Officially, the Pirates' Ryan Doumit and Ronny Paulino remain a "tandem," as the team has taken to describing its catching situation.

On the statistics sheet, too, there is no more than modest separation in most metrics, offensively and defensively.

How, then, to explain why Doumit has started 14 of 22 games and has twice as many at-bats?

Manager John Russell points to the lineup card.

"Right now, Doumit's hitting in the No. 4 hole, and he's having very good success there," Russell said. "Now, you look at it, and Ronny's doing well, too. But Ryan gives you that added dimension of being able to hit fourth, with some power, and he's come up with some very big hits for us. I like the makeup of the lineup when he's in there."

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Minor-league report

Thursday's results

INDIANAPOLIS (12-9)lost to Louisville, 6-4. RHP Jason Davis (1-2, 4.50) allowed two runs and four hits in five innings. LHP Sean Burnett (1.50) allowed a run on three hits, including a home run, in an inning of relief. He struck out one. RHP Marino Salas (0.63) pitched 1 2/3 scoreless innings and struck out one. RF Steve Pearce (.253) went 2 for 4. 3B Neil Walker (.167) went 1 for 4 with a walk. CF Andrew McCutchen (.272) went 1 for 5.

ALTOONA (10-10)won at Erie, 8-3. RHP Josh Hill (2-1, 2.91) allowed two runs and three hits in six innings. CF James Boone (.329) went 2 for 4 with a walk and an RBI.

LYNCHBURG (8-12)won at Kinston, 7-5. LHP Brian Holliday (1-0, 1.37) allowed two unearned runs and five hits in four-plus innings. DH Steve Lerud (.234) hit his third home run and went 1 for 4.

HICKORY (10-11)lost to Augusta, 4-2. RHP Rafael Delossantos (1-1, 4.05) allowed four runs and seven hits in six innings. C Andrew Walker (.320) went 1 for 4 with a double and an RBI.

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Doumit batted cleanup last night for the seventh time, including the past three games, presenting Russell with a far hotter option than his first choice for that spot, Adam LaRoche. Paulino has been used only at Nos. 6-8 in the order.

The offensive breakdown of the catchers: Doumit is batting .344 with four home runs and eight RBIs in 61 at-bats, Paulino .290 with no home runs and seven RBIs in 31 at-bats.

Defensively, Doumit has two errors, Paulino none, but they otherwise are similar: Doumit has caught 2 of 6 runners trying to steal, Paulino 3 of 10. Doumit's pitchers have a 5.47 ERA, Paulino's a 5.88 ERA.

It is behind the plate where the Pirates' staff, especially bullpen coach and catching instructor Luis Dorante, has placed the most focus with Doumit. And, to hear Russell, a former catcher, tell it, there has been marked improvement in the greatest area of concern -- Doumit's receiving -- since minicamp in January.

"I think he's come a million miles," Russell said. "He hasn't caught a lot in his career, and there are things he's going to continue to pick up. But he's doing that. He's come along with each game. The bottom line is that you really don't notice him much anymore. And that's good."

And the throwing?

"That'll be the last thing that comes. But the arm is definitely there."

The Pirates, last in Major League Baseball in attendance, announced a plan to sell what it is calling "loaded" tickets for select seats.

Any $16 ticket purchased for the Pirates Cove, a 600-seat section above right field, comes with a $5 extra value that can be applied to concessions and merchandise by having its bar code scanned at the point of purchase. Bleacher tickets and group tickets can have value added, too, but only if bought.

Team president Frank Coonelly said the program eventually will expand to all tickets, with a goal of providing purchasing flexibility and convenience for customers.

• Zach Duke, the Pirates' starter tonight, has failed to strike out anyone in his past two outings, after striking out seven batters in the first two. But Russell was adamant his stuff was little changed: "I haven't seen anybody hitting him hard. The hits are finding holes. I think he's been throwing just fine."

• Danny Moskos, the first-round draft pick last summer, is 2-0 with a 3.48 ERA in three starts with Class A Lynchburg. He is averaging a hit per inning but, on the brighter side, has 13 strikeouts to four walks. "Moskos has thrown the ball well," director of player development Kyle Stark said. His fastball peaked at 93 mph in his most recent outing and averages 90 mph.

• Russell, on the seemingly never-ending extra work the players do early each afternoon: "We've said all along that we weren't going to stop with spring training. This is an ongoing process, all six months."