Brewers try to make it three straight wins in opener with Cubs
Baseball Betting Lines
09/10/2010 - (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Right-hander Dave Bush can push Milwaukee's win streak to three tonight when the Brewers host the visiting Chicago Cubs in the initial test of a three-game set between National League Central Division foes at Miller Park.
The Brewers, mired in fourth place in the division, finished a home series with second-place St. Louis on Wednesday with an 8-1 triumph - finishing the three game set with two straight after dropping Monday's opener.
Ryan Braun homered and drove in a total of four runs to back Chris Capuano's solid performance on the mound.
Capuano (3-3) gave up one run on four hits over seven innings for the Brewers, who have won three of four overall. Casey McGehee had two RBI for the victors.
Bush, a 30-year-old Pittsburgh native, has alternated wins and losses over his last four decisions, most recently defeating the Pirates, 8-4, in an Aug. 29 start in Milwaukee.
He took a no-decision in his latest start on Sept. 4 at Philadelphia, allowing six hits and three runs over six innings of a game Milwaukee lost, 5-4.
The former second-round draft pick of the Toronto Blue Jays (2002) is just 2-9 lifetime against the Cubs in 19 appearances - 18 starts - and has faced them three times in 2010 with a loss and two no-decisions.
In the three games this season, Bush has pitched 15 2/3 innings while surrendering 23 hits and 13 earned runs.
He is 4-6 in 15 starts in Milwaukee this season.
For the Cubs, fiery Venezuelan righty Carlos Zambrano can extend his personal win streak to five.
A newsmaker in 2010 due both to injury and clubhouse unrest, Zambrano has gone 4-0 with a pair of no-decisions in six starts since returning to the Chicago rotation on Aug. 9.
He allowed two runs in a Sept. 4 start against the New York Mets and one run in each in three consecutive starts against Pittsburgh, Washington and San Diego between Aug. 19-30.
His last loss came June 25 against the Chicago White Sox.
Zambrano pitched an inning of scoreless relief against the Brewers in a 15-3 Cubs win on Aug. 4 and is 11-8 lifetime against them in 30 games - 27 starts.
He is 4-4 on the road this season with a 5.90 earned run average in 50 1/3 innings.
On Wednesday in Chicago, Brett Myers struck out eight in seven shutout innings to continue his dominance of the Cubs and lead the Astros to a 4-0 win in the rubber match of a three-game series.
Randy Wells (6-13) gave up four runs in six innings to take the loss for the Cubs, who went 5-4 on their homestand.
The Cubs are 7-5 this season against the Brewers.
Toronto, Canada (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Wally Buono's Lions team put together a vintage BC performance when they trounced the Alouettes in Montreal by a 38-17 count in Week 10. The beat-down came out of nowhere, as the Lions entered the game on a se
<< Tigers welcome Orioles to Comerica Park
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The streaking Detroit Tigers can boost an already
impressive home record tonight when they begin a three-game weekend series
with the Baltimore Orioles at Comerica Park.
Detroit, a distant third in the American League's C
<< Aging Senators and Gonchar a good fit
Toronto, ON (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Ottawa Senators have made the playoffs in
12 of the last 13 seasons and that's an impressive statistic. But for a city
that hasn't won a Stanley Cup since 1927, it's only the first step. Playing in
the post
<< Mawae calling it a career
Nashville, TN (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Long-time NFL center Kevin Mawae will
reportedly announce his retirement.
The Tennessean said Mawae, an eight-time Pro Bowl selection, has scheduled a
press conference for Friday afternoon to make i
<< Elon QB Riddle on verge of SoCon record
Elon, NC (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Elon senior quarterback Scott Riddle will become
the Southern Conference's all-time leader in passing yardage if he throws for
79 yards against Division II Shaw on Saturday.
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Milwaukee, WI (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Milwaukee Bucks have signed forward Tiny Gallon, who was selected in the second round of the 2010 NBA Draft. Gallon played one season at Oklahoma before he was chosen with the 47th overall pick i
Marlins pay a visit to Nationals Park >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Red-hot lefty John Lannan can make it three straight wins
and six in seven starts tonight when the Washington Nationals host the Florida
Marlins in game one of three between the National League East Division foes at
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Yankees visit Rangers in possible playoff preview >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - In a possible playoff preview, the New York Yankees and
Texas Rangers will start up an intriguing three-game series between division
leaders this evening at Rangers Ballpark in Arlington.
If the current American League sta
CFL Eastern Division: Tiger-Cats on a roll >>
Toronto, Canada (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Hamilton began the year meekly, but has now
won four straight to finally get over .500 on the season. Two of those wins
came against the Toronto Argonauts, who have slipped in the standings and are
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Reds hope to get on track at home versus Pirates >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - If a return home isn't enough to fix the Cincinnati Reds,
then perhaps a visit from the woeful Pittsburgh Pirates will do the trick.
Tonight, the Reds will try to stop a five-game losing streak when they begin a
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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."
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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