PITTSBURGH - Rookie pitcher Sean Burnett wanted to be a hit in his second career start for the Pirates, but this isn't exactly how he wanted to go about it.

The left-hander breezed through the first four innings during his start against the Seattle Mariners Saturday at PNC Park, facing the minimum 12 batters and throwing only 42 pitches - 29 strikes and 13 balls.

Things got a little rough for the Florida native in the fifth inning, which he started by throwing nine straight balls, including a wild pitch.

Two singles then gave the Mariners a 2-0 lead.

But it was about to get even rougher for Burnett in the Seattle sixth, when, with a man on and one out, he tried to throw a pitch by the Mariners' quick-swinging Ichiro Suzuki.

Unfortunately for the youngster, he couldn't do it and Ichiro slammed it back at Burnett, bouncing it off his pitching arm and into center field for a single.

Pirates manager Lloyd McClendon removed Burnett from the game and it was determined later that he escaped with only a bruise on his left triceps.

"It hit him pretty good," McClendon said. "You just can't take a chance."

"I threw one down the middle and he made me pay," said Burnett, 21, who got his first career start May 30 against the Cubs.

"I was fortunate it hit the meat and not the bone," he added.

Burnett also got his first career loss Saturday when Seattle starter Joel Pineiro handcuffed the Pirates for a 5-1 victory, despite surrendering only four hits and one walk while striking out three in 5

innings.

He was also charged with four runs, but two came when reliever Brian Meadows couldn't keep Burnett's two runners in the sixth from scoring.

"I feel like I had a good outing, I just had an unfortunate thing happen," said Burnett.

McClendon was complimentary about Burnett's effort, but didn't appear to be too enthused.

"Not a bad outing," the manager said. "I've seen better, but not a bad outing. It wasn't his best stuff, but it was OK."

Burnett was recalled from Nashville Friday as an emergency replacement for Kip Wells, who was scratched because of numbness and lack of feeling in his right middle finger.

After Saturday's game, Burnett's status was still up in the air. Wells' recovery from his injury would determine the youngster's fate.

"I flew in (Friday) and I pitched (Saturday), but it's up in the air," Burnett said.

It appears Wells isn't ready to make his next start tonight, however, so Burnett will be pressed into action against Roger Clemens and the Astros in Houston.

You can be sure Burnett, who knows his immediate future could ride on each outing, will be ready.

"You come up here, and it's do or die," he said. "When you get a chance, you want to take advantage of it. And I hope to do it."