Matt Clement

Greg Maddux watched as all the other Chicago Cub starters but him got victories. Kerry Wood, Carlos Zambrano, Matt Clement and rookie Sergio Mitre were ahead of the four-time Cy Young Award winner. Maddux changed that Friday, beating the New York Mets, 3-1, at Wrigley Field for his first victory since rejoining his original team. It was the 290th win of his career, and first in a Cub uniform since Sept. 30, 1992.

Barry Bonds wasn't going to get a chance to win this game -- Milwaukee Manager Ned Yost made sure of it. Bonds took most of the game off after hitting his 661st home run Tuesday night, but the San Francisco slugger did pinch hit in the Giants' 3-0 loss to the Brewers on Wednesday at San Francisco. What did he get? An intentional walk. "The situation dictated it," said Yost, who wasn't surprised to see Bonds make an appearance. "We weren't going to pitch to him today no matter what.

Vinny Castilla was more excited about the timing of his big hit than the record he established. Castilla set a franchise record with an RBI in his 10th consecutive game, and the Colorado Rockies avoided a three-game sweep by beating the Houston Astros, 4-1, Sunday at Denver. "I was aware of the record after the last game, so when I did it today I knew I had it," said Castilla, who was given a day off Saturday.

Barry Bonds hit his 666th homer through a swirling mist and over the center-field wall, and the San Francisco Giants held on to beat the San Diego Padres, 4-3, on Monday night at San Francisco to end a season-worst four-game losing streak.

Nomar Garciaparra enjoyed his brief stay with the Chicago Cubs so much he's coming back. The five-time All-Star shortstop agreed Tuesday to an $8-million, one-year contract that could rise to $11 million with bonuses. "I really loved playing there, I really loved the experience I had in the short time I was there," he said. "I just felt Chicago is the best place for me. I'm looking forward to going out there and, hopefully, turning this into a long-term relationship."

Left-handed pitcher Eric Milton agreed to a $25.5-million, three-year deal on Monday with the Cincinnati Reds, a team that joined the bidding late and seemed an unlikely match for a pitcher who yearns to get back to the playoffs. "I wouldn't be sitting here today if I didn't think we have a real chance of winning," Milton said. The Reds think so too, and were willing to structure his contract so he can leave if they don't win during his first two seasons.

Mike Piazza hit another big home run to make sure Barry Bonds' return to the Giants' lineup didn't stop San Francisco's latest skid. Piazza homered off Jim Brower with two out in the 11th inning Thursday night, giving the New York Mets a 2-1 victory and a three-game sweep of the last-place Giants at Shea Stadium. A night earlier, Piazza hit his 352nd home run as a catcher, passing Carlton Fisk and setting a major league record that he's coveted for years.

Rondell White hit a tiebreaking home run in the seventh inning and the San Diego Padres overcame another homer by Barry Bonds, ending the San Francisco Giants' season-opening winning streak at seven with a 9-4 victory Tuesday night at San Francisco. Bonds' solo shot hit halfway up the right-field foul pole in the third inning, his 72nd career homer against the Padres -- his most against any team. It was his third homer of the season.

Aware that he was tiring, Pedro Martinez told Boston Red Sox Manager Grady Little to have relievers warming up late in Game 7 of the American League championship series against the New York Yankees. "I said, 'Get the guys ready in case I get in trouble,' " Martinez said Friday of his conversation in the dugout after the seventh inning. Little was criticized for sticking with Martinez after they talked on the mound as Hideki Matsui waited to hit in the eighth.

New York Yankees third baseman Alex Rodriguez is scheduled to meet with Major League Baseball officials Sunday to discuss his admission that he used performance-enhancing drugs from 2001 to 2003 while with Texas. The timing of the meeting was disclosed Friday by a baseball official with knowledge of the session who spoke on condition of anonymity because no announcement was made.