Reynolds starts at third as Tribe shuffles lineup

HOUSTON -- Cleveland's Mark Reynolds returned home Sunday, starting his first game of the season at third base.

Reynolds entered Sunday's game hitting .296, leading the Indians in homers with six and RBIs with 17.

"Last night when [Nick Swisher] hit that ball off his knee, I was going to take him out," manager Terry Francona said. "I said if you finish this game, I'll DH you tomorrow. Then I had to figure out how to do it.

"So we moved Mark to third, and I think he's kind of excited. We'll move [catcher Carlos] Santana to first. I think Santana's excited about it. It gives him a day off for his legs from squatting. I think it will work."

That also gave third baseman Lonnie Chisenhall and designated hitter Jason Giambi the day off Sunday.

Reynolds hit a three-run homer in Cleveland's eight-run first inning Saturday night and finished the game 2-for-4 with a walk, driving in four runs.

Reynolds had started 15 of Cleveland's 16 games this season, six at first base and nine as a designated hitter.

Reynolds also returned to the No. 5 spot in the batting order Sunday, where he hit earlier in the year. He had been hitting seventh.

"I don't care where I hit, as long as I've got a jersey and I'm in the lineup," he said.

Reynolds started at third base for four years with Arizona, then was traded to Baltimore, where he moved to first base.