Someone get the number of that truck...

Balls leaving the yard, bouncing off walls, rattling around in the corner, dropping in front of and behind fielders - 19 knocks and 12 runs in all. It looked like the 2008 version of Murderers Row.

Except it was the Pirates, not the Yankees, doing all the damage. It was like the Bucs were channeling the Lumber Company.

Tom Gorzelanny staggered at the game's beginning and Frankie Osoria at its end. But in between, it was all Pittsburgh. As the Gunner would have said last time New York was in town "We had 'em all the way!"

The bats thundered, 38,000 fans roared, and it was, for once, a good night for baseball in Pittsburgh.

Just one question - what bit of blackmail does Osoria lord over John Russell? Give the guy a day or three off. Heck, even Sean Burnett should be able to hold a nine run lead for an inning.

On the minor league front: At Altoona, LHP Dave Davidson (3.18 ERA) threw 2-2/3 perfect innings of relief with 5 strikeouts, and has been pitching pretty well after a slow start.

1B Jason Delaney went 3 for 4 with a double, upping his average to .290. CF Chris Duffy went 2 for 3 with a double, walk and steal. That's more like what they expect from him.

> Calvin Anderson, draft pick from Southern, hit his second home run and went 2 for 4 with a double and two RBIs. He's off to flying start, hitting .429 at State College.

On the high school front: Here's where some of the area's better players are headed, with more in a later post:

> Jordan Jankowski, RHP/1B, Peters Twp. - He signed with Miami (Ohio), but also was drafted in 34th round by the Houston Astros.

> Cory Mazzoni, RHP/1B, Seneca Valley - He signed with North Carolina State, and was drafted in 26th round by the Washington Nationals.

> Zak Sinclair, RHP, West Allegheny - He also signed with N.C. State, and was drafted by the Boston Red Sox in 34th round.

> Scott McGough, SS, Plum - He's a 46th-round draft pick of Pirates, but has signed to play at the University of Oregon. McGough also pitches.

> Jim Rider, SS, Peters Twp. - He'll play next season at Kent State.

> Matt Devine, P/SS, Springdale - He'll play next season at VMI.

> Derrik Zeroski, SS/P, West Allegheny - He's headed to Duquesne.