Zach Duke will spend a good chunk of this summer in steamy Bradenton, Fla., but that certainly beats the alternative of having to spend some time in an operating room.

	MINOR-LEAGUE REPORT Friday's results INDIANAPOLIS (48-39) lost to Norfolk, 5-1. RHP Marty McLeary (4-4, 3.31) allowed one run and five hits in six innings. He struck out three and walked five. LF Adam Boeve (.417) went 2 for 2 with two walks and a steal. ALTOONA (42-42) lost at Trenton, 3-2. LHP Josh Shortslef (2-8, 3.97) allowed three runs in 6 1/3 innings. 1B Steve Pearce (.330) and CF Andrew McCutchen (.241) each went 2 for 4, McCutchen getting an RBI. 3B Neil Walker (.298) went 1 for 4. LYNCHBURG (36-47) lost at Potomac, 6-3. RHP Clayton Hamilton (3-7, 6.36) allowed four runs in five innings. DH Jamie Romak (.258) hit his 13th home run -- eighth with the Hillcats -- and went 2 for 3 with a double and a walk. HICKORY (34-48) lost to Augusta, 9-0. RHP Dustin Craig (0-1, 4.50) allowed five runs, two earned, in four innings. RF Jonel Pacheco (.310) went 2 for 4. STATE COLLEGE (12-6) beat Williamsport, 4-2. LHP Tony Watson (3-0, 1.19) allowed two runs, one earned, in 6 2/3 innings. CF Austin McClune (.350) went 2 for 2 with an RBI and a sacrifice. BRADENTON (5-10) lost to the Twins, 5-2. RHP Rafael Delossantos (0-3, 5.40) allowed three runs, two earned, in five innings.

The Pirates' left-hander yesterday was diagnosed with irritation of the ulnar collateral ligament in his left elbow during a second-opinion visit to Dr. James Andrews, the noted orthopedist based in Birmingham, Ala.

"Any time you don't have to go under the knife, it's a good feeling," Duke said. "With everything right on plan, I'm a little less anxious."

Duke, 3-7 with a 5.79 earned run average, won't pick up a baseball for at least two more weeks.

"Nothing but rest until he's asymptomatic -- pain-free," Pirates manager Jim Tracy said.

"It will be a tough time, but I have to listen to what my arm tells me," Duke said.

Duke might not pitch for the Pirates again until almost September. When he does begin throwing again, he'll have to follow a regimented throwing program, then make at least two rehabilitation starts in the minor leagues.

Rotation completed

Tracy already had said Ian Snell and Tom Gorzelanny will start the first two games in Atlanta after the All-Star break.

Yesterday he filled out the rotation.

Paul Maholm will start the third game in Atlanta, with John Van Benschoten and Shane Youman starting against Colorado at PNC Park July 16-17.

Workout scheduled

The Pirates will work out from 5-6:30 p.m. Thursday at PNC Park , then fly to Atlanta.

Experience 'fun'

Gorzelanny didn't seem too upset with not being voted the 32nd player on the National League All-Star team. He was among four pitchers who couldn't beat San Diego's Chris Young.

"It was fun to go through that," Gorzelanny said, "but it's also good to have a few days off. I'll enjoy my little summer vacation."

Gorzelanny said he voted for himself "a couple of times."

"But I didn't really get into it," he said.

Pearce honored

Steve Pearce, who hasn't missed a beat offensively since moving from high Class A Lynchburg to Class AA Altoona two months ago, yesterday was named the Eastern League's player of the month for June. In 27 games, he hit .404 (40 of 99) with eight home runs and 34 RBIs.

Pearce also was named the player of the month for April while with Lynchburg.

Move for Spain

Robert Spain, the Pirates' 19th-round pick in June out of Oklahoma City University, is adjusting to third base after being moved from shortstop, his college position.

"He swings the bat pretty well," said Tony Beasley, the Pirates' minor-league infield coordinator. "He has good hand action, good footwork. He's still adjusting to the speed of the game. The game's a little quicker than he's seen in the past."

In his first 11 games with State College in the New York-Penn League, Spain had a .244 batting average with no home runs and three RBIs.

Baby Bobby Bo

Quincy Latimore, the Pirates' fourth-round pick from Raleigh, N.C., batted .268 with six stolen bases in seven attempts in his first 11 games with Bradenton in the Gulf Coast League.

"He's going to be a good player," Beasley said of the outfielder. "He's very athletic and looks like he's going to run really well. To me, he looks like a little baby Bobby Bonilla."

Streak extended

Lynchburg's Brad Corley extended his hitting streak to 18 games Thursday night with two hits against Salem. Corley, the Pirates' second-round pick in 2005, is hitting .403 (29 for 72) with four home runs and 17 RBIs during the streak.

Corley is tied for the Carolina League lead in RBIs with 58.