Thursday's first pitch

Leading Off
Here are some snippets from an AP report: "Alex Rodriguez may have been using steroids when he was a highly touted high school player and was suspected of using performance-enhancers while playing for the New York Yankees, according to a soon-to-be-released book.
"The Daily News reported in Thursday's edition that Sports Illustrated writer Selena Roberts' upcoming book "A-Rod" offers an unflattering portrait of the MVP slugger as a needy personality who wanted his ego stroked constantly."
It adds:
"A high school teammate of A-Rod's told Roberts that the future No. 1 draft pick was on steroids as a prep player and his coach knew it -- an allegation the coach, Rich Hoffman, denied."
Rodriguez, of course, insists he gave up using performance enhancing drugs when he was traded to the Yankees in 2004. He admits using them for a three-year period while he was with the Rangers.
In the book, there are allegations from an anonymous source that A-Rod and Kevin Brown were seen together with HGH.
Another golden nugget from the AP story: "The book also goes on to say that two anonymous Yankees said they believed A-Rod was using banned substances based on visual side effects, and that a clubhouse staffer said management had a suspicion that that the third baseman may have been juicing."

Regional Roundup
Koji Uehara got drilled. The Nats pulled the trigger

• Uehara's OK after being hit in the chest by a liner. The O's, however, are not.


• The Phillies couldn't rally Wednesday, even though they had Matt Stairs on their side. Clay Condrey has become a valuable member of the bullpen, writes David Murphy.


• The Phillies loss was the Nats' victory. The Nats also made a trade. Looking for that Nats' draft story? Check out The Closer.


• Pittsburgh held Milwaukee to one run. And lost.

• Jaba won, giving the Yanks some much-needed momentum.


• Who's Jonathan Van Avery, you ask. A hero in The Hub.


• Zack Greinke gave up a run. The Royals still won.


• Johan pitched a gem. And the bullpen blew it. Sounds like 2008 all over again.


• Tim Lincecum shut down the Dodgers.

• Jerry Crasnick's Starting Nine lists the nine best second baseman in 09. The shocker is where reigning AL MVP Dustin Pedroia ranks. Apparently, he really can't hit those high and tight fastballs. And he really shouldn't have broadcast it.

1919 -- Philadelphia's Joe Oeschger and Brooklyn's Burleigh Grimes pitched complete games in a 9-9, 20-inning tie. Both teams scored three runs in the 19th inning.Oeschger gave up 22 hits and walked five, while Grimes allowed 15 hits and walked five.

1922 -- Charlie Robertson of the Chicago White Sox pitched a 2-0 perfect game against the Detroit Tigers. Johnny Mostil, playing left field for the only time, made two outstanding catches.

1961 -- Willie Mays of the San Francisco Giants hit four home runs in a 14-4 victory over the Braves in Milwaukee.

2002 -- Texas Rangers shortstop Alex Rodriguez became the second-youngest player to reach 250 homers a 10-3 win over the Toronto Blue Jays. Only Jimmie Foxx was younger.

The Closer

Larry Stone quotes former Nats general manager Jim Bowden as saying Washington will draft superstud prospect Stephen Strasburg.