CHICAGO -- Adam LaRoche has not spent a lot of time thinking about Reunion Weekend.

It begins tonight when the Pirates play host to Atlanta, meaning LaRoche can visit with his former Braves teammates and Mike Gonzalez and Craig Wilson can do the same with their former teammates.

	MINOR-LEAGUE REPORT Thursday's results INDIANAPOLIS (19-13) lost to Syracuse, 6-4. RHP Bryan Bullington (5-1, 1.90) allowed five runs and nine hits in five innings. He struck out two, walked three and threw 56 of 96 pitches for strikes. RHP Josh Sharpless (2.12) allowed a run in two innings of relief, striking out and walking three each. LF Rajai Davis (.294) went 3 for 4 with an RBI and two steals. SS Brian Bixler (.337) went 2 for 4. C Humberto Cota (.000), in the second game of a rehabilitation stint, went 0 for 3 and caught seven innings. ALTOONA (15-14) was rained out at Harrisburg. LYNCHBURG (12-17) lost at Wilmington, 7-4. LHP Brian Holliday (0-1, 3.31) allowed five runs, four earned, in four innings. LF Jamie Romak (.290) was 2 for 3 with a double. HICKORY (13-18) lost to Delmarva, 9-5. RHP Mike Crotta (2-1, 4.66) allowed four runs in four innings. CF Alex Presley (.231) went 2 for 4 with a triple and two RBIs.

"As far as playing [the Braves], I haven't even thought about it at all," said LaRoche, acquired by the Pirates for Gonzalez Jan. 19. "It's going to be nice to see them and hang out with them a little bit."

LaRoche had two "Braves moments" in spring training. when the Pirates played Atlanta March 2 and 9.

"But it's been a couple of months," LaRoche said. "I haven't gotten to talk to the coaches a whole lot, so I'll holler at some of those guys."

LaRoche primarily will concentrate on the task at hand.

"I just want to win," he said. "I want to get some hits, get the team going. I don't care who it's against.

"But I'm not going to ignore [the Atlanta players] because I'm on the other side now. I'm not going to go, 'Hey, you guys are the enemy.' I don't play like that.

"And I've told you guys before that it was an awesome clubhouse [atmosphere in Atlanta], a great group of guys. I'll never forget it, so it will be good to get to rap with them a little bit."

Back in the groove

The Braves finished 79-83 last season, ending their spectacular run of winning 14 consecutive division championships. This season, they look like their old successful selves.

They are 22-12 and in first place in the National League East.

"They've improved their bullpen -- immensely," Pirates manager Jim Tracy said. "To be more specific, they've improved the back end of their bullpen. That was a huge problem for them over the last couple of seasons."

There are a lot of new faces on the Braves, including Gonzalez and Wilson.

"But there's a pretty solid foundation for the new faces to filter in," Tracy said. "It's a solid ballclub."

Bautista's stock on rise

Jose Bautista, whose double fueled the Pirates' three-run first inning yesterday, has settled in as the team's regular third baseman.

"He's as improved a player as you see out there," Tracy said. "You don't see him chasing a lot of bad pitches.

"But there are higher plateaus for him to reach offensively. The thing is, he's gotten some very good pitches to hit, but he's fouling them off. He's mishitting some very hittable pitches."

Bautista has excelled defensively. He has not made an error in a league-high 118 chances.

Buried treasure

Left-hander Zach Duke is scheduled to start for the Pirates tonight. In his past three starts, he has yielded 20 hits and four earned runs in 18²/₃ innings. On the season, left-handers are batting .370 against him.

Ryan Doumit is 17 for 33 during his 10-game hitting streak. "To his credit, he's gotten an opportunity and he's taking full advantage of it," Tracy said.

Alfonso Soriano's winning home run -- on the second pitch Tom Gorzelanny threw Wednesday night -- produced the Cubs' first 1-0 victory on a first-inning home run in their 92-year history at Wrigley Field, according to the Elias Sports Bureau. Through Wednesday night, the Cubs had played 7,168 regular season games at Wrigley. How does Gorzelanny feel about being part of Cub history? "It's not [Pirates] history," he noted. "And why would I care about it, being on the losing end?"

Kyle Davies, scheduled to start for the Braves tonight, allowed Andy LaRoche's first major-league hit Sunday. Andy is Adam LaRoche's younger brother. In two road starts this season, Davies has allowed 11 hits, 11 walks and 9 earned runs in 8 innings.