The game: Or was it the sideshow? While most people at Legends Field seemed more interested in actor Billy Crystal's cameo appearance as the New York Yankee designated hitter yesterday, the Pirates beat the Yankees, 5-3.

Pirates starter Paul Maholm pitched four innings, allowing just one hit and throwing only 46 pitches.

"I finally got my breaking balls to where I could throw them for first-pitch strikes," Maholm said. "That was encouraging for me. And to go through that Hall of Fame lineup was a confidence boost for me and something to build on."

"He threw the ball very well," manager John Russell said. "It was a quality outing. He's starting to show the kind of pitcher he can be. It's coming together for him."

Nyjer Morgan and Nate McLouth, battling for the regular center field job, both started the game, with Morgan in center field and McLouth in right. Not to read anything into that.

"Just trying to get them at-bats," Russell said. "There will be times when they'll both be in there. Sometimes Nate will be in center and Nyjer will be in left or right."

Morgan went 1 for 5. His bunt hit helped start a four-run eighth inning that decided the game. McLouth went 1 for 3. He had his fifth double in the past three games in the seventh inning and scored on Jason Bay's single.

Byung-Hyun Kim, trying to win a bullpen job, didn't help himself by allowing two home runs and three runs in the seventh inning. The right-hander has yielded three home runs in his two spring innings.

Not-so-instant replay: Shortstop Jack Wilson sees a difference in Zach Duke's stuff this spring compared to his stuff of the previous two springs.

"He's a lot sharper -- more crisp," Wilson said. "He's much more like he was when he came up in 2005."

You'll recall that as a rookie in '05 Duke was 8-2 with a 1.81 earned run average in 14 starts.

Battle lines: In the "competition" for a Yankee designated hitter job, Crystal went 0 for 1. Johnny Damon, who replaced Crystal in the third inning, was 0 for 3.

Meanwhile, left-hander Sean Burnett seems highly focused on winning a spot in the Pirates' bullpen. He has retired the past nine batters he has faced.

"He looks like he's on a serious mission to make an impression," Russell said. "He's taking advantage of every opportunity he's getting."

Fun in the sun: Pirates third base coach Tony Beasley walked out of the McKechnie Field early yesterday morning with the sun just peaking above the horizon. He mentioned to a bystander that it was "a beautiful morning."

Then Beasley sang a rich baritone rendition of the opening lines of "Oh What a Beautiful Morning" from the musical "Oklahoma" before heading to the field to work with Brian Bixler on a shortstop drill.

Trent Jewett, who managed Beasley at Class AAA Calgary in 1997, said the former infielder sang the Canadian and American national anthems before a game that season.

"Pretty good," Jewett said. "The best dual anthem singing I've ever heard."

Today: The Pirates play Cincinnati in Bradenton in one of two games. Matt Morris is scheduled to start against Cincinnati's Josh Fogg. In Fort Myers, Ty Taubenheim will start against Minnesota's Boof Bonser. Evan Meek, a Rule Five pick from Tampa Bay, is among those also expected to pitch against the Reds. Bryan Bullington and John Van Benschoten are on the list to work against the Twins.

Camp roster: The Pirates have 50 players in camp, including 26 pitchers, 4 catchers, 12 infielders and 8 outfielders.

Countdown to Atlanta: 17