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SD@PIT: Burnett fans 10 over 5 2/3 innings of work

While A.J. Burnett has been one of the Pirates most consistent starters this season with a 15-5 record and 3.67 ERA, he's struggled heavily in one specific area--stolen bases.

Runners are 26-for-28 in stolen bases with him on the mound. The two successes he's had came on pickoffs at first base.

Yet, it's not just Burnett, it's the rest of the Bucs as well. On the year, teams have stolen 111 of 123 bases against Pittsburgh. They have also been unsuccessful on the other side of the coin, stealing only 57 out of 102 bases.

Such numbers have been true for Pirates center fielder Andrew McCutchen as of late. While the speedster has 15 stolen bases on the season, he's only 1-for-8 in stolen base attempts since June 19.

"That's the art of base-stealing. It isn't always about speed. It's reads -- one of the last pieces of the puzzle for Andrew," manager Clint Hurdle said. "He's aware of it. Definitely something that he wants to improve upon, and I think there'll be added emphasis and more advanced approach this offseason. It just hasn't come together like most of his other game."

After the Pirates gave up four stolen bases to the Brewers in Friday's contest at Miller Park, Burnett and the rest of the team will try and improve those numbers for Saturday's game.

Marco Estrada will be on the hill for the Brewers, looking for his third straight victory after going winless in his first 21 outings.

He allowed just three runs (none earned) on six hits in five innings of work on Monday to the Cubs for his first road victory of the season.

The right-hander's best outings this season have been at home, where he has a 3.54 ERA in 41 games, including 14 starts.

Pirates: Presley, McPherson recalled
• Pittsburgh recalled outfielder Alex Presley and right-hander Kyle McPherson from Triple-A Indianapolis on Friday.

To make room on the 25-man roster, the Bucs optioned infielder Chase d'Arnaud and outrighted first baseman Jeff Clement to to Class A Bradenton.

Presley, in his third stint with the Pirates this season, went 2-for-4 in Friday's game with two RBIs.

McPherson made his Major League debut on Aug. 22 in San Diego, blanking the Padres for two innings on one hit and recording two strikeouts.

• While McCutchen is hitting Brewers pitching at a .500 rate this season, Hurdle decided to give him a day off for Friday's series opener against the Brewers.

"If you've watched the last few games, he's really laid it all out there," Hurdle said. "We talked about it, and he said he's good to go, that everybody is tired at this time.

"I understand that, too. But being able to piggy-back on the off-day, it was a good day to give him added rest for what's in front of us."

Brewers: Uecker honored with statue
• Milwaukee made legendary broadcaster Bob Uecker a permanent fixture outside Miller Park on Friday afternoon, unveiling a seven foot tall statue that joined sculptures of Commissioner Bud Selig, who brought the Brewers to Milwaukee, and Hall of Fame players Henry Aaron and Robin Yount.

"The baseball announcer becomes a link to their fans," Selig said during the ceremony. "You go to Harry Caray, or Bob Prince in Pittsburgh, Mel Allen in New York, Vin Scully is legendary, a classic.

While Selig and Aaron took part in Friday's ceremony, other attendees included: former Braves teammates Joe Torre, Johnny Logan and Felix Mantilla and former Brewers Rollie Fingers, Jim Gantner and Gorman Thomas. Nearly 20 current Brewers including Ryan Braun also attended.

Worth noting
• When scoring at least four runs in a game this season, the Brewers are 51-22.

• Pirates third baseman Pedro Alvarez has reached base safely in 13 of his last 14 games, going 21-for-50 (.420) with 10 walks and raising his average to .252.

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