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Monday, June 09, 2003

By Paul Meyer, Post-Gazette Sports Writer

Pirates vs. Blue Jays, 7:05 p.m. tomorrow, SkyDome, Toronto. TV, radio: Fox Sports Net; KDKA-AM (1020) and the Pirates Radio Network.

Brothers Brian and Marcus Giles were open during the Pirates-Braves series about their desire to play on the same team somewhere. "He'll have to call the shots because I can't," said Marcus Giles, an Atlanta 2B who is seven years Brian's junior. Brian Giles, the Pirates' LF, can be a free agent after the 2005 season. "[The Braves are] always winning, so it's nice," he said. "Everybody wants to play with their brother. I have a couple more years left on my contract. Then I'll be able to call my own shots. Hopefully [playing with my brother will] happen." Said Pirates General Manager Dave Littlefield: "Certainly we all can understand why Brian wants to play with his brother. We're open-minded to a lot of different things, but we're not looking to trade Brian." Will the Pirates re-sign Brian Giles before or when his contract expires? "We really haven't looked at that," Littlefield said. "We'll consider that when we get closer."

Littlefield also dealt with speculation that CF Kenny Lofton could be traded -- perhaps to Philadelphia -- before the end of this season. "Naturally, when players are doing well, they're going to get attention," Littlefield said. "And at this time of the season, you're starting to get separation in the division between the haves and the have-nots. The teams that are up there are looking at teams that are not to see who's available. Kenny's done a great job for us so far. We're very pleased. At the same time, we're always trying to get better at the major-league level."

Littlefield said negotiations between the Pirates and first-round draft pick Paul Maholm have begun. Maholm, the LHP from Mississippi State who was the eighth pick overall last week, is represented by Nashville-based Bo McKinnis. "I've done some dealings with Bo in the past," Littlefield said. "He's a reasonable guy. Things have been positive so far. We've exchanged ideas, and we've made an offer. I'm optimistic, but it's early in the negotiations."

One draft pick who has signed is RHP Wardell Starling, the Pirates' fourth-round selection in the 2002 draft. Starling, drafted out of high school in Missouri City, Texas, opted to play a season of junior-college baseball, then signed just before this year's draft. Starling wowed the Pirates during a workout in Houston last August. "He has an outstanding fastball," Pirates Manager Lloyd McClendon said. "He reminded me of [former Oakland standout] Dave Stewart -- only a little taller and stronger. He threw his fastball 93, 95 miles an hour effortlessly out of his hand. And he's a very delightful young man." Delightful? "Well," McClendon said, laughing, "a very polite young man -- with a 95-mile-an-hour fastball." Littlefield said Starling is in Bradenton, Fla., going through a minicamp with players who will be assigned either to Bradenton of the Gulf Coast Rookie League or Williamsport of the New York-Penn League. It's probable Starling will begin his professional career with Williamsport.

Kip Wells, who recently missed two weeks because of a blister on his right middle finger, had a bit of trouble with another blister during his start Saturday night. "It's nothing major," Wells said. "It's not even the same thing." McClendon thinks Wells will be able to make his next start Friday night against Tampa Bay. "[The blister] doesn't look bad," he said. "With the extra day [today is an off day], he should be fine -- if it doesn't get any worse. It's something we've got to watch."

With Aramis Ramirez extending his career-best hitting streak to 20 games yesterday, the Pirates have two players with 20-game hitting streaks in the same season for the first time in 26 years. Lofton had a 26-game hitting streak, which ended May 30. In 1977, Dave Parker had two 22-game hitting streaks and Rennie Stennett had a 20-game streak.

NASHVILLE (33-27) split a doubleheader with Fresno, winning 3-2 and losing 5-4. Starter Nelson Figueroa (6-3) allowed six hits, a walk and two runs in 5 1/3 innings in the first game. Mark Corey, who has a 4.68 ERA, got his 17th save. SS Thomas De La Rosa had two hits and scored a run. CF Tike Redman had a hit, scored a run and stole his 25th base. In the second game, starter Dave Williams, making his first appearance of the season, allowed four hits, no walks and an unearned run in two innings. He threw 41 pitches. 3B Mike Gulan had two hits and an RBI. RF J.J. Davis had two hits and two RBIs.

ALTOONA (29-29) beat Harrisburg, 6-1. Starter Sean Burnett (6-2), who has a 2.10 ERA, allowed seven hits, no walks and an unearned run in seven innings. CF Chris Duffy, hitting .237, had three hits and two RBIs. 1B Chan Perry, batting .342, had three hits and scored three runs. RF Shawn Garrett had two hits. LF Brett Roneberg had two hits and two RBIs.

LYNCHBURG (31-25) split a doubleheader at Salem, losing 5-2 and winning 9-4. Starter Bryan Bullington (1-2) allowed seven hits, two walks and three earned runs in five innings in the first game. LF Nathan McLouth, hitting .330, had three hits, including two doubles, and scored a run. 1B Chris Shelton had two hits, including his 12th home run and two RBIs.. In the second game, starter Jason Sharber allowed seven hits, three walks and four runs in four innings. Shelton hit his 13th home run. 1B Walter Young had four singles, raising his batting average to .248, an RBI and three runs scored. 3B Yurendell DeCaster had two hits and three RBIs.

HICKORY (37-22) lost at Charleston, S.C., 4-1, in a game shortened to 4 1/2 innings because of rain. Starter Josh Shortslef (0-5) allowed six hits, a walk and three runs in 3 2/3 innings. LF Jorge Cortes had a double and an RBI.