it wouldn't be out of reach to drop me in the order, too," Wilson said. "Maybe someone else could have helped us there since I'm scuffling. Hopefully, being up there can help me get out of my funk."

On the rise

The Pirates today will promote four prominent minor-leaguers to higher affiliates.

Second baseman Craig Stansberry, a member of the 40-man roster, will move from Class AA Altoona to Class AAA Indianapolis. Stansberry, 24, batted .254 with 10 home runs for the Curve.

Moving up to Altoona from high Class A Lynchburg will be shortstop Brian Bixler and center fielder Nyjer Morgan. Bixler, 23, and Morgan, 26, were tied for fourth in the Carolina League with a .303 average. Bixler will bump Javier Guzman, Altoona's current shortstop, to second base.

Also, shortstop Brent Lillibridge will move from low Class A Hickory to Lynchburg. Lillibridge, 22, batted .291 with 10 home runs for Lynchburg.

Buried treasure

Another sign that Tom Gorzelanny will be promoted from Indianapolis to start Saturday for the Pirates: The Indians' Saturday rotation slot -- one that would be filled by Gorzelanny -- yesterday was listed as "to be announced."

The longest losing streak in franchise history, the 23 of the 1890 Pittsburg Alleghenies, ran from Aug. 12-Sept. 2. All but one of those games were on the road. The streak ranks third in history, trailing two established the previous year: The Louisville Colonels lost 26 in a row, the Cleveland Spiders 24.

Reliever Matt Capps, who leads all National League rookies with 40 appearances, is on pace to make 81. The club record for a rookie is Rich Loiselle's 72 in 1997.