Pat Sullivan, Associated Press The Astros' Chris Burke is tagged out at home plate by Pirates catcher Ronny Paulino in the fifth inning last night.

By Dejan Kovacevic
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette HOUSTON -- It surely was not evident last night. Not with Adam LaRoche striking out four times in five at-bats and seldom making contact of any sort.

But, ask Phil Garner, and he will say unequivocally that LaRoche will make a difference for the Pirates before long.

Partly because of his power.

Partly because, quite simply, he is left-handed.

"You go back over recent history, and you've got to go a long way to find a lineup that's mostly right-handed and has been really successful," the Astros' manager said in his office before the game yesterday. "Maybe that Toronto team where John Olerud was the only lefty stick."

That would be 1993, when the Blue Jays won the World Series with Olerud standing out among right-handed hitters Joe Carter, Rickey Henderson and Ed Sprague and a few switch-hitters.

"It doesn't happen much," Garner continued. "And, if you look at our team right now, it sure makes it difficult to face us, with our strength as a pitching staff from the right side, to come at us all right-handed."

Which is part of why, he added, LaRoche will help.

"With LaRoche there, it makes it not quite so simple to match up against them. Especially with Jason Bay and Freddy Sanchez and Ronny Paulino -- who I think's a very good, young hitter -- right in there with him. And having a left-handed leadoff man in Chris Duffy could help, too. They've improved their lineup. There's no question in my mind."

LaRoche and Duffy were the lone left-handed bats among the starting eight last night, even though facing Roy Oswalt generally begs for more lefties.

Bay third in order

Bay took Sanchez's No. 3 spot in the order, but it might not last long.

Pirates manager Jim Tracy, asked if Bay was bumped up from his designated No. 5 spot because of his perennially high on-base percentage, replied that the move was made because of Bay's strong history against Oswalt and Houston closer Brad Lidge.

Asked if Paulino, who batted third late in spring training, could be there again, Tracy said, "He could bat higher than fifth, yes."

Kelly's big day

Don Kelly did not need to wait until his first major-league at-bat -- a flare to shallow left that was caught by Houston shortstop Adam Everett in the ninth -- to get blown away. It happened right after he entered lavish Minute Maid Park.

"It's unbelievable," he said. "It reminded me of 'Hoosiers,' when they go to the big dome and just look around. You have to remind yourself that there's still a regulation baseball field out there."

Kelly's wife, Carrie, sister of Pirates prospect Neil Walker, made the trip from their Mt. Lebanon home. But the far bigger deal -- and far bigger turnout of family and friends -- will come Monday with the home opener.

"I can't even imagine what it will be like to be out there as a Pittsburgh Pirate."

Sanchez 'going good'

Sanchez, taking at-bats and playing the field in extended spring training games in Bradenton, Fla., said everything is "going good" with his sprained right knee.

He remains on pace to play in Class AAA Indianapolis' opener Thursday and can come off the 15-day disabled list Saturday, but he might wait until the home opener to get a full weekend of minor-league at-bats.

Tracy said of Sanchez: "Let's be clear that this is not about the player's health. It's about his being comfortable at the plate. And, when he tells you that, you've got to listen."

Buried treasure

Reliever John Grabow threw a 50-pitch bullpen session yesterday in Bradenton, Fla. He threw his full repertoire of pitches with no trouble from his sore elbow. He will throw a live batting practice or simulated game Thursday.

Sean Burnett has been chosen to pitch Indianapolis' opener.

The most significant addition of the rest of Indianapolis' roster, announced yesterday, was top shortstop prospect Brian Bixler. He spent 60 games with Class AA Altoona last season.