PITTSBURGH — Being able to play three infield positions well can help you get into the lineup.

Being able to hit .350 helps you get into the lineup quicker.

Pittsburgh Pirates infielder Freddy Sanchez has discovered the latter this season.

Since Sept. 16, 2005, Sanchez leads all major league hitters with a .366 batting average. Before going hitless Sunday against San Diego — only the fourth time in 25 games he's gone done so — Sanchez was second in the National League batting race with a .351 average.

And he's earned the title of everyday third baseman, meaning veteran Joe Randa will be a utility player when he returns from a slow-healing foot injury.

"When Joe first got hurt, that probably wasn't the case,"Pirates general manager Dave Littlefield admitted. "But Freddy has continued to do a very nice job at the plate and everything is subject to change.

"He's shown us he needs to be in the lineup to help us win some games."

Sanchez, 28, knows all about slow-healing injuries. He lost nearly two full years to an ankle injury and didn't emerge as a serious threat at the plate until the final two months of last season.

Since then, he hasn't stopped hitting.

"Nobody's told me anything about being the third baseman,"Sanchez said. "As far as I'm concerned, Joe's the third baseman and I'm still the utility guy."

Sanchez is hardly the prototypical third baseman. He's hit only four home runs this season and he hit just five in 453 at-bats last year.

"I'm not going to drop 30 or 40 bombs a year, that's for sure,"Sanchez said. "But I don't think we have to have a third baseman with that kind of power.

"Joe Randa himself has made a solid career at third out of just being a solid hitter. Bill Mueller (of the Dodgers) has only hit a few career home runs, but has been an effective third baseman at this level for years.

"To me, a lineup full of gamers, guys who work hard and play the game right — that's what wins,"Sanchez added.

Consistent hitting doesn't hurt, either:

n Sanchez leads the NLwith a .413 batting average in day games.

• He is second in the NLwith a .379 batting average at home and a .474 average against left-handed pitching.

• He is fifth in the NLwith a .360 average with runners in scoring position.

Littlefield said Randa has been informed of the Pirates' plans to continue starting Sanchez. The 36-year-old Randa may begin a rehabilitation stint at Class AAAIndianapolis by this weekend.

Randa was hitting .222 with a homer and seven RBIwhen he injured his foot 22 games into the season.

"We communicate everything to all of our players,"Littlefield said. "Nothing is set in stone, and even if it is, it's not set in stone for very long.

"Freddy Sanchez is hitting ,350, he's earned a chance to play and we need him in the lineup. That's pretty clear-cut."

But with Randa coming back soon and Jose Bautista's long-term future likely being at third, Sanchez will have to continue hitting to continue playing.

As for terming Sanchez the Pirates' long-term answer at third, Littlefield said:"I'm not ready to make that statement yet."

In the meantime, Sanchez plans to continue doing his thing.

"Just keep getting the bat on the ball," he said. "Sometimes my hits will fall in, sometimes they won't. They've been falling in a lot lately."