Cubs' Zambrano takes mound against Milwaukee
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07/03/2009 -
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Carlos Zambrano takes aim at his first win in five starts
this afternoon when the Chicago Cubs continue their four-game series with the
Milwaukee Brewers at Wrigley Field.
Zambrano was roughed up by the Chicago White Sox in his last start on Sunday,
as he allowed five runs (four earned) and nine hits in 5 1/3 innings to fall
to 4-3 on the season, while raising his earned run average to 3.69.
The 28-year-old right-hander did not get a decision against the Brewers
earlier in the season, but the Cubs have lost his last six home starts against
them.
Chicago's offense awakened in a big way in Thursday's opener, as Derrek Lee
headlined a home run parade with two long-balls -- a three-run shot and a
grand slam -- for a career-high seven RBI, leading the Cubs to a 9-5 win.
It was Lee's 20th career multi-homer game, as the Cubs won for the third time
in four games. Jake Fox and Geovany Soto each hit a solo shot in a game that
featured six total homers -- all in the first six innings.
"I don't feel different, just swinging the bat well right now," Lee said of
his recent string of good hitting. "Getting a pitch to hit and putting the
bat on it -- I don't try to compare different times."
Ryan Dempster (5-5) was the beneficiary of the run support, moving to 10-3
lifetime against Milwaukee after allowing three runs on eight hits and two
walks with nine strikeouts in 6 2/3 innings.
Mike Cameron and Prince Fielder each hit a home run for the Brewers, who have
lost two in a row after winning four of their previous five. Seth McClung
(3-2), in his second start of the year, was hammered for seven runs on seven
hits with two walks and a strikeout in only 3 1/3 innings.
"The offense, after getting shut out yesterday, I was pleased with the
offense," Brewers manager Ken Macha said. "The offense would have given us a
chance to win. The starting pitching didn't."
Getting the call for the Brewers today will be veteran right-hander Jeff
Suppan, who has lost his last two starts. Suppan absorbed the loss on Sunday
against the San Francisco Giants, who hit him for five runs and nine hits in 5
2/3 innings, dropping him to 5-6 on the year to go along with a 4.86 ERA.
Suppan lost to the Cubs back on April 12 and is 6-8 lifetime against them with
a 3.90 ERA in 21 starts.
The 34-year-old Suppan may also have to deal with Alfonso Soriano, who has sat
out the last two Cubs' games due to his recent struggles at the plate. Soriano
has just 13 hits in his last 64 at-bats and has seen his season average dip to
.230.
Milwaukee has lost four of its seven meetings with the Cubs this season, but
won in five of its nine visits to Wrigley a year ago.
<< Braves try to stay hot in opener vs. Nats
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Atlanta Braves try to push their season-high winning
streak to five games this evening when they open a three-game series with the
lowly Washington Nationals at Nationals Park.
Although it still sits in fourth pl
<< Ramirez, Marlins host Pirates in Miami
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Hanley Ramirez will try to stretch his franchise-record RBI
streak to 11 games this evening when the Florida Marlins begin a three-game
series with the Pittsburgh Pirates at Land Shark Stadium.
Florida, meanwhile, has
<< Yankees, Blue Jays open key series with weekday matinee
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The New York Yankees will try to start a new winning streak
this afternoon, when they play the first of four straight games versus the
American League East-rival Toronto Blue Jays in the Bronx.
New York had a seven-game wi
<< Ray carries Eskimos over Bombers; Lumsden hurts shoulder
Edmonton, AB (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Ricky Ray went 29-for-41 passing for 318 yards
and a touchdown, as the Edmonton Eskimos edged the Winnipeg Blue Bombers,
19-17, in the teams' season-opener.
Edmonton took the win after Winnipeg kicker
<< Abreu homers twice in Angels' win over O's
Anaheim, CA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Bobby Abreu hit a pair of homers, accounting
for four runs batted in, and John Lackey threw eight strong innings, as the
Angels beat Baltimore, 5-2, in the opener of a four-game series.
Chone Figgins had
Serena and Venus reach fourth Wimbledon doubles final >>
Wimbledon, England (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The incomparable Williams sisters,
Serena and Venus, will appear in their fourth Wimbledon doubles final on
Saturday.
The fourth-seeded sisters drilled a top-seeded tandem of Zimbabwe's Cara
Road-weary Phils return home to host Mets >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Philadelphia Phillies limp back home tied atop the NL
East after a dreadful road trip. Tonight, they try to improve upon their
horrific play in front of their own fans when they open a three-game series
against
King Felix goes for Mariners at Fenway >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Seattle Mariners enter the final leg of a challenging
road trip with tonight's opener of a three-game series with the American
League East-leading Boston Red Sox from Fenway Park.
The surprising Mariners have acquitte
Cardinals send Pineiro to hill in Cincinnati >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Joel Pineiro hopes for some run support tonight when the
St. Louis Cardinals begin a three-game set with the Cincinnati Reds at Great
American Ball Park.
Pineiro lost for the ninth time in his last 11 starts on Sun
Rays ride hot streak into Arlington >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Tampa Bay Rays take their hot streak into the Lone
Star State, where the defending American League champions will start up an
intriguing three-game series with the Texas Rangers this evening.
With wins in 15 of their
Kansas City, MO - Kansas City has not officially named Matt Cassel its starting quarterback, but there can be no doubt now.
NFL Betting
After praising his leadership and work ethic through spring workouts, the Chiefs announced Tuesday they had signed the 27-year-old Cassel to a multiyear contract. Terms were not disclosed, but he will almost certainly be one of the highest-paid members of the team.
"We are excited to be able to reach a long-term agreement for Matt Cassel to be a Kansas City Chief for many years to come," owner and board chairman Clark Hunt said in a statement. "His proven leadership on and off the field will be a tremendous asset to the organization."
Patriots made him their franchise player, meaning his salary for this season will be about $15 million.
New head coach Todd Haley, taking over for Herm Edwards after a 2-14 season, refused to name a starter at any position during offseason workouts. But it was obvious to everyone the team belonged to Cassel.
"I go out there each and every day with that focus that I'm the starter," Cassel said during a June minicamp. "Competition brings out the best in everybody."
The signing will come as welcome news to Cassel's new coaches and teammates. Amiable and hardworking, online football betting he appeared to win over everyone at minicamp.
"I think he's got some unique leadership qualities. I think his teammates like him and have respect for him. I think he's doing a pretty good job on the field, too," Haley said last month. "He's doing everything that I'm asking him, that our coaches are asking him to do. I don't have one single complaint how he's carrying himself."
After one workout, wide receiver Devard Darling declared Cassel "a breath of fresh air."
"He has a lot of swagger, a lot of confidence. It's good for us," said Darling. "We trust in him that he's going to go out there and lead us all the way."
nse to accommodate his specific abilities.
Trapped on the bench behind Heisman winners Carson Palmer and Matt Leinart at USC and then unable to unseat Super Bowl MVP Brady at New England, Cassel seemed destined to be a backup all his life. As Brady was helped off the field last September, Cassel seized the opportunity he'd been waiting for since high school.
In his only sustained action since his teens, he hit 349 of 555 passes for 3,949 yards at New England. He had 23 touchdown passes and 13 interceptions as the Patriots, who had gone unbeaten through the regular season the year before, finished 11-5 and out of the playoffs.
Chiefs general manager Scott Pioli, who had been Bill Belichick's assistant in New England, engineered the trade after the Patriots became convinced that Brady would recover fully from his knee operation.
"Since Matt arrived in Kansas City, he has embraced the team and the community," Pioli said. "His work ethic, his ability and competitive presence is what we expect from our players."
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