Wednesday's first pitch

Leading Off
The Chicago Cubs were expected to be World Series contenders. Well it's a long way to October. But that doesn't mean Cubs fans shouldn't have been concerned heading into Wednesday's game with the Pirates.
The Fuzzies had lost eight in a row.
Well, a rain-shortened game saved Sweet Lou's squad from blowing a lead and the Cubs snapped their streak.
But one win shouldn't alleviate all of the Wrigley faithful's concerns.
Regional Roundup
Matt Weiters is on his way. Joe Blanton and Brad Lidge didn't give up earned runs.

• Joe Blanton dominated. Phillies fans have to be pleased his ERA is dropping. On April 27, Joe the Lumber had a 8.41 ERA. It's now 6.14.


• The Matt Weiters era has arrived.


• First Adam Eaton was out of Baltimore, now Daniel Cabrera is out of D.C.


• Matt Capps injury isn't as bad as first thought.

Best of the Rest
Streaks are the hot topic in our roundup.

• The Blue Jays are in a rut.


• The Padres found themselves trailing by six. They almost made it all the way back, but it wasn't meant to be. And their streak ends at 10.
• Ichiro has a 20-gamer going. But the M's lost.Then they lost Kenji Johjima for two months.


• David Ortiz was dropped to the six hole. Jacoby Ellsbury has hit in 21 straight. But the Sox still lost.


• Adam Wainwright homered and struck out nine. Talk about doing it all.


• You gotta love Livan.


• Joba got shellacked.

Batter's Eye

• When the Twins traded Chuck Knoblauch, Eric Milton was one of their return investments. He was expected a rotation stalwart for years. The early returns were pretty solid, with the lefty winning 41 games from 2000-02. Then he was traded to the Phillies and went 14-6. But his ERA had climbed to 4.75. Then, he was traded to Cincinnati and it ballooned to 6.47.
  By 2007 he was out of baseball.
  On Wednesday, Milton returned. Victoriously.
  He gave up just one run in five innings.

Today in history
1937 -- Carl Hubbell, working in relief for the New York Giants, won his 24th straight game over two seasons. Hubbell pitched two innings and Mel Ott hit a ninth-inning home run to beat the Cincinnati Reds 3-2. Hubbell's string started July 17, 1936.

1960 -- Baltimore catcher Clint Courtney used the "big mitt" for the first time to catch knuckleball pitcher Hoyt Wilhelm. The mitt, designed by Paul Richards, was 50 percent larger than the standard. Nothing got by Courtney as the Orioles beat the New York Yankees 3-2.

1968 -- Montreal and San Diego were awarded National League franchises as the league expanded for the first time in seven years.

The Closer
Bet you thought Zack Greinke's hot start was over. You were wrong.
He's the best Zack since Morris roamed the halls of Bayside. How does Greinke compare to the Royals' other Cy Young winners. It's amazing to think that in a 10 year span, the Royals had three Cy Young winners.