Zach Duke is off to another fine start. He won't blow anyone away. But hopefully he is learning how to pitch to the weaknesses of his hitters and keep them off balance. Whatever gets you through the night. Apologies to John Lennon.

That sound you hear? It could be the bubble bursting. I'm not saying that I've lost hope. But the thought entered my mind that the two game winning streak that opened the season might be the longest winning streak of April.

Altoona Curve �6, �Harrisburg Senators 1 (box)

Starter Jared Hughes earned his first win of the season with 5 solid innings of work for the Curve tonight. �Hughes retired the first 11 Senators he faced, before giving up a solo home run to CF Leonard Davis in the 4th inning. �That was the only run he would allow. �Hughes allowed a single after the home run, but left that runner stranded. �In the 5th, the first three Senators reached base on three consecutive singles. �But Hughes calmly struck out the next two batters, then got a force out at second base to end the inning without a run scoring.

The Curve got onto the scoreboard in the bottom of the 3rd inning. �With two outs, CF Gorkys Hernandez and SS Chase d'Arnaud hit back-to-back singles. �3B Jordy Mercer followed with a line drive into left field for a 2-RBI double. �Hernandez and d'Arnaud contributed to the Curve's 3-run 4th inning also. �C Hector Gimenez opened the inning with a single, and advanced to third base when CF Davis misplayed the ball. �A walk to 2B Josh Harrison put runners on the corners for 1B Matt Hague. �Hague's sacrifice fly plated Gimenez. �LF Alex Presley and Hernandez both singled, with Hernandez's bringing in Harrison. �D'Arnaud added a double to bring Presley home with the third run of the inning, giving the Curve a 5-1 lead. �Mercer scored the final Curve run in the 7th, when he led off with a single and stole second base. �He advanced to third base on a ground out, then scored on Harrison's RBI single up the middle.

The Curve bullpen wrapped up the game with four scoreless innings. �Tony Watson pitched the 6th and 7th innings, giving up only one walk, while striking out 2 batters. �Dustin Molleken pitched a 1-2-3 inning in the 8th. �Jeff Sues loaded the bases with two outs on two walks and a single in the 9th inning, but got the necessary grounder to short to end the inning without a run scoring.

Indianapolis Indians 14, �Columbus Clippers 12 (box)

It was another slugfest at Huntington Park in Columbus, Ohio, but at least tonight it was not one-sided. �The two teams combined for 31 hits and 26 runs, and the Indians held on for the win. �After having posted 4 home runs last night, the Clippers put up 5 more home runs tonight. �The Indians homered only once last night, but added 4 homers tonight including two home runs by 3B Pedro Alvarez.

After a "boring" top of the 1st, in which CF Jose Tabata led off with a double and RF Brian Myrow walked, but were both stranded on base, there was at least one run scored in each of the next 10 half innings.

Columbus got started in the bottom of the 1st with back-to-back doubles by 2B Jason Donald and C Carlos Santana, then a 2-run homer by DH Shelley Duncan. �Santana, who homered twice yesterday, nearly had another homer here, but the ball bounced off the top of the wall in right-center field and fell back onto the playing field. �After Duncan's homer, Brad Lincoln gave up a walk, then an infield single to 3B Brian Buscher that bounced off either Lincoln's glove or the mound itself, and headed over toward second base, where it came to rest in the grass out of everyone's reach. �SS Anderson Hernandez followed with a line drive to left field. �Tribe LF Jon Van Every raced in and made a dive, but the ball hit his glove and popped out, making Van Every chase it down. �It was ruled a single, and the bases were loaded. �At that point, new Indians' batting coach Dean Traynor made a visit to Lincoln on the mound. �After a brief chat, Lincoln got RF Chris Gimenez to chop a high bounce to the first base side of the mound. �Lincoln made the quick hop to his left and the leap to snag the ball, then fired to C Erik Kratz, who turned and made the throw to first for a 1-2-3 double play. �Clippers ahead, 3-0.

It was Kratz who put the Indians right back into it in the top of the 2nd. �DH Neil Walker led off with a single slipped through the right side of the infield, and Kratz launched the first pitch he saw on a rising line drive over the left field wall to make the score 3-2. �Not to be outdone, the Clippers came right back in the bottom of the inning, with a lead-off home run by CF Jose Constanza. �Jason Donald doubled, and when he went to steal third base, Kratz's throw went sailing past 3B Pedro Alvarez, allowing Donald plenty of time to come home. �Clippers up 5-2.

Bradenton Marauders 18, �Fort Myers Miracle 3 (box)

The Marauders began their inaugural season in the Florida State League with a hit-a-thon, as they posted 16 hits on their was to 18 runs. �Two 7-run innings took care of most of the scoring and sent the Ft. Myers' pitching staff scrambling. �Each member of the Bradenton lineup except one had at least one hit, and most had two hits. �1B Calvin Anderson did not have a hit, but he walked twice and came around to score. �LF Quincy Latimore went 3-for-3 with a solo home run and two RBI singles. �RF Robbie Grossman had a 3-run homer, and 3B Jeremy Farrell contributed 7 RBI with a 3-run homer in the 7th inning and a grand slam in the 4th. �CF Starling Marte singled and doubled, walked, and scored 4 times. �C Tony Sanchez had two RBI singles.

The scoring started with Latimore's homer in the bottom of the 2nd. �Singles by Latimore and Grossman, plus an error by the Miracle and a passed ball added two more runs in the 3rd. �The 7-run 4th inning followed, as the Marauders sent 11 batters to the plate. �Grossman's homer and Farrell's grand slam, plus a wild pitch with the bases loaded accounted for those 7 runs. �Marte's double and an RBI single from Sanchez tacked on a run in the 5th. �The 7th was the second 7-run inning, as the Marauders sank the Miracle with two walks, four singles, a wild pitch that allowed a run to score, and Farrell's 3-run shot.

Before we get too deep into the season, I need to post the updated 2010 win projection. I originally published this in January, but the roster has gone through several changes since that point. Adjustments must be made.

Columbus Clippers 17, �Indianapolis Indians 4 � �(box)

We were hoping for a glorious AAA debut for top Pirates' prospect 3B Pedro Alvarez. Instead, it was a glorious AAA debut for a different top prospect -- Clippers' C Carlos Santana. �Santana blasted two home runs, a double, and a single to lead the Columbus Clippers in their rout of the Indianapolis Indians at Huntington Park in Columbus, Ohio. �And the Indians' performance was anything but glorious.

It really didn't start out too badly. �Starter Kevin Hart walked two batters after two outs in the bottom of the 1st inning, but then got Santana to fly out to end the inning. �He also walked the first batter he faced in the 2nd inning, and then gave up a home run to RF Chris Gimenez. �Hart got out of the 3rd inning with a timely double play, and he had made it through 3 innings, allowing two runs on two hits, throwing 66 pitches, 35 for strikes. �It was the 66th pitch, though, that got him into trouble.

After two quick at-bats, the Indians began the 3rd inning with 2B Brian Friday getting hit by a pitch. �Friday moved to second when SS Argenis Diaz grounded back to the mound, and scored on CF Jose Tabata's (photo) single up the middle. �Tabata stole second base, then Alvarez followed with his first AAA home run -- a rocket-powered shot that hit the roof over the 328 sign in right field. �The idea of the glorious debut was looking good, as the Indians took a 3-2 lead.

In the top of the 4th, Brian Friday was hit by a pitch again. �This time it was a high and inside pitch, that skipped off the top of Friday's helmet (the new big style) as he ducked down and away from the plate. �The Indians were not pleased with Friday being hit twice, and manager Frank Kremblas had a quick chat with home plate umpire David Rackley. �Rackley did not make any motions toward the dugouts though, and did not make any show of warning both managers or benches. �So, when Kevin Hart's 66th pitch, the first one to Carlos Santana in the bottom of the frame, went sailing behind Santana, Hart and his teammates were surprised to hear Rackley immediately toss Hart from the game.

Ronnie Belliard had three extra base hits and four RBIs to support the pitching of Chad Billinglsey and the Dodgers bullpen. Paul Maholm failed to notch his first career win against Los Angeles and Garrett Jones failed to reach the seats for the first time in 2010.

It's Opening Day!

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The Indianapolis Indians open on the road in Columbus against the Clippers, with Kevin Hart taking the mound at 7:05 pm.  Former Indian/Pirate Brian Bixler is now playing for the Clippers (Cleveland affiliate).  The Indians' home opener will be next Friday, April 16th.

The Altoona Curve open at home against the Harrisburg Senators (Nationals) at 6:30 pm.  Mike Crotta will get the start for the Curve.

Bryan Morris will be on the mound as the newest Pirates' affiliate, the Bradenton Marauders, play their first game at McKechnie Field.  They will face the Ft. Myer Miracle at 7 pm.

The West Virginia Power begin their season facing the Sand Gnats in Savannah.  The game begins at 7:05 pm with Hunter Strickland getting the start for the Power.

Ronny Cedeno delivered a game winning single in the 10th inning. The Pirates held off a couple of late inning threats from LA and Garrett Jones homered for the third time in two games.

An update on roster moves made by the Pirates over the past few weeks, according to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.

The biggest releases: �lefty pitchers Kyle Bloom and Corey Hamman. Bloom started 21 games for the Altoona Curve in 2009, and earned a 6-9 record with a 4.05 ERA, and 71 strikeouts in 104.1 innings. �Hamman made 29 relief appearances for the Curve and 26 relief appearances for the Indianapolis Indians in 2009, with a combined 1-5 record and one save. �He had a 3.68 ERA for the Curve and an 8.01 ERA for the Indians.

Another surprise was reliever RJ Rodriguez, who had a 6-3 record, a league-leading 27 saves, and a 3.08 ERA for the Lynchburg Hillcats in 2009.

Other pitchers released: �Chris Aure, Gerardo Esparza, Brad Clapp, Papiro Juan, Diomedes Garcia, Edgar Gutierrez, Rafael Quintero, Ricardo Paulino, Andres Santos, Edison Barrios, Harrison Bishop, Chris Cullen, Jose R de los Santos, Wilson Ortiz, Nelson Pereira, Moises Robles

Catchers released: �Jesus Aguilera, Daniel Bomback, Billy Killian, Craig Parry,

Infielders released: Carlos Silva, Chris Garcia, Henry Henry,

Outfielders released: Jeff Corsaletti, Gemmy Gonzalez, Ciro Rosero, Edward Garcia

Killian and Chris Garcia were minor league free agents who must not have worked out. �This de los Santos is not the infielder Jose L De Los Santos -- he is still in the organization, at Altoona.

Some Latin American signings, none of whom are expected to play in the US this season:

RHPs: �Jeffrey Jaquez, Jonas Corporan, Melvin German, Yhonatan Herrand, Luis Alexis Ortiz, Carlos Ruiz, Luis Campos, Miguel Gerreras; LHP: Christopher Richarson; SS Jose Luis Solano; OF Yefaine Jerald, Malfre Ramirez

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The second part of who's who in the coaching box for the Pirates' minor league affiliates.

Also, the Curve, the Marauders, and the Power have announced their official Opening Day rosters. �The Indians still have just a tentative roster up. �Rosters can be seen here, and will be updated throughout the season. �{UPDATE: �ok, the Indians have a real roster up now too}

Bradenton Marauders (A+)

Manager PJ Forbes

• second season as manager of the Pirates' A+ level team (last year it was Lynchburg)
• 6 seasons as manager in the Phillies' organization
• 13 seasons as an infielder (mostly second base) in the Angels', Orioles', Rangers', and Phillies' organizations