Hurdle shakes up Bucs' lineup

PITTSBURGH -- Manager Clint Hurdle, an ardent music aficionado, went for an Elvis Presley classic in making out the Pirates' Sunday lineup: "All Shook Up."

The batting order against Cincinnati right-hander Mat Latos had Neil Walker in the No. 3 slot for the first time since last July 29, pushing Andrew McCutchen into the cleanup spot for the first time since Sept. 2, 2011.

And speaking of Presley … the new look began at the top, with Alex Presley remaining in the leadoff spot while shifting to right field -- despite the return of Starling Marte, dropped to No. 2 for the first time this season.

"I shook some things up," Hurdle said. "Just trying to find some way to move pieces around to generate some offense."

The Bucs went into the finale of the short five-game homestand at PNC Park having scored six runs in the first four.

Informed of Sunday's lineup, McCutchen raised his eyebrows and said, "Really? We'll see how that goes."

Presley stayed above Marte off his impressive first start of the season, not only going 3-for-5 on Saturday night but making pitchers work in a manner for which leadoff batters are valued. In his five at-bats, Presley looked at 30 pitches -- a huge chunk of the total of 149 made by three Cincinnati hurlers in their 2-0 win.

"It should be pretty potent at the top," Presley said of his and Marte's presence at 1-2. "It felt good to get that first start and get back in the flow of a Major League game. I was excited to get out there again."

Presley was recalled at the start of this series from Triple-A Indianapolis, where he was batting .281, with an on-base percentage of .373, in 41 games.