Whispers: . . . . Evans, the former White Sox assistant GM now with the Dodgers, would have been a frontrunner for the Pirates job if the Dodgers had not denied Pittsburgh’s request to interview him. The Pirates hired former Florida assistant Dave Littlefield. . . . The Cardinals hope to get J.D. Drew back in time for the four-game series at Wrigley Field next weekend. . . . Alex Rodriguez is swinging from his heels like a man intent on a 50-homer season. . . . Detroit center fielder Roger Cedeno turned down a three-year, $13.5-million contract extension and could be traded.
Numbers: Ichiro Suzuki was hitless in 21 plate appearances before breaking the skid Wednesday. That was the longest hitless streak of his pro career, surpassing one of 19 plate appearances with the Orix Blue Wave in 1999. . . . Cincinnati is 13-37 at Cinergy, a pace that would give them a season mark of 21-60. The 1939 St. Louis Browns set the record for home losses in a season, going 18-59. . . . Florida was 12-6 in interleague play, the NL’s best record. Its 51-33 mark since ’97 is the best in the majors.
