MINOR-LEAGUE REPORT Tuesday's results INDIANAPOLIS (35-22) beat Rochester, 4-3. RHP Bryan Bullington (9-2, 2.75) allowed three runs and six hits in six innings to increase his International League-leading victory total. He struck out five and walked two. RHP Jesse Chavez (4.60), RHP Masumi Kuwata (0.00) and RHP Dan Kolb each pitched a scoreless inning of relief, each allowing one hit. All 13 of Kuwata's pitches were strikes, and he had one strikeout. Kolb's save was his fourth. SS Brian Bixler (.324) went 1 for 3 with a double, a walk and a steal. ALTOONA (27-27) won at New Britain, 5-4. RHP Luis Munoz (6-2, 3.29) allowed three runs, two earned, in seven innings. 3B Neil Walker (.294) went 2 for 3 with a double and a walk. 1B Steve Pearce (.272) went 2 for 4 with a double and an RBI. CF Andrew McCutchen (.229) went 0 for 4. LYNCHBURG (28-27) lost at Myrtle Beach, 5-3. RHP Todd Redmond (4-4, 4.20) allowed two runs in six innings. SS Dan Schwartzbauer (.254) went 3 for 3 with a double. HICKORY (23-32) beat Lexington, 6-3. RHP Jared Hughes (4-4, 3.92) allowed three runs, one earned, in six innings. 1B Kent Sakomoto (.286) hit his sixth home run and went 3 for 4 with a double. 2B Jared Keel (.284) hit his third home run and went 2 for 4.

WASHINGTON -- Do the Pirates have a new center fielder?

They did for one game, at least, as Rajai Davis filled the role last night at RFK Stadium immediately upon being recalled from Class AAA Indianapolis.

Beyond that?

Manager Jim Tracy made emphatically clear before the game against the Washington Nationals his stance that Davis and Chris Duffy, the starting center fielder since July of last year, are not suddenly sharing duties.

"Please don't quote me as saying they are in a platoon situation, because you will be wrong," Tracy told reporters.

At the same time, what Tracy did not say, which seemed to be telling, was how long he might stick with Davis.

What Tracy stressed instead was that each will be given a chance in the coming weeks.

"This is no slap in the face to Chris Duffy," Tracy said. "This is no suggestion whatsoever that we are not going to use him. We're going to try to create opportunities for both guys and find out, over the next several days, what makes sense. Does one guy swing a hot bat? Does one guy hit better against left-handers? We're going to find out."

For the next few games, Tracy added, hitting against left-handers will be key. All three of Washington's starters in this series will be left-handers, as is Andy Pettitte, the New York Yankees' scheduled starter Friday. That should favor Davis, who is right-handed, although he hit better against right-handers than left-handers --.329 to .283 -- in Indianapolis. Duffy, who is left-handed, has hit .208 -- 11 for 53 -- against left-handers.

Duffy is batting .241 overall, but that includes a .292 clip -- 14 for 48 with half of those hits going for extra bases -- since being dropped to No. 2 in the order behind Jose Bautista May 23.

"I think I've been playing fine," Duffy said.

And of Davis' promotion?

"I'm a Rajai Davis fan. Always have been."

Davis ranked 10th in the International League with a .318 average for Indianapolis. He also had a .384 on-base percentage, 20 extra-base hits and 27 steals in 36 tries.

Tracy explained his decision to bat Davis ahead of Bautista -- batting .316 in 14 games since being moved atop the order -- on the speed of each.

"If Bautista keeps getting on base, you've negated Rajai's legs to some extent if Bautista's ahead of him," Tracy said.

Davis' big comeback

Davis, 26, spent 20 games with the Pirates late last season, but he was far enough off management's radar that he did not make a single start.

His future looked bleaker when his Venezuelan winter league season was cut short by an ailing right shoulder.

And it must have seemed downright ominous late in spring training, when management promoted Nyjer Morgan, a prospect with similar skills, from Class AA Altoona to Indianapolis to play center field and bat leadoff. Davis was moved to right field and down to No. 2 in the order.

Was he worried?

"No, I was excited, actually," he replied yesterday with a smile. "With Nyjer doing his thing and getting on base, I knew I'd see a lot of fastballs. And I did. Every time he was on base, the pitcher was thinking about him, slide-stepping, whatever."

When a thumb injury knocked out Morgan early last month, Davis returned to leadoff and kept on producing, including his 21-game hitting streak.

"If you're playing every day, you've got an opportunity," Davis said.

Buried treasure

With catcher Humberto Cota officially designated for assignment Monday night to clear space on the 25-man roster for Davis, the Pirates have 10 days from that point to waive, trade or release him. If Cota is released, the team must pay all of his $537,000 salary.

The Pirates, Nationals and representatives of the Negro Leagues will participate in an unveiling of an exhibit honoring Josh Gibson, legendary catcher of the Pittsburgh Crawfords and Homestead Grays, this morning at the Mayflower Hotel in Washington. The Grays played some of their home games in Washington.

Closing the book on the 2006 draft class: The Pirates signed shortstop Josue Peley, their 35th-round pick. The final tally was 32 of the 50 players drafted were signed.