Wednesday's first pitch

Leading Off
Carlos Delgado will have surgery that will cost him two months. The New York Post is going as far as saying this procedure could end the big slugger's career. The Mets will have to make a move.
Bonds thinks he's still available. We haven't seen that rumor yet. But, don't fear, it will be out there soon enough.
Regional Roundup

• Good news for the World Champs. They have won five straight. Even better knews. Brad Lidge has saved three in a row. The best news: J.A. Happ is in the rotation. That means Chan Ho is out.


• The Yankees won their seventh straight, scoring seven runs in the seventh. All at the O's expense. Don't fret, writes Peter Schmuck. The O's are on the doorstep of a new horizon.


• Injuries are crippling an already hobbled season for the Nats. Ross Detwiler is getting a second start.


• Don't look now, the Pirates have won four straight.

Best of the Rest

• Joel Pineiro's performance was one of the best pitching gems this season.


• Mark Buehrle's has quietly compiled a 6-1 record. But he's been quietly stellar his whole career.


• Could Matt Holliday's big blast start something in Oakland? It's a distinct possibility.


• You wouldn't know it from his record, but Barry Zito is pitching lights out. Last night he gave up two runs in a complete game. AND TOOK THE LOSS.


• David Ortiz couldn't hit Henry Rowengartner


• Keith Foulke is living large in the Atlantic League.


• Congrats to Jason Kendell and Todd Helton for getting their 2,000th hits.

Batter's Eye

• There's a big showdown in Beantown this week. And no it doesn't include the Yankees. The Red Sox got the first punch in against the East leading Blue Jays. This series might be flying under the rader, but it's worth keeping track of.

Today in history
1919 -- Babe Ruth won a game on the mound and at the plate. He hit his first career grand slam and the Boston Red Sox beat the St. Louis Browns 6-4. 1925 -- The Cleveland Indians scored six runs in the bottom of the ninth to beat the New York Yankees 10-9. Tris Speaker scored the winning run from first on a single.

1953 -- In the 13th game of the season, the Milwaukee Braves surpassed their 1952 attendance of 281,278, when they were in Boston.

1984 -- Boston's Roger Clemens earned his first major league victory. The Red Sox beat the Minnesota Twins, 5-4.

2006 -- Barry Bonds tied Babe Ruth for second place on the career home run list during San Francisco's 4-2, 10-inning victory over the Oakland Athletics.

The Closer
Dontrelle Willis won his first win in 20 months. And boy was he dominant. He gave up just one hit - a first inning double - in six-plus innings of work. He whiffed five and walked two. We've talked before about why he's important to the game so we won't go over it again.
We'll just say we hope the D-Train is on the tracks for good.