PITTSBURGH - Just what Corey Patterson and the Chicago Cubs didn't want after scoring 21 runs in two games in Pittsburgh: a rainout.

The Cubs-Pirates game was washed out Thursday night by a steady rain and rescheduled as part of a May 28 doubleheader starting at 5:05 p.m. The Cubs won the first two games of the series, 9-1 Tuesday and 12-1 Wednesday while getting a combined 26 hits.

Patterson was a catalyst in both victories, hitting a two-run homer Tuesday before enjoying his first five-hit game Wednesday. He had three extra-base hits in the two games while jumping his average from the mid .200s to .311.

"It's still early, it's a long year and the at-bats aren't starting to pile up, so if you get three or four hits, your average goes up 200 points," Patterson said, smiling, on Thursday.

Still, the center fielder's fast start is much welcomed by the Cubs after he sat out the second half of last season with a torn anterior cruciate ligament and meniscus in his left knee.

So far, Patterson has been everything he was last season, when he hit .298 with 13 homers, 17 doubles and 55 RBI before injuring his left knee July 6 while stepping awkwardly on first base in St. Louis.

"Our primary concern in the offseason was how he was going to respond after his operation," manager Dusty Baker said. "It shows you how hard he's worked. That was a very serious injury he had. ... Now, he's running good, real good, he seems more confident in his movements and his actions, and you can tell he's not favoring it."

Each of the Cubs' starters is hitting .283 or better, except first baseman Derrek Lee, whose average is up to .269 following a slow start.

The Cubs hope to get one of their few struggling players, right-hander Greg Maddux (0-2, 8.62 ERA), going when they return home today to play the Mets. Kerry Wood (2-1), who was to have started Thursday, was pushed back to Saturday.

Baker was assured Wednesday by baseball's all-time home runs leader that Maddux is about to turn himself around.

"Sometimes it takes older guys longer to get it together than the young guys," Baker said. "Maddux depends more on location than anybody else that we have. I got a call from Hank Aaron and he said Maddux will be just fine. Hank said, `I know you're not worried, but don't worry about that guy. He'll figure it out.' "

The Pirates, who only wish they had a Maddux on their stuff, also juggled their rotation because of the rainout.

Kip Wells (2-1), who was to have pitched Thursday, will go today against the Reds, bumping left-hander Oliver Perez (1-0) to Sunday. Kris Benson (2-0) will stay on schedule and pitch Saturday.