CHICAGO - It was suggested to first baseman Doug Mientkiewicz that the Pirates might not see another lineup all season like the Chicago nine who pulverized their pitching the past three days.

"Oh, no," he interjected quickly. "Just wait. With all due respect to the White Sox, just wait until you see what we have coming up. It's going to get a lot harder when we get home. Trust me."

Mientkiewicz, one of a handful of Pirates with American League experience, was referring to the three-game series against the Toronto Blue Jays that begins tonight at PNC Park, with the New York Yankees and suddenly formidable Tampa Bay Rays right behind them.

"There are a lot of great lineups in that league," he said. "It's a completely different dimension those teams give you, with the way their rosters are put together based on offense. Look at how Tom Gorzelanny pitched here. I thought he was very strong. Didn't matter. You fall behind those lineups, and you're going to get pounded. And that's why it's important that we attack them."

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Minor-league report

Thursday's results

INDIANAPOLIS (35-39) lost to Rochester, 9-3. RHP John Van Benschoten (7-1, 3.55) pitched three scoreless innings and allowed two hits. He exited early because of shoulder tightness and a blister, but each is considered minor. RF Craig Wilson (.222) went 2 for 4 with an RBI. CF Andrew McCutchen (.289) went 2 for 4 with a walk. 3B Neil Walker (.229) went 1 for 4 with a double. Steve Pearce (.251) went 0 for 4.

ALTOONA (30-41) lost to Reading, 4-3. LHP Corey Hamman (3-6, 3.59) allowed one run and four hits in six innings. LHP Dave Davidson (3.38) pitched two scoreless innings of relief. CF Chris Duffy (.250) went 1 for 3 with a double.

LYNCHBURG (29-44) lost at Kinston, 13-8. RHP Mike Crotta (6-5, 5.88) allowed 10 runs and seven hits in one inning plus 10 batters in the second. 3B Jim Negrych (.357) went 2 for 3 with two walks. DH Jared Keel (.224) hit his eighth home run and went 2 for 4 with three RBIs.

HICKORY (30-41) lost at Greenville, 11-6. RHP Brad Clapp (0-6, 4.37) allowed four runs and seven hits in five innings. C Andrew Walker (.265) went 2 for 5.

STATE COLLEGE (0-2) lost to Jamestown, 6-3. LHP Rudy Owens (0-1, 6.75) allowed three runs and five hits in four innings. DH Calvin Anderson (.444) went 1 for 4 with a double.

BRADENTON (0-1) lost to the Twins, 3-2, to open its Gulf Coast League season. RHP Gabriel Alvarado (0-0, 0.00) allowed one unearned run and two hits in three innings. C Miguel Mendez (.600) went 3 for 5 with a double.

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With the arms and bats, Mientkiewicz stressed.

"We as hitters have got to keep banging, and I mean non-stop. We're going to need a lot of runs."

So far, that is about all the Pirates have done right in interleague play, having gone 1-5 despite scoring a healthy 33 runs with 10 home runs.

The pitching?

Try this for 49 innings: 58 runs, 76 hits, 16 home runs and 28 walks.

Also, the Pirates now have lost 15 of their past 17 games in American League parks.

Doumit still uncertain

Catcher Ryan Doumit, who missed a second game to a slight concussion, had a light workout - some running and stretching -- and might be able to play tonight. If not, a return this weekend is highly likely.

"We'll have to see how he feels," manager John Russell said. "We're going to stay cautious."

Mientkiewicz's highlight

Leave it to Mientkiewicz to risk serious injury on defense with his team down, 13-7, in the seventh inning.

That is exactly what he did when he pursued Brian Anderson's popup by sprinting toward a camera well near the Chicago dugout, colliding with the railing, catching the ball and hanging on even as he flipped over.

"I'm fine," he said. "And I ended up on my feet."

Buried treasure

• The Pirates traded minor league reliever Jonah Bayliss to the Blue Jays for a player to be named. Bayliss, 26, had a 6.00 ERA in 28 appearances with Class AAA Indianapolis after spending parts of the previous two seasons in Pittsburgh.

• The Rays agreed to terms with their No. 1 overall draft pick, shortstop Tim Beckham, with a $6.1 million signing bonus. Having No. 1 get signed usually helps the rest of the first round fall in line, but there is no indication that will be the case with the Pirates and the No. 2 overall pick, third baseman Pedro Alvarez. The sides remain in talks, but no word is emerging from either camp.

• Freddy Sanchez's second-inning home run marked the season-high ninth consecutive game in which the Pirates have gone deep. He also had an RBI single for his most productive game in two weeks.

• White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen told reporters about an email he received after his team's 16-5 rout in the series opener: "This Cubs fan wrote to me and said, 'Big deal. You beat the Pirates.' I was, like, 'Wait a minute. Every time I look on the scoreboard, the Cubs are playing the Pirates. I think they play them every other day."