MILWAUKEE -- Slumping Adam LaRoche didn't start the game last night, but the first baseman didn't exactly have a day off.

"It's a workday," Pirates manager Jim Tracy said. "He's going back in there [tonight]."

Tracy and LaRoche, along with hitting instructor Jeff Manto, spent about 70 minutes watching videotape in the clubhouse yesterday. They compared at-bats LaRoche had with Atlanta to at-bats he has had with the Pirates.

	MINOR-LEAGUE REPORT Thursday's results INDIANAPOLIS (16-9) won at Pawtucket, 9-7, in 10 innings. LHP Michael Tejera (0-0, 22.50), filling in for recalled RHP Marty McLeary, allowed five runs and five hits in two innings. RHP Jesse Chavez (3.29) pitched four scoreless innings of relief. RHP Brian Rogers (0.71) pitched a perfect 10th for his first save. 1B Yurendell DeCaster (.342) hit his third home run and went 2 for 4 with four RBIs. RF Luis Matos (.304) went 3 for 4 with a double and a walk. ALTOONA (11-12) lost at Connecticut, 6-5, in 11 innings. LHP Josh Shortslef (0-3, 4.00) allowed three runs and seven hits in six innings. 3B Neil Walker (.289) hit his fourth home run -- all in the past five games -- and went 1 for 3 with a walk and three RBIs. 1B Steve Pearce (.300) went 1 for 5 with an RBI. CF Andrew McCutchen (.176) went 1 for 2 off the bench. LYNCHBURG (10-12) and Kinston were postponed by rain. HICKORY (11-14) won at Lake County, 5-4. RHP Mike Crotta (2-1, 3.96) allowed two runs, one earned, in six innings. RF Jonel Pacheco (.293) went 2 for 4 with two doubles.

"Very, very good at-bats vs. a couple of at-bats as recent as [Wednesday]," Tracy said. "We're looking for a trigger point, that's all. We've seen some days where it looks like it's very close to happening and he's beginning to resemble his old self, and then all of a sudden the following day or whenever you see it fall back and you see a player at home plate who's completely lost."

And not very confident. A player who steps into the batter's box and sees 20 defensive players arrayed against him.

Or feels "that every pitch is on the black," said LaRoche, referring to the edge of the plate.

LaRoche is batting .132 with three home runs and 11 RBIs.

Tracy, LaRoche and Manto had pored over videotape before yesterday -- to no avail. Yesterday seemed different.

"It's very slight," LaRoche said. "We had to really pick it apart. It's not a total overhaul. It's just a couple minor things to try."

"We looked at subtle things," Tracy said. "We're not talking about 50 different things. That's only going to flood his mind with a bunch of things and make the situation worse.

"We saw a couple things that make sense. A couple ... little ... subtle ... things."

LaRoche appeared encouraged enough by the video session that he almost asked to play rather than sitting on the bench.

"I was tempted to tell him, 'Well, let's scratch this. I want to [play],' " LaRoche said. "But I'm sure he wouldn't let that happen. And it's smart to go work on it and go really wear it out in the cage."

He hit in the batting cages under the stands at Miller Park before and during the game.

"He can take as many swings as he wants," Tracy said.

"This will be a good start," LaRoche said. "I'll take a day to relax, get a ton of swings in and go from there."

With this caveat.

"You don't get out of it in the cage," LaRoche said. "You don't get out of a slump sitting in front of video. The only way is to walk out there on the field and face live pitching."

Which the Chicago Cubs' Alfonso Soriano did at PNC Park early this week. He had no homers and one RBI through April but left PNC with two home runs and three RBIs in the three games against the Pirates.

Tracy believes LaRoche will have a similar breakout soon.

"He's the type of hitter that takes that one swing and these things we're talking about fall into place and there's hell to pay for whoever happens to be in an upcoming series where we are the opponent," Tracy said.

McLeary called up

Right-hander Marty McLeary joined the Pirates after long reliever John Wasdin went on the disabled list with a sprained right thumb.

Wasdin had a Magnetic Resonance Imaging test Wednesday that revealed no structural damage. He'll rest for a few days. When he's able to throw properly, he'll report to the extended spring training program in Bradenton, Fla.

Wasdin has felt some pain after getting jammed with a pitch while batting in a game April 20 in Los Angeles.

"He couldn't snap off his curve ball," Tracy said.

McLeary, who had a 2.04 earned run average in five games with the Pirates in September, will fill Wasdin's long-relief role.

"I'm just going to try to pick up where I left off last year and keep it rolling," McLeary said.

Buried treasure

Tracy said LaRoche was not "benched" last night. "A lot of people like to use the term or 'benched.' Well, that bugs me. That seems harsh to me. We're giving him a day off." Ryan Doumit started at first base last night.

Indianapolis outfielder Rajai Davis stole four bases Wednesday and yesterday in games at Pawtucket, raising his total to an International League-leading 16. Teammate Nyjer Morgan is second with 14.

Second baseman Jim Negrych, from Pitt, is on the disabled list in Hickory because of an obliques strain. He was hitting .305.