Wednesday's first pitch

Leading Off
Bravo, to Yankees fans. You won, you got the ballclub to slash those exorbitant prices. We still think that had those prices been trotted out in places such as St. Louis, Boston, Philly and Chicago, the fans would have been much quicker to revolt. But, hey, the fans won. So we won't complain.
Regional Roundup

• Cole Hamels was dealing. Then he sprained his ankle. Paul Hagen says it's time the other starters stepped it up.


• Dave Trembly got tossed in the O's loss. Peter Schmuck is on the case. He just hasn't gotten to the bottom of it.


• The Nats are going with a closer-by-committee. Yep. That'll work.


• The Pirates just can't beat the Brewers.

Best of the Rest

• Felix was King for a day. Or at least half of a day-night doubleheader.


• Phil Hughes dominated for the Yankees.


• Jorge Cantu hit two. But that's not helping Hanley's hand.


• The Cardinals have finally figured out their bullpen issues.


• Manny Ramirez had three doubles.


• Carlos Zambrano homeredand won. His 17 homers are more than Juan Pierre (13) has for his career and just three fewer than Jose Molina (20) have for his.

Batter's Eye

• In the Hot Stone League, Larry Stone looks at the anatomy of a trade and how it can impact a team 20 years later. Oh, and he mentions former York Rev John Halama

Today in history
1918 -- Center fielder Tris Speaker executed the fourth unassisted double play of his career in the Cleveland Indians' 8-4 loss to the Chicago White Sox.
1922 -- The New York Giants hit four inside-the-park home runs at Braves Field in Boston. George Kelly hit two and Ross Youngs and Dave Bancroft hit the others. All three are enshrined in Cooperstown
1981 -- Steve Carlton struck out Montreal's Tim Wallach in the first inning of the Philadelphia Phillies' 6-2 victory over the visiting Expos to become the sixth major league pitcher -- and first left-hander -- to strike out 3,000 batters.
1986 -- Roger Clemens set a major league record by striking out 20 batters as the Boston Red Sox defeated the Seattle Mariners 3-1.
2005 -- In the first matchup between 300-game winners in almost 18 years, the Cubs' Greg Maddux outdueled the Astros' Roger Clemens in Chicago's 3-2 win over Houston. Maddux earned his first win of season and 306th of his career, allowing two runs on seven hits over six innings.

The Closer
Remember Hideki Irabu? He was supposed to be the savior for the Yankees. Too bad he was just a big hefty righty (Remind you of anyone?) Well, Irabu is pitching again.