Worth noting

• Pirates' pitchers allowed 14 hits in four games through Monday, the fewest in four consecutive games since June 7-12, 1970 -- when Bob Veale, Steve Blass, Bob Moose and Dock Ellis gave up a total of 13.

The last outing in that string was Ellis' infamous no-hitter against the Padres in San Diego, the one he claimed to throw while high on LSD.

• A half-dozen Altoona Curve players were chosen to the Eastern League midseason All-Star team: Adrian Sampson, Alen Hanson, Elias Diaz, Willy Garcia, Drew Maggi and Ryan Beckman. That ties the most for the Bucs' Double-A affiliate, also accomplished in 2006-07.

• Nicole Dow-Macosky, of Horsham, Pa., is the Pirates' honoree, as chosen predominantly through online voting, in the MLB-wide Target Presents PEOPLE All-Star Teachers campaign. One teacher was chosen to represent each of the 30 teams in the initiative, which salutes teachers' impact on the lives of their students and communities.

All 30 winners will be part of All-Star Week activities in Minnesota and will receive on-field recognition prior to the 2014 MLB All-Star Game in Target Field.