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07/20/2010 - Chicago, IL (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Aramis Ramirez recorded his fourth career three-homer game and drove in seven runs, as the Chicago Cubs rallied past the Houston Astros, 14-7, in the second installment of a three-game series at Wrigley Field.
Derrek Lee knocked in three runs and scored three times for the Cubs, who bounced back from an 11-5 loss in the opener of this series on Monday. Geovany Soto hit a solo homer for the victors.
Ryan Dempster went five innings in the start, allowing seven runs -- four earned -- on eight hits. Andrew Cashner (1-3) tossed two innings of scoreless relief to pick up his first win in the majors.
Chicago manager Lou Piniella announced earlier in the day that he will retire at the conclusion of the season. Piniella is in his fourth year as the manager of the Cubs. He guided the team to a winning record in each of his first three years, but the team is just 43-52 this season.
Chris Johnson hit a solo homer, drove in two runs, and scored twice for the Astros, who have dropped three of four.
Wesley Wright lasted 4 2/3 frames in his first major league start, giving up six runs on six hits. Brandon Lyon (5-4) allowed two runs on three hits in one inning of relief to take the loss.
Trailing by six runs, 7-1, Chicago scored five times in the home fifth to get back into the game. Soto singled, moved to third when Ryan Theriot reached on Jeff Keppinger's throwing error, and scored on a passed ball. Starlin Castro knocked in a run when he grounded out. After Derrek Lee walked, Ramirez smacked a three-run homer to left-center to cut the gap to 7-6. Wilton Lopez was called upon from the bullpen two batters later to keep Houston in front.
The Cubs tied the contest in the sixth on Soto's blast to center off Chris Sampson.
Chicago took the lead in the seventh. Lyon started the inning on the mound for the Astros. Starlin Castro doubled off the wall in left-center and crossed the plate on Derrek Lee's double. Alfonso Soriano knocked in Lee with a two-out single for a 9-7 lead.
The Cubs scored five more times in the eighth to account for the final margin. Gary Majewski loaded the bases with one out. Derrek Lee hit a two-run single before Ramirez blasted a three-run homer over the wall in left.
The Astros scored four runs in the second. After Hunter Pence flied out to begin the inning, Carlos Lee doubled and Keppinger walked. Johnson followed with an RBI single. Jason Castro then reached base on Theriot's throwing error, which allowed Keppinger to score and the runners to advance to second and third. Michael Bourn walked to load the bases with two outs. Dempster's control issues continued as he hit Angel Sanchez with a pitch and walked Lance Berkman to plate two more runs. Pence popped out to end the frame.
Houston added two more runs in the top of the fourth to make it 6-0. Sanchez doubled and Berkman walked with two outs. Pence and Carlos Lee followed with back-to-back RBI base hits.
Ramirez hit a solo homer to left in the home fourth to make it a five-run game. Johnson, though, responded with a solo shot of his own in the top of the fifth to make it 7-1.
Game Notes
Houston has won five of eight matchups with Chicago this season, one year after the Cubs took 11 of the 17 matchups between the two clubs....The Cubs optioned pitcher Mitch Atkins to Triple-A Iowa and recalled pitcher Jeff Stevens from the same club...Wright became the first Astro to make their first Major League start for the club since Lopez started for Houston on September 29, 2009 at Philadelphia. Tuesday was Wright's 127th major league appearance.
<< Hafner's clutch double gives Indians win over Twins
Minneapolis, MN (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Travis Hafner's RBI double in the eighth
proved to be the difference, and the Cleveland Indians extended their winning
streak to a season-best six with a 4-3 win over the Minnesota Twins.
Hafner finish
<< Alvarez, Pirates hang on to beat Brewers following nine-run first
Pittsburgh, PA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Rookie Pedro Alvarez hit two homers,
including his first career grand slam, as the Pittsburgh Pirates scored nine
times in the first inning and held on to edge the Milwaukee Brewers, 11-9, in
the sec
<< Cardinals cruise behind Carpenter to top flailing Phils
St. Louis, MO (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Chris Carpenter allowed just one run in eight
strong innings, and the St. Louis Cardinals defeated the struggling
Philadelphia Phillies, 7-1, in the second of four games at Busch Stadium.
Carpenter
<< Angels' home run parade leads to rout of Yankees
Bronx, NY (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Mike Napoli, Maicer Izturis and former Yankee
Hideki Matsui each hit a two-run homer to lead the Angels to a 10-2 win over
New York at Yankee Stadium.
Napoli finished with four RBI for the Angels, who capt
Lugo's RBI hit in 13th inning lifts O's over Rays >>
Baltimore, MD (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Julio Lugo's RBI single in the bottom of the
13th lifted the Baltimore Orioles to a wild 11-10 win over the Tampa Bay Rays
in the second of three games at Camden Yards.
The Orioles needed to score twice i
Enright, D'Backs shut down Mets >>
Phoenix, AZ (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Arizona rookie right-hander Barry Enright
turned in eight solid innings following a shaky start, and the Diamondbacks
beat the New York Mets, 3-2, in the second portion of a three-game series at
Chase F
Danks shines on mound as White Sox down Mariners >>
Seattle, WA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - John Danks was nearly unhittable on the mound,
as the Chicago White Sox blanked the scuffling Seattle Mariners, 4-0, in the
middle installment of a three-game series at Safeco Field.
Danks (10-7) scattered
Leake, Votto pace Reds over Nats >>
Cincinnati, OH (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Mike Leake threw five innings of one-run
ball before a nearly three-hour rain delay and Joey Votto smacked a three-run
homer, as the Reds hung on for an 8-7 win over Washington in the continuation
of a four-gam
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."
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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Mayweather picked to beat De La Hoya
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA -- Golden Boy Oscar De La Hoya and his rival Floyd Mayweather Jr. arrived at the MGM Grand here Wednesday amid the pomp and pandemonium befitting two of the biggest stars in the sport who are about to duke it out for the WBC super welterweight crown this Saturday (Sunday in Manila).
As of Wednesday, MySportsbook.com closed its book with Mayweather a favorite to defeat De La Hoya at -170 (a $100 bet wins $70), while De La Hoya is a +140 underdog (a $100 bet wins $140).
Mayweather arrived at about 11:30 a.m. on a big truck with his face and a big "World's Best Pound-for-Pound" sign scribbled across the vehicle. He was accompanied by his entourage made up of rappers and his training team.
A crowd of close to 3,000 eager fans packed the MGM Grand lobby, with their cameras in tow, all trying to vie for position to get a good angle at Mayweather, who is acknowledged as the world's best fighter pound-for-pound.
Eric Gomez, Golden Boy Promotions vice-president, described the fan turnout as "amazing" and swore he had never seen anything quite like this event.
"The crowd was fantastic. Everybody was just too eager to see the two fighters," said ALA manager Michael Aldeguer, who was among those who waited at the lobby together with his ward Rey "Boom Boom" Bautista and AJ Banal.
De La Hoya made his own grand entrance at the hotel lobby at around 12:30 p.m. accompanied by GBP chief executive officer Richard Schaefer and trainer Freddie Roach.
The same group of fans who trooped to see Mayweather also lingered around to get a close look at De La Hoya, who has been secretly working out at a Las Vegas gym for days after arriving from his main training camp in Puerto Rico.
The golden boy then took part in a closed-door afternoon workout with Bautista and Banal. The two, along with Aldeguer and wife Christine, as well as an HBO crew were the only ones allowed inside the gym.
De La Hoya and Mayweather take part in today's final press conference before the official weigh-in this Friday.
Ring Magazine, the acknowledged bible of boxing, reported in its June 2007 issue that 12 out of 20 boxing experts it interviewed have favored Mayweather to defeat De la Hoya, with only 8 favoring the latter.
But Filipino ring icon Manny Pacquiao said in a recent interview with The Freeman's Emmanuel Villaruel that De La Hoya will win by unanimous decision over Mayweather.
To visit this online sportsbook got to MySportsbook.com for all your bet on boxing needs.
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