*Pittsburgh Pirates Team Report*
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The Pirates opened their 2005 campaign against the Milwaukee
Brewers without 1B-OF Craig Wilson in the starting lineup.
Manager Lloyd McClendon decided to keep the slugger, who led the
team with eight home runs this spring, on the bench instead of
having him face Brewers ace Ben Sheets. Wilson was hitless in 13
at-bats against Sheets last season, striking out seven times.
... Lefthander Oliver Perez made his first career Opening Day
start for Pittsburgh. ... With the trade of veteran catcher
Jason Kendall to Oakland in the offseason, C Benito Santiago
made his Pirates' debut Monday.  The last time Pittsburgh had
someone other than Kendall behind the plate on Opening Day was
1995, when Mark Parent got the call. ... The Pirates have gone
70-48 in home openers, but are looking for their first Opening
Day win since beating the Reds in 2002.
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