Mark J. Terrill, Associated Press Pirates' Jack Wilson scores past Los Angeles Dodgers catcher Russell Martin in the third inning last night. Click photo for larger image. Today Matchup: Pirates (Shane Youman 0-1) vs. Dodgers (Chad Billingsley 5-4), 10:10 p.m. Where: Dodger Stadium, Los Angeles, Calif. TV/Radio: FSN Pittsburgh/KDKA-AM (1020) and Pirates Radio Network. Related articles Pirates Notebook: Team, Duffy disagree on winter ball Collier: Thrift went his own way

LOS ANGELES - Who are these people, and what have they done with the Pittsburgh Pirates?

Things have become so skewed in their world that sizzling victories such as the 6-4 decision against Los Angeles last night at Dodger Stadium are starting to look commonplace.

Almost formulaic.

"Yeah, we're doing a lot of things, night after night, that you didn't see us doing in the first half," third baseman Jose Bautista said. "And I'll tell you, it feels good."

He clapped his hands once, as if breaking a huddle, and continued.

"It feels like no one can put us down."

Not even two of the National League's finest. The Pirates have won five in a row -- a sweep of the New York Mets and the first two of this three-game set -- to match their season-best winning streak. If they take the Dodgers tonight, they will have not only their longest streak but also their first road sweep since May 2004.

Oh, and the Pirates have won 15 of 21 and -- repeat after us -- are 35-27 since the All-Star break.

How has it happened?

1. Start, of course, with the starting pitching. That was delivered efficiently on this night by Shawn Chacon, who went 6 ²/₃ innings on just 85 pitches while limiting Los Angeles to four runs -- two earned -- on six hits. The rotation's ERA in the past eight games: 1.84.

2. Finish with an unflappable bullpen. Salomon Torres fought off a furious rally in the ninth for his 10th save in as many chances. His ERA since the break: 1.08.

3. Somewhere in between, sprinkle in a slew of singles and make them count. Freddy Sanchez went 4 for 5 to boost his lead in the National League batting race to eight points, a .346 average to Miguel Cabrera's .338. And Jack Wilson scored after all three of his singles.

Add it up, and it is enough to bring fresh smiles all around.

"We're getting a collective effort, and it's tremendous," manager Jim Tracy said. "I'm just so proud of these players, how they've grown."

NL Batting Title How Freddy Sanchez stands in his bid to become the first Pirates player to win the National League batting title since Bill Madlock in 1983.   LAST GAME: Sanchez went 4 for 5 with 1 RBI against the Dodgers.   LEADERS  Freddy Sanchez,  Pirates .346  Miguel Cabrera,  Marlins .338  Matt Holliday,  Rockies .332 NEXT GAME Today: 10:10 p.m. vs. Dodgers. Pitcher: Chad Billingsley. Sanchez has never faced Billingsley.

The key was Chacon, whose solid start was his second in a row. And it came as the result of 94-mph heat he was able to pinpoint early and often.

"That's the best I've felt, probably since April," Chacon said. "I had a really good fastball that allowed me to attack them and get ahead."

"Very sharp," Tracy called him.

It surely helped that the offense spotted Chacon a lead.

Bautista opened the third with his 15th home run, his second as many nights, by sending a Greg Maddux changeup to right-center. After two outs, Wilson's single was followed by Sanchez's second double of the game -- 50th of the season -- and the Pirates were up, 2-0.

The only other player in franchise history to achieve 50 doubles was Hall of Famer Paul Waner, who did it three times, including the record of 62 in 1932.

Also noteworthy about that play was how Wilson scored: He had not yet reached third base, and right fielder Marlon Anderson already had the ball while charging forward near the line. But, when third base coach Jeff Cox noticed Anderson telegraphing a throw to second, he gave the wave. Wilson beat the throw standing up.

"I didn't think he could change his throw in time," Cox said of Anderson.

Cox has had only one runner thrown out at home all season.

A Bautista error gave back two of those runs in the bottom of the fifth. He allowed a double-play ball that would have ended the inning to zip between his legs, leading to an RBI groundout by Wilson Betemit and a run-scoring triple by Rafael Furcal.

The Pirates responded immediately by taking a 6-2 lead in the seventh off Aaron Sele.

After one out, Chris Duffy singled, stole second and scored on Wilson's single. Sanchez singled, too. When Wilson and Sanchez took off on a double-steal, catcher Russell Martin's throw sailed into left field for one run. Xavier Nady's double drove in another.

"We made a mistake in the fifth, but we answered it," Tracy said. "That's what you do."

Chacon retired the first two batters in the bottom half, but a Martin single and J.D. Drew's pinch-hit home run pulled Los Angeles within 6-4.

Matt Capps allowed a two-out walk in the eighth, forcing Tracy to summon Torres an inning early. James Loney sent a high fly to deep center that appeared it might tie the score, but Duffy grabbed it with his back to the wall.

It was harrier yet in the ninth.

Drew singled with one out. Rafael Furcal was hit by a pitch, and each runner advanced on a wild pitch to Matt Kemp. Kemp struck out swinging through a full-count splitter, but Nomar Garciaparra walked to load the bases.

Up came Jeff Kent.

Torres' attitude?

"The pressure was on them," he said. "They have to take swings. They needed this game."

True enough. The Dodgers are a half-game behind San Diego in the West Division and narrowly clinging to the wild card.

And, true to Torres' feeling, Kent whiffed on a full-count splitter.