Last call

• The Pirates made a trade with the Mets on Tuesday for outfielder Marlon Byrd and catcher John Buck, who are expected to arrive in time for Wednesday's game.

"Marlon Byrd is having a heck of a year," Roenicke said. "Buck started off fast and cooled off, but he's still a nice, experienced catcher. That's a nice move. I'm surprised those guys got that far through [waivers]."

• Roenicke spoke highly on Tuesday afternoon about right-handed reliever Brandon Kintzler, who has pitched his way into a high-leverage relief role. Kintzler entered Tuesday having been unscored upon in 25 of his previous 28 appearances and has essentially become Roenicke's eighth-inning man.

"Early in the season, it wasn't necessarily that I didn't think he could do this," Roenicke said. "We had other people to do it. We liked him before he got hurt [in 2011]. He's got really good stuff and now he's showing the 'mind' part of it that he can pitch in late innings and it doesn't bother him. Key situations don't bother him."

Kintzler pitched a 1-2-3 eighth inning on Tuesday for his 19th hold of the season.