LYNX: BATTLES OF THE BRIANS (HOWEVER YOU SPELL IT)

Jim Rushford's play in left field made the trip out to the Stadium worth it even though the Lynx were bageled 4-0 (box, play-by-play) today by former No. 1 overall draft choice Bryan Bullington and the Indianapolis Indians.

Rushford made three diving/sliding catches, two on balls looped just over the infield and another on a ball into the game. Lynx lefty Brian Mazone, though, ran into trouble in the fifth inning after giving up just an infield hit through the first four. Indy started waiting on the outside pitch, and Jose Hernandez and Brian Bixler hit opposite-field doubles to produce the game's first run before Einar Diaz got a run-scoring hard single -- also to the opposite field. Bixler capped the scoring with a two-run homer a couple innings later.

Back to Bullington, who ran his record to 4-0 with a 1.17 earned-run average after scattering five hits across seven innings. Pete Toms of abaseballgeek reminded me when we were chatting toward the tailend of the game that Bullington was the No. 1 overall pick by the Pirates in 2002. Injuries have kept him from developing, and he's pitched all of 1 1/3 innings at the major-league level.

The Jays' 2002 first-rounder Russ Adams (14th overall) is generally considered a bust, but taking Adams immediately before future standouts Scott Kazmir and Nick Swisher were selected is nothing compared to the Pirates spending the top pick on Bullington. Oddly enough, after he was taken out of Ball State (alma mater of his fellow Hoosier, David Letterman), the next players selected were all high schoolers, including the Orioles' Canadian lefty Adam Loewen, the Rays' B.J. Upton and Brewers slugger Prince Fielder.

So it goes for the Pirates organization.

The Lynx welcome Louisville, the Cincinnati Reds' affiliate, in for a four-game set that begins tomorrow night. Toronto native Joey Votto, 23, is hitting .203/.365/.362 in his first month of Triple-A. Once the weather warms up and the ball starts to carry farther, he should show people why he's considered to Cincinnati's next first baseman.

That's all for now. Send your thoughts to neatesager@yahoo.ca.