First number, last word

17-9: The Pirates' record in the month of June last season, tied with Toronto for the Major League's best. They took a record of 4-2 this June into Sunday's game.

"When we first told him about [our emphasis on getting outs on] three pitches or less, he went nuts with it and went from a guy who led the league in walks to a guy throwing too many strikes -- which seems weird to say, but it is what happened." -- Hurdle, on Edinson Volquez's early problems with giving up home runs.