Minor-league report Sunday's results INDIANAPOLIS (33-22) beat Charlotte, 5-2. RHP John Van Benschoten (6-3, 2.61) allowed two runs and six hits in 5 2/3 innings. He struck out five and walked three. RHP Franquelis Osoria (2.33) pitched 3 1/3 innings of scoreless relief for his third save. CF Rajai Davis (.318) extended his hitting streak to 21 games with his fourth home run. He went 1 for 3 with a walk. SS Brian Bixler (.324) hit his fifth home run and went 3 for 4 with a steal. ALTOONA (26-27) and Reading were rained out. LYNCHBURG (27-26) was rained out at Winston-Salem. HICKORY (22-32) lost at Lexington, 10-8. RHP Henry Cabrera (3-3, 6.44) allowed three runs in five innings. 1B Jared Keel (.276) hit his second home run and went 3 for 5 with a double. SS Angel Gonzalez (.288) went 2 for 2 with two sacrifices.

One could dissect countless hours of video to determine that the Pirates are a poor baserunning team.

Or one could simply consider this eye-popping statistic: They have been thrown out at home plate -- or between third base and home -- 13 times this season.

Some teams could have such a figure and shrug it off, provided there is offensive production to compensate. But the Pirates, with a .312 on-base percentage that is lowest in the National League, most definitely are not among them. Every runner is precious, particularly in those final 90 feet.

Manager Jim Tracy was asked yesterday, the morning after three runners were thrown out at home, how he might address the matter.

"You've just got to talk about it. That's all," he said. "But, even with continued conversation, is that to say we're not going to make another mistake on the basepaths all year? No, you can't say that. And other clubs will make them, too. What you want to try to do is minimize them."

The most mystifying mistakes of late have not come at home but between second and third: On Friday and Saturday, the Pirates failed to score on back-to-back doubles, a feat so extraordinary it might have made baseball history.

Each occasion was strikingly similar: The man on second, Freddy Sanchez one night and Adam LaRoche the next, went back to his base rather than go halfway -- or more -- down the line while seeing if the retreating outfielder would catch the ball. By the time the ball hit the outfield fence, there was no opportunity to advance beyond third.

Tracy pointed out -- correctly -- that the Pirates work on this scenario in spring training, and he said it would be raised again.

"Hopefully, the next time it shows up, if any of the individuals who were involved recognize it, they can adjust to it," Tracy said.

Yesterday was a start. The Pirates made no baserunning mistakes and, in fact, had one excellent exhibition in the fourth inning when Xavier Nady deftly slid around Los Angeles catcher Russell Martin to get the tip of his right foot on the plate.

Power wasted

Each of the Pirates' home run leaders -- Jason Bay with 10, Nady with eight -- bats from the right side, which could lead one to wonder how much more proficient each could be if his home field were not PNC Park with its mammoth left-center gap.

Six of Bay's home runs have come on the road, and two of his three on this homestand have gone to the opposite field. Six of Nady's home runs have come on the road, and he had to crush one 420 feet to center Saturday to get one out.

Bay probably will wind up with 30, anyway. But Nady? He had 14 home runs in the first half of last season with the New York Mets, then three after being traded to the Pirates, all away from PNC Park.

Asked if he feels a need to alter his approach at home, Nady replied, "Not necessarily. I came from San Diego, too, where it was a pretty big park. And I'm probably at my best when going the other way, anyway. It's much more important for me just to have good at-bats and hit the ball hard."

Buried treasure

Most of the Pirates' brass, including general manager Dave Littlefield, watched an hourlong workout for several prospects after the game. The one getting the most attention was catcher Luis Bautista, younger brother of Jose Bautista, who was tried in the outfield and behind the plate. Luis Bautista, 22, led Florida International University as a senior with a .357 average and .477 on-base percentage. He also had three home runs and 35 RBIs. Major League Baseball's draft begins Thursday.

Rajai Davis, Class AAA Indianapolis' center fielder and leadoff man, keeps working to catch management's eye. He extended his hitting streak to 21 games yesterday by hitting his fourth home run in a victory against Charlotte. For the season, he is batting .318 with a .380 on-base percentage and 27 steals in 36 tries.

After that outrageous six-week tear, Ryan Doumit is 2 for his past 24, including 0 for 4 yesterday with three swinging strikeouts.

Los Angeles closer Takashi Saito, abruptly removed in the ninth inning after a 93-mph fastball, was diagnosed with a strained left hamstring. He will not pitch in the series finale tonight.