PITTSBURGH - He has no home runs, no stolen bases and limited experience at third base, but Freddy Sanchez has been playing the hot corner for the Pittsburgh Pirates on a regular basis of late.

And the Pirates are winning with him there.

Just call Sanchez the energizer.

"That's what he does out there," Pirate manager Lloyd McClendon said. "He gives us energy. That kid has been a sparkplug for us.

"Hey, whatever it takes to win a ballgame, … Freddy seems to have what it takes."

Sanchez, 27, entered Wednesday night's game with Florida sporting a .330 batting average (21-for-64) in 17 starts. His 0-for-5 performance Wednesday marked only his fifth start in which he failed to get a hit.

"I guess I'm kind of an excitable guy," Sanchez said. "I'm excited about baseball. I never shut up in the dugout."

Right now, Sanchez is just excited to be on the field. He came to the Pirates in a trade from Boston July 31, 2003, but he had only 149 at-bats in the Pittsburgh organization the past two years because of painful bone spurs in an ankle.

Rest was the only remedy. And while he rested, Jose Castillo solidified his hold on second base - the position with Sanchez's name on it originally.

"I had my chance and I blew it," Sanchez admitted. "I was more disappointed than upset, though. I couldn't do anything about my ankle. It was out of my control.

"But I'm not gonna let any minor things keep me out of the lineup."

Minor things, such as a bloodied wrist caused by a splintered bat while fielding a ground ball.

The play occurred with the score tied May 27, in the bottom of the ninth inning at Cincinnati.

"He took a cut that required nine stitches to close in exchange for fielding a baseball and trying to keep us in a game," McClendon said. "If your teammates can't be inspired by that, then they're uninspirable."

First baseman Daryle Ward agreed.

"Freddy brings a whole lot of energy out there," Ward said. "I know I get more charged up when he's on the field. Everybody does.

"That guy plays with so much heart. It's hard to explain it. … He fights during every at-bat, inside-outs the ball, takes a lot of walks. It's fun to watch him because he plays baseball the way everybody should."

When Sanchez learned he needed stitches, his first concern was the disabled list.

"I asked the Doc if I could play and he said yes, if I could stand the pain," Sanchez said. "That was good enough for me. I told Mac I was good to go."

Sanchez hasn't missed a game, though he has been forced choke up on his bat when he hits.

"I have to (choke up)," he said. "My bats have big handles and it just grinds right into the bandage if I don't choke up. It doesn't bother me."

Not playing does. But Sanchez has already started five games at third base for the Pirates. He also has nine starts at second and four starts at shortstop.

He's become the Bucs' 2005 version of Craig Wilson - a man without a position who keeps forcing his name on the lineup card.

"My sophomore year in college, the Florida Instructional League in 2001, a couple of games with the Red Sox when I first got called up - that's been the extent of third base for me," Sanchez said.

He's become a utility man and has accepted the role - especially since he's starting games on a consistent basis.

"You can't beat regular playing time," he said. "You get into a groove at the plate because you're seeing live pitching every day.

"Batting practice and pinch-hitting, you can only accomplish so much."

Sanchez has started games alongside Jack Wilson before. The pair played on the same summer league team in high school, with Sanchez starting at shortstop, Wilson starting at second.

"Freddy's been good for Jack," McClendon said. "He picks him up out there. Again, he's giving him energy."

Why not? That's the energizer's job.