Al Bello, Getty Images The Yankees traded pitcher Shawn Chacon to the Pirates for infielder Craig Wilson July 31. Click photo for larger image. MINOR-LEAGUE REPORT: Wednesday's results INDIANAPOLIS (60-49) beat Toledo, 4-1. RHP Matt Ginter (2-1, 3.55) allowed one run and four hits in six innings. RHP Jesse Chavez (0.00), acquired Monday in the Kip Wells trade, pitched two scoreless innings of relief. He allowed one hit, struck out three and threw 15 of 22 pitches for strikes. RHP Jonah Bayliss (1.70) notched his 17th save with a perfect ninth. ALTOONA (62-45) lost at Harrisburg, 8-7. LHP Mike Connolly (6-5, 4.32) allowed four runs in four innings. RF Ray Sadler (.210) hit his 11th home run and went 2 for 4 with two RBIs. LYNCHBURG (46-61) lost to Potomac, 11-10, in 11 innings. RHP Matt Lorenzo (0-2, 3.29) allowed six runs, one earned, in three innings. LF Mike Carlin (.273) hit his 11th home run, a three-run shot, and went 2 for 5 with four RBIs. DH Neil Walker (.278) went 1 for 6. HICKORY (53-55) lost to Charleston, 5-4. RHP Blair Johnson (1-4, 5.79) allowed five runs in three innings. 2B Shelby Ford (.283) hit his fifth home run and went 1 for 4. CF Andrew McCutchen (.283) went 1 for 3 with a walk and a run. WILLIAMSPORT (14-25) lost at Jamestown, 5-3. LHP Mike Felix (0-3, 2.87) allowed one run in 2 2/3 innings. 2B Jim Negrych (.267) went 2 for 4.

It takes no more than a glance at the back of Shawn Chacon's baseball card to see the roller-coaster pattern.

Good year, bad year.

Good first half, bad second half.

He knows it better than anyone, having lived it through six seasons of Major League Baseball, but that does not mean he accepts it as a sign of inconsistency.

"Look closer," Chacon said yesterday, less than 24 hours before his Pirates debut this afternoon. "There was something else that happened each time."

Fair enough ...

In 2003, he pitched well enough in the first half for the Colorado Rockies to make the All-Star Game, but he fell off dramatically after that.

"That was the tendonitis."

He experienced pain in his elbow for a month and was not the same the rest of the year.

"The next year, they made me the closer."

He saved 35 games for the Rockies in an entirely new role in 2004, albeit with a 7.11 ERA.

Last year? Chacon split that between Colorado and the New York Yankees, was 1-7 with the Rockies with a respectable 4.09 ERA, then 7-3 with a sterling 2.85 ERA in the Bronx.

"Great year," he said.

This year, not so much. Bouncing back and forth from the rotation to relief, he was 5-3 with a 7.00 ERA and was banished to the bullpen for good early last month. He also spent a month on the disabled list because of a bruised calf.

"It's either been an injury or getting moved around or something," Chacon said. "It's never been a case of not being able to do the job. I just need a consistent atmosphere, one where I know I'm going to take the ball every fifth day. That's what I'm looking forward to here."

Manager Jim Tracy sounds plenty amenable on all counts.

"I know what Shawn Chacon looks like when he's really good and when he's off," Tracy said. "It's a matter of creating the space for the pitcher to allow himself to do what he does best. That's what we plan to do."

Chacon has not started since July 6, so rust could be a factor today. But he speaks long term when discussing goals with his new team.

"What makes me happy about this trade is that I know I'm going to get that opportunity. What I do with it, of course, is up to me. But, if I can pitch the way I'm capable, I really feel I can become somebody they count upon, especially with the young staff we've got here."

Control freak Capps

Reliever Matt Capps has not unintentionally walked a batter since June 14 and has issued only six -- three intentional -- in 58 innings all season.

"It was So Taguchi," Capps recalled of the most recent unintentional free pass. "I still kick myself for that."

That was because Scott Rolen followed with a home run.

"It's amazing," Tracy said. "Six walks, and half of them you can pin on me."

Nady-Bay connection

Jason Bay and Xavier Nady needed no introductions Monday. They were roommates while rising through the San Diego system and remained friends since.

"It's great to have him here. He's a great guy," Bay said. "And what's more important is that he's a player who can help us."

Their bonding period came early in 2003, when Bay was out with a fractured wrist.

"He practically lived on my couch," Nady said. "We've been tight since then, and it's really nice to come to a team with him on it."

Buried treasure

Atlanta first baseman Adam LaRoche, the Braves' hottest hitter, left the game last night in the fifth inning because of a strained right hamstring. He is not expected to play in the series finale today.

Tracy's new relief roles with Roberto Hernandez gone: Capps is the right-handed setup man, and John Grabow has that duty from the left side.

The Pirates' starting eight last night -- which likely will not change much down the stretch -- make a combined $9.1 million in salary, compared to the $12.2 million paid to the five players on the bench.

Ian Snell's rate of 7.9 strikeouts per nine innings ranks 10th among National League starters.

Catcher Neil Walker, the Pirates' first-round draft pick in 2004, was named Carolina League player of the week after batting .500 (13 for 26) with two home runs and nine RBIs for Class A Lynchburg.