"Major League Baseball's trade deadline is a strange and hectic time for most clubs and the newly displaced. Thus on Monday, a Baltimore Orioles equipment bag stood out in the Pirates' clubhouse at PNC Park next to a locker recently occupied by Lyle Overbay, the club's former first baseman.

"It's been a bit of a whirlwind," said the Pirates' new first baseman and bag owner, Derrek Lee.

He could have been describing the past year. After spending most of the 13 previous seasons with Florida and the Chicago Cubs, the Pirates are Lee's fourth team since 2010.

"My head's spinning, I think," he kidded before the Pirates lost to the Cubs, 5-3. "I ought to check and see what colors I'm wearing."

They are definitely black and gold, and last night, Lee set the heads of Pirates fans spinning by hitting two home runs — his 25th career multihomer game — and driving in three in his first four at-bats.

Lee came from Baltimore in a Saturday night trade; he needed a day to bring his family to their new city. On Sunday, the Pirates acquired outfielder Ryan Ludwick from San Diego, and yesterday they were hitting fourth and fifth for manager Clint Hurdle.

"From everything I've been hearing, the pitching's been great but the offense has been struggling a little bit," said Lee, who was traded from Chicago to Atlanta last August before signing a free-agent contract with Baltimore.

The main reason, if not the only reason the Pirates remain surprising contenders in the National League Central is their outstanding starting pitching and solid bullpen. The hitting has been abysmal. Before playing the Cubs, they were 25th among the 30 big league clubs in runs per game.

In their prior 11 games, the Pirates hit .218, averaging barely more than three runs, and went 3-8. Overbay, a free-agent disappointment, was cut loose. Lee, 35 and a 15-year veteran, and Ludwick, 33, are here to help provide a spark.

"We've got the people who we believe can help us move forward," Hurdle said.

Lee took a big step in the fourth inning against his old friend and teammate, Carlos Zambrano. After striking out in his first at-bat, he sent the big right-hander's 1-2 slow curve into the left field bleachers to tie the game, 1-1. The home run was the first Pirates hit. Lee popped out in his third at-bat, but he hit a two-run homer off Kerry Wood in the eighth."