Is the uh-oh factor in play with Xavier Nady again?

He sounded adamant yesterday that it is not, despite missing a second game to inflammation above his left ankle, the result of an apparently minor muscle or tendon injury.

"I'll be all right," the Pirates' right fielder said. "It's kept me from doing some things, but I'll just have to play through it."

The injury happened June 1 in St. Louis, though Nady is not sure exactly how. Originally, he thought it was a simple shin splint, but the pain never subsided.

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Minor-league report

Sunday's games

INDIANAPOLIS (31-34) beat Louisville, 9-7. RHP Luis Munoz (3-2, 5.29) allowed three runs and eight hits in 5 2/3 innings. 3B Neil Walker (.237) hit his eighth and ninth home runs, including a three-run shot that broke a 6-6 tie in the ninth. He went 2 for 5 with four RBIs. SS Brian Bixler (.196) hit his second home run and went 2 for 5 with two RBIs. C Ronny Paulino (.700) went 2 for 5 with a double. LF Andrew McCutchen (.287) went 1 for 2 with an RBI. RF Steve Pearce (.253) went 1 for 5 with a double.

ALTOONA (26-34) beat Connecticut, 13-4. LHP Corey Hamman (3-5, 3.83) allowed two runs and five hits in 5 2/3 innings. 2B Shelby Ford (.365) went 5 for 6 with a double, triple, an RBI and a steal. 1B Jason Delaney (.293) went 1 for 3 with a triple, two walks and an RBI.

LYNCHBURG (25-38) won at Salem, 8-3. RHP Mike Crotta (5-4, 4.84) allowed one run and two hits in 6 2/3 innings. He struck out four, walked none and got 11 groundouts. LF Eddie Prasch (.314) went 3 for 4 with two doubles, a walk and an RBI.

HICKORY (28-36) lost at Augusta, 2-1. RHP Brad Lincoln (3-2, 2.30) allowed two runs and nine hits in five innings. He struck out four, walked none and got nine groundouts. LHP Mike Felix (3.54) pitched three scoreless innings of relief. C Andrew Walker (.254) went 2 for 4.

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Yesterday, he had the area wrapped in heavy ice, but he walked without a limp once it was off. He could have played yesterday, by all accounts, and asked manager John Russell to do so. But Russell ruled against it.

"He's having such a good year that we don't want it to be a situation where it gets out of control and keeps him out for a while," Russell said.

Previously this season, Nady has had troubles with his groin and hamstring, also on the left side, but it is unclear if any of that is related. Last year, he missed about a quarter of the season to a variety of unrelated ailments and mishaps, with a strained hamstring most prominent among them.

He is batting .320 with nine home runs and 45 RBIs, which might explain why he is loath to miss any time.

"Believe me, I want to be out there," he said.

Bautista the man again

Russell strongly indicated that Jose Bautista, who made his eighth start in nine games yesterday -- and again performed well with an RBI double and good defense -- is back to being the regular third baseman again. Bautista and Doug Mientkiewicz were in a platoon much of May.

"He's been swinging the bat better and playing better defense than he had been," Russell said of Bautista. "That doesn't mean we won't get Dougie out there, but Jose's doing what he's supposed to be doing. He's working very hard."

Beam on horizon?

Bryan Bullington still has not pitched since being recalled May 29, largely the result of the starters faring much better of late and the lack of a need for long relief.

The Pirates might already have brought back Marino Salas to replace him, except that Salas has struggled with Class AAA Indianapolis since he and Bullington switched places. The other top relief candidate for a promotion, T.J. Beam, would need to be added to a full 40-man roster. Beam, an offseason acquisition, has allowed one earned run in his past 19 1/3 innings. Overall, his ERA is 1.72, with 38 strikeouts in 36 2/3 innings.

Buried treasure

• Outfielder Jason Michaels, who has flashed his temper a few times in his brief time with the Pirates, was ejected in the fourth inning for arguing a strike called by home plate umpire Jerry Meals. Replays indicated the pitch was a strike.

• That action hurt the Pirates in more ways than one: Mientkiewicz replaced Michaels for just his third career appearance in right field, so that Nady could stay out. If needed, Bautista could have moved to the outfield.

• The Pirates' 41st and 42nd choices in the draft last week, catcher Christopher Simmons and outfielder Cole White, were from the United States Military Academy at West Point, N.Y. General manager Neal Huntington said that, if the Pirates were to sign either, they would have to negotiate their release with the federal government.