Pirates notes

By MIKE HENRY
mhenry@bradenton.com

BRADENTON -- Pirates second baseman Freddy Sanchez is getting closer to starting a game in the field, but there is no definite date for his first appearance.
The 2006 National League batting champion, who underwent minor arthroscopic surgery on his right shoulder in September, is batting .391 (9-for-23) as a designated hitter.
"Hopefully it will be in another few days, but there is no timetable. It's just a matter of when it starts feeling better," said Sanchez, who is on a concentrated throwing program.
"I'd like to have a couple weeks before (the regular season), but that's not the main goal. I'd rather wait than rush it."

Wild day at McKechnie: Today's windy weather probably contributed to the five-homer total in the Twins' 8-4 victory against the Pirates.
Craig Monroe and Jason Kubel homered on back-to-back pitches off Matt Morris in the top of the third. Adam LaRoche and Ryan Doumit went back-to-back off Minnesota reliever Brian Duensing in the fourth.
Jon Knott hit a Twins homer off Jaret Wright in the seventh.

Up next: The Pirates travel to Lakeland on Sunday to play the Tigers in a 1:05 p.m. game. Phil Dumatrait is scheduled to start for Pittsburgh against Nate Robertson. Jesse Chavez, Damaso Marte, Mike Thompson, Dave Davidson and John Grabow are also expected to pitch for Pittsburgh.

Great show: Despite chilly, blustery weather, a few hundred fans participated in the third annual Champs Sports PirateFest in front of McKechnie Field.
Pirates players signed autographs and were available for photographs. The Crewe of Hernando DeSoto and Smokey the Bear were on hand, and the festivities included a classic Corvette display and prize drawings.
Author John McCollister was on hand to sign his new book The Good, The Bad, & The Ugly: Heart-Pounding, Jaw-Dropping and Gut-Wrenching Moments from Pittsburgh Pirates History. It is published by Triumph Books.

Streaking, slumping: Pirates left fielder Jason Bay is down to .176 (3-for-17) after going 0-for-2. First baseman Adam LaRoche blasted a two-run home run and is batting .400 (6-for-15) with two homers.