The game: Zach Duke breezed through much of Major League Baseball's finest lineup, allowing one run on six hits -- two of those infield singles -- with five strikeouts in as many innings to pace the Pirates past the Detroit Tigers, 7-4, yesterday at McKechnie Field in Bradenton, Fla.

His best work came in the second after giving up two singles and a double, then facing the heart of the Detroit order. He got Gary Sheffield to bounce into a forceout at home, Miguel Cabrera into a third-to-first double play.

Earlier, he fanned Cabrera.

"He had good command, working in and out," manager John Russell said. "It was a very nice outing for him. He's not a big strikeout guy, but he was efficient around the zone."

It was Duke's final Grapefruit League tuneup -- 3.32 ERA in six games -- though he will stay behind Sunday to pitch in a minor-league game at Pirate City.

"It's been a very nice spring for Zach," Russell said.

Duke singled in both of his plate appearances, too, including a two-out liner to center that brought two runs in the first inning.

That spotted the Pirates to a 5-0 lead off a shaky Dontrelle Willis, who would last only three-plus innings -- seven runs on eight hits and four walks -- before Jim Leyland removed him.

Adam LaRoche and Jose Bautista each had two hits and an RBI.

Today: The Pirates' Tom Gorzelanny will start against the New York Yankees' Kei Igawa, 1:15 p.m. in Tampa, Fla.

Camp roster: 27, with 13 pitchers, two catchers, seven infielders and five outfielders, including injured Chris Duffy.

Injury update: Freddy Sanchez (shoulder) had another day of light tossing, infield drills and some at-bats in a minor-league game, all with encouraging results according to Russell.

"He threw the ball fine," Russell said. "We just need to keep seeing where he is. We'll make a determination soon."

That is expected no later than tomorrow.

Battle lines: Evan Meek, one of two players still on the bubble along with fellow reliever Sean Burnett, had his wildest out of the spring yesterday in giving up two hits and three walks over two innings.

He did well, in Russell's view, to limit the Tigers to one run, especially after bases were loaded with one out in the eighth and pitching coach Jeff Andrews had just visited.

"He obviously sprayed the ball a little," Russell said. "But his damage control was good. He used both his fastball and his breaking ball to get out of it. It was a good learning experience."

Meek conceded to some serious jitters, given the apparent consequences.

"I came out all hyped up," he said. "What I like is that I didn't have my best stuff, but I battled through it."

Fun in the sun: Why were Damaso Marte and Ronny Paulino laughing after Marte's one-run, two-strikeout ninth inning?

Because both of those strikeouts came by way of a curveball, a pitch Marte had never tried before weeks ago.

"Nice, huh?" Marte said.

"It looked pretty good," Paulino said. "He wants to do better against right-handers, and I think this will help him."

Last year, left-handers batted .094 off Marte, right-handers .271.

Inside pitch: Jorge Velandia was reassigned to the minors yesterday, but his presence will live in the Pirates' infield.

Shortstop Jack Wilson, after weeks of agonizing over which glove he will use, after trying out new and old and really old, has settled for ???

"Velandia!" he said.

Velandia, a defensive whiz in the minors, loaned Wilson a glove two weeks ago, and he finally found his match.

Countdown to Atlanta: 4 days.