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Manager Lloyd McClendon said Saturday that No. 5 starter Dave Williams will skip his next turn in the rotation, which would be Tuesday at Yankee Stadium.

Instead, Kip Wells will start the opener of the three-game series against the New York Yankees followed by Mark Redman and Oliver Perez.

Williams (5-5, 4.06 ERA) struggled in his most recent start, allowing four solo home runs in 4 1/3 innings in a no-decision against Baltimore on Tuesday. But McClendon said he changed the rotation because of two scheduled days off in a five-day span, not Williams' performance.

"Dave could have pitched six shutout innings against Baltimore, and it still would have happened," McClendon said. "I have a chance to line up my best pitchers for this series. It only makes sense."

McClendon said Williams would be available out of the bullpen for the first two games of the Yankees series and would return to the rotation next weekend in Boston.

Williams said he was disappointed to miss out on a chance to pitch at Yankee Stadium, but understood McClendon's decision.

"We're going into an interleague series, and we need to play our hot hand, which is Kip," he said.

Lineup juggle

Ryan Doumit had batted cleanup in the minor leagues before. Still, the rookie outfielder was surprised to see his name penciled into the No. 4 spot yesterday.

"When it's in a big-league lineup, it's exciting," he said. "I look at it as an opportunity to come in and make my mark. That's where all the RBI are."

Doumit started in right field in place of Matt Lawton last night. With Tampa Bay left-hander Scott Kazmir starting, McClendon said he was looking for a right-handed hitter to bat behind Jason Bay in his usual No. 3 spot. Doumit is a switch-hitter.

"I wouldn't put much stock into it," said McClendon about batting Doumit fourth. "I really don't want him there. But somebody has to hit fourth."

Meanwhile, third baseman Freddy Sanchez returned to the starting lineup last night after missing the past four games with a groin injury. He hit leadoff, just the fifth time he's done that this season.

Rob Mackowiak got the start in center field in place of Tike Redman and hit second.

Turn back the clock

Yesterday was '60s Celebration Night, honoring members of the 1960 World Series champion Pirates.

Fan were given a Bill Mazeroski figurine, and the Hall of Fame second baseman threw out the first pitch.

Among the players from the '60 team in attendance were infielder Dick Schofield, shortstop Dick Groat, outfielder Bill Virdon, and pitchers Vernon Law, Bob Friend and ElRoy Face.

"It's always great to be back (with these guys)," Mazeroski said. "After you play winning baseball and go to the World Series and win it, you get a certain bond with these guys. It's fun."

Down on the farm

Hickory catcher Neil Walker has been named to the South Atlantic League mid-season All-Star team.

The former No. 1 draft pick and Pine-Richland graduate was hitting .265 in 58 games entering yesterday with four home runs and a team-high 30 RBI.

Joining Walker on the All-Star team will be Hickory pitcher Kyle Bloom.

At Lynchburg, outfielders Adam Boeve and Bobby Kingsbury, pitcher Chris Hernandez, and infielder Javier Guzman have been named to the Carolina League mid-season All-Star team.

Marked improvement

The Pirates improved to 3-1 in interleague play with their win over Tampa on Friday. That's one more interleague win then they had all of last season, when they went 2-10. The Pirates have posted just one winning season against the American League, going 8-7 in 2001.

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