"Lastings Milledge picked up the tab for Octavio Dotel.

Trying to protect the Pirates' four-run lead in the ninth inning Saturday, Dotel created a mess. The San Francisco Giants scored a run and had the bases loaded with two outs. Freddy Sanchez ripped a liner to deep left field.

"I looked back and saw Milledge running," Dotel said. "I thought, 'Whoa, I hope he gets it.' The way he was running, I knew he had a chance."

Milledge mentally measured the ball's flight, and wondered if he'd run out of room to make the catch. The outfield wall loomed closer ... closer ...

"I was like, maybe I can play it off the wall," Milledge said. "But I saw I had enough room to dive and make an attempt. So I did, and I came up with the catch."

A fantastic catch, arguably the finest of Milledge's career, which preserved the Pirates' 6-3 victory.

"An exciting way to end it," manager John Russell said. "I'm sure Octavio is going to buy him dinner for that one."

Milledge said the debt is already paid.

"He's always buying me dinner," Milledge said, laughing. "Octavio and I are pretty close. I owe that to him. He takes care of me."

Dotel agreed.

"That's why he's out there, to catch those balls and make it easier for me," Dotel said.

Milledge's catch nearly overshadowed a fantastic performance by the new-look top third of the Pirates' batting order."