When Adam and Andy LaRoche manned their spots at opposite ends of PNC Park's infield last night, they made a small slice of history by becoming the eighth brother duo in the Pirates' 122 years to perform as teammates, the first since Eddie and Johnny O'Brien> shared Forbes Field for most of 1953-58.

The rest: Harry and Howie Camnitz> from the 1909 first World Series championship team, Carson and Lyle Bigbee in 1921, Johnny and Phil Morrison in 1921, Elmer and Johnny Riddle in 1948, Gene and George Freese in 1955 and, the most illustrious of all, Hall of Famers Paul and Lloyd Waner in 1927-40.

"There were that many? Really?" Adam LaRoche said. "You'd think it would be even less."

Perhaps the LaRoches have a hard time envisioning other examples simply because, until last night, they never had shared a field because of Adam being four years older.

"That's the coolest part," Andy said. "Not just to finally be on the field with him, but to have it happen in a major league uniform. Even throwing the ball over to him between innings will be just ... unbelievable."

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Minor-league report

Thursday's results

INDIANAPOLIS (59-67) was off.

ALTOONA (55-71) lost at Portland, 11-3. RHP Christian Castorri (1-3, 7.48) allowed five runs and five hits in 2 2/3 innings. 3B Jim Negrych (.263) went 1 for 3 with a walk. CF Jose Tabata (.254) went 0 for 4 with two strikeouts.

LYNCHBURG (49-74) lost to Winston-Salem, 9-3, in 10 innings. RHP Mike Crotta (8-9, 4.91) allowed three runs and 11 hits in seven innings. SS Jose De Los Santos (.212) went 1 for 3 with a triple, two walks, two RBIs and a steal.

HICKORY (46-77) beat Greensboro, 12-3. RHP Rodolfo Aguirre (1-3, 5.66) allowed three runs and five hits in six innings. RF Keanon Simon (.221) hit his second home run and went 2 for 5 with a double and two RBIs.

STATE COLLEGE (11-42)lost to Staten Island, 13-4. RHP Brian Leach (1-1, 3.64) allowed two runs and six hits in 4 2/3 innings. 1B Jeremy Farrell (.292), LF Matt Payne (.275) and 3B Chase D'Arnaud (.313) each went 2 for 5.

BRADENTON (29-15) was off.

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The two had been teammates, technically, for two weeks. But Adam was on the disabled list at the time Andy was acquired from the Los Angeles Dodgers and did not return until yesterday.

"It's one thing to see him around the clubhouse," Adam said. "This is something else."

Adam LaRoche professed to enjoy his three-game stint with Class A Hickory, but he acknowledged it was "crazy" in some ways. Like when he had to wear pants about two sizes too big, and there were no belts in the clubhouse.

How did they stay up?

"I got lucky," he said.

Manager John Russell and general manager Neal Huntington have begun discussing how to set up their starting pitching through season's end, including ensuring that Paul Maholm does not significantly exceed his career-high inning count of 177 2/3, set last year. He currently has 161, and young pitchers usually are advised against exceeding their previous limit by more than 30 or 40.

"I'm sure Paul's going to want to keep pitching every fifth day, but we'll see how it goes," Russell said.

Tom Gorzelanny and Ross Ohlendorf will be recalled from Class AAA Indianapolis for September, if not sooner, putting six starters in the mix.

Russell also suggested he might spell center fielder Nate McLouth in September. McLouth has appeared in 116 of the Pirates' 121 games, all but three of those in the starting lineup.

• Closer Matt Capps' second rehabilitation appearance with Class AA Altoona had the same result, a perfect seventh inning with two strikeouts. He will make a weekend appearance with Indianapolis, then one more with Altoona Tuesday before the next step is decided.

• Shortstop Jack Wilson was back after missing six starts to right shoulder tendinitis.

• The crowd of 35,439 last night fell just short of a sellout, despite the SkyBlast promotion and an REO Speedwagon concert. The next two nights, also SkyBlasts, are expected to sell out, and 30,000-plus are expected Sunday.

• LaRoche, on Hickory starter Bryan Morris, the top prospect acquired in the Jason Bay trade: "Kid's got great stuff. Not ready yet, obviously, but great stuff."