First-place Reds aim to continue mastery of Cubs
Baseball Betting Lines
08/28/2010 -
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The first-place Cincinnati Reds can make it 12 wins in 15
games with the Chicago Cubs tonight, when the clubs meet for the second of
three weekend games at Great American Ball Park.
On Friday, Jay Bruce slammed a career-best three home runs and Chris Valaika
also went deep to back eight innings of one-run ball from starter Johnny Cueto
as Cincinnati beat Chicago, 7-1.
Bruce tied a career-high with five runs batted in, while Drew Stubbs added two
hits, a run scored, two stolen bases and a walk for the Reds, who have won two
straight and 10 of 13 overall since being swept by the Cardinals over three
games two weeks ago.
Cincinnati leads the Cardinals by four games for the top spot in the National
League Central Division.
Cueto (12-4) allowed six hits, did not walk a batter and fanned eight. Sam
LeCure retired the side in order in the ninth to preserve the Reds' 11th win
in 14 meetings with Chicago.
Tom Gorzelanny (7-8) took the loss after allowing a season-high six earned
runs on seven hits and a pair of walks with one strikeout in five innings for
the Cubs, who had a three-game win streak halted.
Cincinnati right-hander Bronson Arroyo can reach 15 wins for the third
straight season, matching his career-best victory output.
The 33-year-old Key West, Fla. native has won four of his last five to get to
win No. 14, which came via a 5-2 decision over the Los Angeles Dodgers on Aug.
22 after he allowed seven hits and two runs in seven innings.
He tossed seven scoreless innings in a 3-0 win over the Cubs at Wrigley Field
on Aug. 6, improving his career mark against them to 9-6 in 21 outings (19
starts).
Arroyo is 5-4 in 12 starts at home in 2010.
Illinois native Randy Wells celebrates his 28th birthday with a chance to end
a six-start drought for Chicago.
The veteran of 57 major-league outings improved to 5-7 on the season with a
5-0 defeat of St. Louis on July 23 in Chicago, but is 0-5 with a no-decision
since, including a 16-5 loss to Atlanta on Aug. 22 in which he was tagged for
seven hits and seven runs in six innings.
He's 3-1 in six career starts against the Reds, including a 3-1 win on July 3,
when he gave up five hits and a run in 7 2/3 innings.
Wells has won just twice in 11 road starts this season, allowing 72 hits and
38 runs in 63 1/3 innings while allowing an opposition batting average of
.285.
<< Mets, Astros go at it again in New York
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The New York Mets will attempt to make it two straight wins
and improve to 15 games over .500 at home tonight, when they meet the Houston
Astros in the middle test of a three-game series at Citi Field.
The Mets won Frida
<< Struggling Braves try to snap skid vs. Marlins
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - A pair of 14-game winners square off this evening at Turner
Field, where the suddenly-slumping Atlanta Braves will host the NL East-rival
Florida Marlins in the second portion of a three-game series.
Atlanta has lost fo
<< Capuano leads Brewers into second test with Pirates
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Former staff ace Chris Capuano makes his third start of the
season tonight, when the Milwaukee Brewers host the Pittsburgh Pirates in the
middle game of three over the weekend at Miller Park.
Alcides Escobar's two-run tri
<< Dodgers aim to stay on track against Rockies
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Los Angeles Dodgers still have their sights set on a
postseason berth and will try to continue the charge tonight against the NL
West-rival Colorado Rockies in the second installment of a three-game series
at Coor
<< Phils, Padres set for matinee affair
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The confidence level didn't seem high for the Philadelphia
Phillies after they were swept in four games at home by the lowly Houston
Astros. But after Friday's win at San Diego in the opener of a three-game
series
Cards try to make it two straight wins in Washington >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The St. Louis Cardinals will try move closer towards a
playoff berth tonight in the third test of a four-game series against the
homestanding Washington Nationals.
The Cardinals are one game off the wild card l
2010 World Basketball Championship update - August 28th >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) -
Group C: Greece vs. China, 9 a.m. (Ankara)
Final: Greece 89 China 81
Group D: New Zealand vs. Lithuania, 9 a.m. (Izmir)
Final: Lithuania 92 New Zealand 79
Group A: Australia vs. Jordan, 9:30 a.m. (Kayseri)
Gro
Francesco leads Edoardo in battle of Molinaris >>
Perthshire, Scotland (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Francesco Molinari shot a four-under
68 on Saturday to take a one-stroke lead over his older brother Edoardo after
the third round of the Johnnie Walker Championship at Gleneagles.
Francesco Molinari f
AL Central: Desperate times for White Sox >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - With each loss, each mounting injury, the odds against the
Chicago White Sox overtaking the American League Central crown grow
increasingly longer.
At the moment, the White Sox are 3 1/2 games behind
Snyder takes long road to 76ers >>
PHILADELPHIA (AP) -Quin Snyder was in a basketball nowhere land. He rode the bus on those three-movie road trips on the NBDL circuit where everyone in a uniform believed they were one big break away from a look at the big time.He was several years a
Problem with Bears?
Chicago, IL - New Chicago Bears quarterback Jay Cutler and star linebacker Brian Urlacher shot down reports of a rift, saying they're simply not true.
"There's nothing between us," Cutler said Thursday, when he reported to training camp. "I just want to put that to rest. There never has been anything between us."
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Urlacher added: "I never said what I was quoted as saying and that's it. I have a lot of respect for Jay. I think Jay knows that."
Former Bears receiver Bobby Wade caused a stir when he told Minneapolis radio station KFAN-AM that Urlacher used a profanity while questioning Cutler's manhood during a conversation in Las Vegas last weekend. Wade, who now plays for the Vikings, said Urlacher used a profane version of the word "wimp" during the interview that had to be edited out.
go radio station WSCR-AM also reported that Urlacher had to be restrained from confronting Cutler during organized team activities.
"I wouldn't go face-to-face with Brian, anyway," Cutler said. "No, that's never happened. I've hung out with Brian away from the facility numerous times and we've always gotten along."
Urlacher, noting he was limited by a groin injury, denied the reports in an interview with the Chicago Tribune and did it again when he reported to camp.
"I didn't practice this summer, so I don't know how I would fight the guy if I didn't practice," Urlacher said. "We have no problems. I'm excited about football starting. I'm excited to have him as our quarterback."
Why would Wade say that?
"I don't know," Urlacher said. "Maybe he's jealous because we have a good quarterback now."
Cutler said the first he heard of any friction was when he got a call from Urlacher to clear the air. Urlacher, however, said he had already taken several calls from teammates wondering if the reports were true when Cutler phoned.
"He called me and I said, What's up (expletive), what are you doing?'" a grinning Urlacher said, uttering the same word he allegedly used with Wade. "It's so dumb to me that this even got to this point, but it did and then here we are."
better place after going 9-7 and missing the playoffs for the second straight year. They have a franchise quarterback for the first time in decades after acquiring Cutler in an offseason trade with Denver. But there are questions about his attitude following a fallout with Broncos management and new coach Josh McDaniels.
His critics include former Bears coach Mike Ditka and former Indianapolis and Tampa Bay coach Tony Dungy, one of Smith's mentors. Smith, however, said Cutler has been a model teammate so far while denying any animosity with Urlacher.
"There's no issue with Jay and Brian, except Brian and Jay are both excited about being teammates for our club this year," coach Lovie Smith said. "No more than that. We can't spend a whole lot of time on something that isn't true. I have talked to the players. Whenever something comes out, you have to address it, but it's a non-issue."
In some ways, Cutler is getting a second chance in Chicago, an opportunity to repair his reputation.
Smith said another quarterback - Michael Vick - deserves one, although he doesn't see it happening with the Bears, who lack an experienced backup. The former Atlanta Falcons star, who served a 23-month sentence for running a dogfighting ring, said Thursday he is getting close to signing with a pro football team.
"A second chance, like everyone in society who has paid their debt to society," Smith said. "He deserves a second chance. As far as we're concerned, we like this team that we have right now."
Particularly the new quarterback.
"Me and Brian have been on a good relationship since I've been here, and I expect it to continue that way," Cutler said.
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