NEW YORK --The oddity of the Pirates visiting Yankee Stadium for the second time in the past three years, while the Yankees have not been to Pittsburgh since 1960, apparently was not lost on New York manager Joe Torre.

MINOR-LEAGUE REPORT Friday's results INDIANAPOLIS (37-23) lost to Rochester, 3-0. RHP John Van Benschoten (6-4, 2.73) allowed three runs, two earned, and four hits in four innings. He struck out four, walked three and ran up a pitch count of 82. RHP Brian Rogers (2.77) pitched three scoreless innings of relief. RHP Dan Kolb (2.45) pitched a perfect ninth. 1B Yurendell DeCaster (.337) went 2 for 4 with a double. ALTOONA (29-28) won at Harrisburg, 6-3. RHP Kip Bouknight (6-2, 3.39) allowed three runs in seven innings. 3B Neil Walker (.299) went 1 for 4 with a walk and a steal. CF Andrew McCutchen (.226) went 1 for 5. LYNCHBURG (28-30) lost to Salem, 11-1. RHP Henry Cabrera (0-1, 12.00) allowed four runs and six hits in three innings. LF Jonel Pacheco (.500), promoted earlier in the day from low Class A Hickory, went 2 for 4. HICKORY (23-35) lost at Asheville, 10-3. RHP Basilio Alvarez (1-3, 8.50) allowed nine runs in three innings. LF Alex Presley (.263) went 4 for 4 with two RBIs. 3B Jared Keel (.283) hit his fourth home run and went 1 for 4.

"This series probably made more sense being played in Pittsburgh," Torre said before the game last night. "We probably would have helped to sell out their ballpark. This is the second time now that we've played them here. ... But I'm not the schedule-maker."

Major League Baseball makes the schedule, of course, and the one for 2008 likely will include the Yankees visiting PNC Park, though that is not official.

Torre admitted knowing little about the Pirates, whom the Yankees see only in Grapefruit League exhibitions.

"That's the extent of it," Torre said. "You watch them from time to time on TV but, to be honest, you spend more time scouting the American League. This is one reason I'm not a real fan of interleague play, because you don't know a lot about your opposition. It's uncomfortable."

He did offer a word of praise for Pirates manager Jim Tracy.

"I do know this: Mr. Tracy does a real good job of getting his players' attention," Torre said. "I've had a lot of respect for him for a long time."

Capps' ruling is delayed

No ruling will be made on Pirates closer Matt Capps' appeal of a four-game suspension until Monday or Tuesday, making him available to pitch all weekend.

"Music to my ears," Capps said.

Capps was suspended for hitting the Milwaukee Brewers' Prince Fielder with a pitch May 5. He argued then, and again yesterday in meeting with MLB vice president Bob Watson, that he did not intend to throw at Fielder.

"Thought I did pretty well," Capps said.

Clemens debut today

Roger Clemens' 2007 debut this afternoon will draw media from across the country, as well as a throbbing sellout crowd to Yankee Stadium. And that is sure to have an intangible impact on the game, given Clemens' history of feeding off such environs.

As Torre put it, "He should have an advantage, emotionally, over the other team, though you certainly don't take for granted a victory."

Ask some of the Pirates, though, and they will point out that facing Clemens eight times in the three previous years -- they were 3-5 against him while he pitched for the Houston Astros --will nullify some of that.

"This would have been a much bigger deal for us if we'd never faced him," center fielder Chris Duffy said. "I mean, it's still going to be crazy. But that makes it a little easier."

Torre said that Clemens, slowed in recent days by a sore groin, likely will go no deeper than four or five innings.

Kuwata has famous fan

Count Yankees outfielder Hideki Matsui among those pulling for the Pirates to promote reliever Masumi Kuwata from Class AAA Indianapolis.

"He's very close, I know," Matsui said in a brief and rare English-only interview yesterday.

"He's a good pitcher, friend and teammate. He will do very well."

Matsui and Kuwata were teammates for a decade on Japan's Yomiuri Giants, one the team's slugger, the other its star pitcher.

Their other difference?

"His English is much better," Matsui said, laughing.

Matsui ended the interview by saying, "When he comes to Pittsburgh, tell him I said hello."

Buried treasure

Xavier Nady, whose left hamstring was reinjured Wednesday in Washington, was cleared to be the designated hitter after an afternoon running test. He probably will remain in the role for the weekend, as Tracy deemed his hamstring "about 80 percent."

Pirates owners Bob Nutting and Kevin McClatchy are in New York for the series.

The Texas Rangers' rotation for the series next week at PNC Park -- Kevin Millwood, Kameron Loe and Robinson Tejada -- each has an ERA above 6.00.