CHICAGO -- The way Jack Wilson sees it, Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger got lucky.

It was Dec. 21, 2004, when the Pirates' shortstop had an emergency appendectomy, the same procedure Roethlisberger underwent Sunday in Pittsburgh. But that is where the similarities end.

Wilson recalls reporting to a California hospital at 1:30 a.m. after experiencing severe abdominal pain. He waited in the emergency room for what he estimated were several hours and, at some point in that span, the pain was gone.

Which was not good.

	MINOR-LEAGUE REPORT Monday's results INDIANAPOLIS (76-66) won at Louisville, 5-1, to end its regular season. The Indians will play a one-game tiebreaker today against Toledo to determine which team makes the International League playoffs. RHP Britt Reames (4-2, 2.80) will start. Yesterday, LHP Shane Youman (4-0, 4.04) allowed one run and two hits in six innings. He struck out four, walked none and threw 48 of 68 pitches for strikes. RHP Jesse Chavez (4.24) pitched two perfect innings of relief with a strikeout. RF Adam Boeve (.269) went 2 for 3 with his 20th double and a walk. CF Vic Buttler (.316) went 2 for 5 with two RBIs. ALTOONA (75-64) lost to Bowie, 3-2, to end its regular season. The Curve will open the Eastern League playoffs tomorrow at Akron. RHP Wardell Starling (6-5, 2.80) allowed three runs in six innings. SS Brian Bixler (.301) went 2 for 4 and committed his 13th error in 60 games. DH Neil Walker (.161) went 1 for 4. CF Andrew McCutchen (.308) went 0 for 4. LYNCHBURG (63-75) had its season finale at Salem canceled by rain. HICKORY (67-70) had its season finale against West Virginia canceled by wet grounds. WILLIAMSPORT (26-46) lost to Mahoning Valley, 7-0. LHP Charles Benoit (1-3, 4.97) allowed five runs in 2 2/3 innings. CF James Barksdale (.215) went 2 for 4.

"When the pain is gone, that means the appendix burst," Wilson said yesterday. "Mine burst, and it shot toxins all over my insides. They had to do a cleanup for a full week. If you get it before it bursts, you're back to normal in three or four days. If it bursts, it takes a long time."

Wilson knows plenty about that.

He remained in that hospital until Christmas night, lost 15 pounds while being bedridden for two more weeks, was unable to open the following spring training with the Pirates and, as that season wore on, blamed his appendectomy for a terrible first half at the plate.

Wilson said he has pending legal action against the hospital.

"How Ben's procedure went, that's how it's supposed to go. Simple as that," Wilson said. "I was just unlucky with how mine went."

Maybe if he had the procedure in Pittsburgh, where he might be recognized ...

"Yeah, that might have helped."

Torres as closer?

Although Salomon Torres has been handed all the save situations in the week since Mike Gonzalez went on the disabled list, manager Jim Tracy will not formally name him closer.

"So far, that's just how the situations have played out," Tracy said after Torres' second save yesterday. "But I will say this about Salomon: He is making a case for himself."

Torres has given up only three earned runs in 24 2/3 innings since the All-Star break.

When asked if Torres has become an elite reliever, Tracy said: "Yes, he is. To have the type of resiliency he has and the type of stuff ... somebody name a pitcher who bounces back the way this guy does. If he doesn't pitch four out of five days, it feels like he's been underused."

Torres has made 82 appearances, 12 shy of Kent Tekulve's franchise record.

Indianapolis alive

The Pirates' Class AAA affiliate in Indianapolis will play a one-game tiebreaker tonight at Toledo to determine which team qualifies for the International League playoffs. The Indians tied Toledo for first in the West Division yesterday by winning at Louisville, 5-1, in their regular-season finale.

Most minor-league seasons ended yesterday. The only team in the Pirates' system that has clinched a playoff berth is Class AA Altoona.

Buried treasure

Reliever John Grabow was forced to leave the game in the sixth inning because of a booming headache, the result of a nasty bruise on the bridge of his nose. Grabow said he bumped it by accident away from the field.

Starter Tom Gorzelanny, on the disabled list because of elbow tendinitis, threw another bullpen session.

Chris Duffy's two walks marked the first time all season he had more than one in the same game. It was only the sixth time the Pirates had more than one walk from the leadoff spot in a game.

The Pirates promoted pitchers Kyle Bloom and Yoann Torrealba from Class A Lynchburg to Altoona for the playoffs. Bloom, 23, was 7-8 with a 4.30 ERA. Torrealba, 24, was 6-6 with a 4.01 ERA.