The Cubs beat the Gnats 6-4 after spotting baseball's worst team a 4-0, first-inning lead. The ignominy of that is the fact that a couple weeks back, Washington set a record by failing to score a single, first-inning run in their first 22 games of the season.

The other ouchy aspect of the sour beginning was that, once again, it was our best pitcher, Carlos Zambrano (pictured), who was throwing batting practice to the opposite side.

To his credit, Zambrano settled down after the 35-pitch, opening inning and shut down the Nationals long enough for the Cub offense to get untracked and gain the lead. Speaking of that offense, Derrek Lee is simply and utterly inhuman. He is now hitting .422.

Today's game was the first in what should be--what HAS to be--a momentum-building homestand that will see the Pirates come to Wrigley for three games once the woeful Washingtons leave.

After that, the Cubs will play road series against the Phillies and the Mets.

You know, real baseball teams.

(AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh from espn.com)