The Pirates are expected to make a bullpen move soon, and it almost surely will involve Bryan Bullington being returned to Class AAA Indianapolis and Marino Salas coming back to Pittsburgh.

General manager Neal Huntington was in Toledo, Ohio, last night watching Indianapolis' 4-3 loss, which means he saw Salas turn in a sizzling performance, striking out all four batters he faced and throwing 13 of 17 pitches for strikes.

Huntington had wanted to bring back Salas shortly after his demotion May 29 - brought about because of a need for long relief - but Salas initially struggled. Not anymore. He has struck out all six batters he faced in his past two outings.

Meanwhile, Bullington has not pitched at all since his recall, meaning 14 days of inactivity for a pitcher who not only could be asked to pitch several innings on short notice but also someone management still considers a prospect.

As was made clear again last night, manager John Russell has been reluctant to use Bullington or Sean Burnett - who has not pitched since June 1 - in tight situations.

"It's no secret that we've been using our main bullpen guys a lot, and we just can't keep doing that," Russell said yesterday when asked about the importance of getting more innings from starters.

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Minor-league report

Wednesday's results

INDIANAPOLIS (32-35) lost at Toledo, 4-3. RHP Jason Davis (3-7, 4.91) allowed three runs, two earned, and seven hits in 6 2/3 innings. RHP Marino Salas (2.93) struck out all four batters he faced and threw 13 of 17 pitches for strikes. C Ronny Paulino (.625) went 1 for 3 with a double and a walk. RF Steve Pearce (.255) went 1 for 2 with a walk and a sacrifice bunt. CF Andrew McCutchen (.286) went 0 for 3 with a walk. 3B Neil Walker (.233) went 0 for 4 with three strikeouts.

ALTOONA (27-35) lost at New Britain, 6-5. RHP Yoslan Herrera (3-7, 3.59) allowed four runs, two earned, and six hits in 5 1/3 innings. RHP Evan Meek (3.21) allowed one run and three hits in an inning of relief. RF Brad Corley (.286) went 2 for 4 with a double and an RBI.

LYNCHBURG (27-39) won at Myrtle Beach, 5-2. LHP Tony Watson (4-7, 3.99) allowed one run and five hits in 6 1/3 innings. DH Jamie Romak (.289) went 2 for 4 with a double

HICKORY (28-38)) lost to Greenville, 5-2. RHP Rafael Delossantos (2-5, 4.69) allowed three runs and six hits in five innings. 1B Miles Durham (.331) went 3 for 4 with a double.

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The Pirates are discussing using right fielder Xavier Nady as their designated hitter for some or all of the six games they play in American League parks, beginning tomorrow in Baltimore.

Nady has been slowed by a swollen left ankle in the past week and avoiding defense would give him a rest even as it keeps the team's RBI leader in the lineup. If he is healthy enough to play in the field, Jason Michaels or Doug Mientkiewicz could be used as DH.

It also is possible that Ryan Doumit could DH when Raul Chavez spells him behind the plate.

"We like the options we have, whether going from the left or right side, or even using an everyday player like X," Russell said.

The four home runs allowed by Paul Maholm Tuesday night tied a franchise record for most by any Pirates starter, a mark shared by many.

The most recent occasion came Sept. 15, 2004, when Oliver Perez was tagged by the Chicago Cubs' Derrek Lee, Sammy Sosa, Michael Barrett and Neifi Perez in a 13-5 loss at Wrigley Field. Coincidentally, that also marked the most recent occasion of a Pirates starter giving up three home runs in one inning: Lee, Sosa and Barrett homered in consecutive at-bats in the first.

• The Pirates signed six more draft picks: 33rd-round catcher Mark Carver of the University of North Carolina-Wilmington, 34th-round third baseman Matthew Payne of North Carolina State, 38th-round reliever Allan Knotts of Louisiana Tech, 44th-round starter Michael Williams of Mount Olive College, 45th-round first baseman Allen Ponder of Auburn-Montgomery, and 49th-round starter Zachary Foster of Pitt-Bradford.

• Nearly 7,000 standing-room tickets for the three-game series against the New York Yankees June 24-26 went on sale yesterday for $8.

• If the Pirates' rotation remains in line, their starters against the Yankees will be Tom Gorzelanny, Phil Dumatrait and Zach Duke.