Worth noting

By Tom Singer

April 9, 2014

• A good indication of the early-season plate discipline Pirates hitters have shown: Last season, they had double-digit strikeout totals in about one of every three games (50 total). Through seven games this year, they fanned 10-plus times only in the 16-inning marathon with the Cubs.

• Jeff Locke (right side strain) threw 82 pitches over six innings on Wednesday in a rehab start for Class A Advanced Bradenton, allowing two runs on five hits with a walk and 10 strikeouts. His catcher was Chris Stewart (right knee surgery).

• Prior to Tuesday night's eighth inning, the last time Starling Marte and Pedro Alvarez had walked in the same inning was in Game No. 100 last season, when both drew walks to help set up a four-run, tying rally in the ninth inning at Nationals Park.

Tom Singer is a reporter for MLB.com and writes an MLBlog Change for a Nickel. He can also be found on Twitter @Tom_Singer.