PITTSBURGH— Fittingly, the 1,000th home run ever hit at PNC Park was a river shot.

But off the bat of Nate McLouth?

The 5-foot-11, 185-pound Nate McLouth? The same guy who never hit more than 12 home runs in a minor league season?

Yep.

McLouth hit a changeup from Milwaukee right-hander Carlos Villaneuva 431 feet into the Allegheny River during the Pirates' 9-0 win over the Brewers Monday night. It bounced off the river walk beyond the right field stands and into the drink.

"It was a changeup," McLouth said, smiling. "Someone on the bench noticed that (Villanueva)likes to throw off-speed pitches with runners on base.

"He fell behind 1-0 in the count and I was sitting on the changeup. And I got it."

The fact that he planted it shouldn't be so surprising. The home run was McLouth's 12th this season and 10th since taking over for the injured Chris Duffy as a regular in the Pirates' lineup less than two months ago.

"Hitting home runs isn't all about physical power and strength,"McLouth said. "It's about what kind of swing you're putting on the ball, getting the proper backspin and getting the ball to carry.

"That's what I've been working on in the batting cage with hitting coach Jeff Manto and (manager Jim Tracy) for quite a while now."

Tracy enjoyed watching McLouth's home run, but he has enjoyed watching him mature as a player even more.

"He's become a solid major league player,"Tracy said. "The difference in Nate McLouth now compared to where he was at the start of last season is phenomenal.

"He has some pop in his bat, but that's only a small part of what that kid can do on a baseball field."

The 25-year-old McLouth has made only two errors all season and he leads the Pirates with 17 stolen bases in 18 attempts.

Of his 76 hits this season, 34 have gone for extra bases, including 20 doubles.

"He can make the plays defensively and he knows how to run the bases,"Tracy said. "Watching him day in and day out ... that guy's a winner."

McLouth hit a pinch-hit home run on Opening Day in Houston this season, but has collected only five hits in 40 pinch-hitting appearances since.

While Josh Phelps and Matt Kata, two young veterans added to the roster during the season, are a combined 14 for 38 (.368) pinch-hitting this season, McLouth has become an impact player as a starter. He's hitting .270 as a starting outfielder and has hit safely in 24 of his last 31 starts.

McLouth is one of the reasons why the Pirates have scored more runs and collected more hits than any team in the major leagues since Aug. 1.

He's put himself in the mix for a starting outfield position next year — and put himself on the list of 17 players to hit a ball into the Allegheny River.

Only five Pirates — Rob Mackowiak, Matt Stairs, Matt Lawton, Ryan Doumit and Daryle Ward — did so before him.

"I know there aren't many guys who have hit a ball that far,"McLouth said. "I'm kinda excited about that."