The Pirates did find outside pitching help, as expected, but it was not for the ailing rotation.

Instead, general manager Neal Huntington added another power arm to the bullpen by acquiring Denny Bautista from Detroit for Class A reliever Kyle Pearson. Bautista, a 27-year-old right-hander, was designated for assignment Friday after posting a 3.02 ERA, 10 strikeouts, 14 walks and 15 hits in 16 appearances for the Tigers.

---

Minor-league report

Wednesday's games

INDIANAPOLIS (39-41) beat Buffalo, 5-0. RHP Bryan Bullington (4-6, 5.22) pitched 6 1/3 scoreless innings and allowed one hit. He struck out three, walked three and threw 47 of 82 pitches for strikes. RHP Jesse Chavez (3.80) and RHP Marino Salas (2.93) pitched scoreless, hitless relief the rest of the way. RF Steve Pearce (.270) hit his 10th and 11th home runs and went 3 for 4. 3B Neil Walker (.223) hit his 12th home run and went 1 for 4. CF Andrew McCutchen (.281) went 0 for 2.

ALTOONA (34-42) lost at Binghamton, 5-2. RHP Luis Munoz (1-1, 7.04) allowed five runs and six hits in two-thirds of an inning. He struck out, walked. CF Chris Duffy (.313) went 2 for 4 with a double. RF Brad Corley (.298) went 2 for 4.

LYNCHBURG (31-45) was off.

HICKORY (33-44) lost at Asheville, 2-1. RHP Duke Welker (1-4, 4.59) pitched 5 2/3 scoreless innings and allowed five hits. 1B Miles Durham (.348) went 2 for 5 with two doubles.

STATE COLLEGE (2-6) lost at Williamsport, 7-3. RHP Maurice Bankston (0-1, 1.17) pitched four scoreless innings and allowed one hit. 3B Matt Hague (.333) went 2 for 4.

BRADENTON (2-3) was off.

---

Bautista will join the team today, at which point another reliever will be removed from the 25-man roster. If that choice is either Sean Burnett or Franquelis Osoria, the Pirates risk losing the pitcher. Burnett can declare free agency the next time the Pirates designate him, and Osoria is out of options, so he would have to clear waivers. T.J. Beam is a candidate to be optioned back.

As for who will start tomorrow and Saturday in place of Ian Snell and Phil Dumatrait: Jimmy Barthmaier will be summoned from Class AAA Indianapolis for the start tomorrow, according to one source, and John Van Benschoten is the favorite to pitch Saturday.

Huntington did not rule out Van Benschoten, even though he made a four-inning start for Class AAA Indianapolis Tuesday. The primary reason Van Benschoten was lifted so early -- in addition to three runs, eight hits and concern about a lingering stiff shoulder -- was so that he would be an option.

Barthmaier, 24, was a former top prospect with Houston, and Huntington claimed him off waivers from the Astros in November. He opened the season with Class AA Altoona and did not fare well, going 2-4 with a 4.86 ERA, but he seized a chance with a spot start for Indianapolis and stuck with that rotation to go 2-1 with a 2.84 ERA in five appearances. He struck out 29, walked six and held opponents to a .205 average.

It will mark Barthmaier's major league debut, as he never pitched above Class AA until last month.

Bautista likened to Yates

An American League scout last night described Bautista as a "Tyler Yates type of guy," and that seems true in more ways than one.

For one, his fastball has been clocked as high as 99 mph, and he has a changeup and curveball, too.

"We had a chance to get a guy with very good stuff, and that's something we don't have a lot of," Huntington said.

For another, Bautista was crowded off a roster. Detroit had Joel Zumaya and Fernando Rodney return from injuries and everyone else pitching well.

The other common trait Bautista shares with Yates, though, is arriving with a reputation for wildness: He has 69 walks in 134 2/3 career innings, to go with 87 strikeouts and a 6.42 ERA over five major league seasons.

Also, Bautista missed a month -- early May to early this month -- with right shoulder tendinitis.

"We had that checked, and we saw him pitch twice since then with his usual velocity, so we're satisfied he's fine," Huntington said.

Bautista will pitch in long relief, Huntington said, though he could add responsibility depending on performance.

Thompson gone

To clear space on the 40-man roster, Indianapolis outfielder Kevin Thompson was unconditionally released, one day after having surgery to address a torn tendon and fractured hamate bone in his left hand.

The Pirates must pay the rest of his minor league salary, roughly $50,000.

Buried treasure

• Right-handed starter Justin Wilson, the Pirates' fifth-round draft pick, led his Fresno State University team to the College World Series title last night with eight strong innings in a 6-1 victory against Georgia in Omaha, Neb. He allowed one run and five hits, struck out nine and walked one. The Pirates had been waiting until after the series to begin serious contract talks.

• Right fielder Xavier Nady took another healthy round of batting practice but was limited to pinch-hitting availability out of caution. He could return tonight, manager John Russell said.

• Snell did his first light throwing since having the arthrogram on his elbow Monday and pronounced it fine but, though the team has not formally declared it, he will not pitch until next week at the soonest.

• Bautista is making $395,000 and is not eligible for salary arbitration until 2010.

• Pearson, 23, had a combined 6.85 ERA in 16 appearances between Altoona and Class A Lynchburg.