Twins seek to sweep Tigers out of Minnesota
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09/02/2010 -
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The American League Central-leading Minnesota Twins will
continue their homestand tonight and try for a second sweep of the Detroit Tigers this season in the finale of a three-game series at Target Field.
The Twins have won five of their last six games and kicked off their nine-game
residency by taking the first two portions of this set with the division-rival
Tigers. They won Tuesday's series opener by a 4-3 score, then squeezed out a
2-1 win in 10 innings last night on Danny Valencia's game-winning single that
plated Michael Cuddyer.
Cuddyer singled off of Tigers reliever Ryan Perry to start the inning, stole
second after Delmon Young went down swinging and crossed the plate on
Valencia's ensuing base hit to center.
"Great feeling. My first walk-off hit in pro baseball. It was nice to come in
a situation like this," said Valencia. "We are in a pennant race. There are
some teams that are right behind us."
Minnesota remained four games ahead of Chicago for the AL Central lead. The
White Sox defeated Cleveland yesterday afternoon. Jose Morales was credited
with an RBI in the fifth inning to get the Twins on the board, while starter
Francisco Liriano struck out seven over seven shutout innings. Jon Rauch got
the win for tossing a scoreless 10th inning. Liriano entered the game with a
6-0 mark and a 2.47 ERA since the All-Star break.
Scott Baker has an unbeaten streak of his own and will take the ball Thursday
for the Twins. Baker is 5-0 with a 3.02 earned run average in his last seven
starts -- all Minnesota wins -- and pitched in last Friday's 6-3 victory at
Seattle. He allowed two runs in 6 2/3 innings and struck out four, improving
to 12-9 overall in 26 starts this season.
The right-hander is 1-0 in two starts against Detroit this season and 6-4 with
a 4.55 ERA in 19 career starts in this series. Baker will also try to improve
on his 8-3 record in 13 home starts tonight.
Detroit is fading from the playoff picture and sits 12 games behind Minnesota
in the Central standings and 17 games off the wild card lead. It is 2-4 so far
on a 10-game road trip after Perry surrendered the game-winning hit in the
bottom of the 10th inning.
Max Scherzer pitched nine innings and fanned nine batters in the no-decision
for the Tigers, who were swept in three games by Minnesota on the road from
May 3-5 at Target Field.
"It was great pitching performance by both guys. We had opportunities but we
had a tough time with that," said Tigers manager Jim Leyland.
Jhonny Peralta had two hits and drove in the only run for Detroit in the
eighth inning. Austin Jackson also finished with a pair of hits.
The Tigers will send All-Star pitcher Justin Verlander to the mound tonight
with hopes of him salvaging this series. Verlander is 2-1 in his last three
decisions, spanning four starts, and did not record a decision his last time
out on Friday in Toronto.
Verlander struck out eight, allowed two runs and walked two batters over eight
innings. He remained at 14-8 this season in 27 starts to go along with a 3.58
ERA. The right-hander is 1-1 in two starts against Minnesota this season and
6-7 with a 4.00 ERA over 16 starts for his career in this matchup.
Minnesota is 9-5 against Detroit this season, with a 7-1 mark as the host.
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(Sportsbook Betting Lines) -
Group C: Puerto Rico vs. Ivory Coast, 9 a.m. (Kayseri)
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Skidding Indians head out west to battle Mariners >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Cleveland Indians will take their four-game losing
streak out west for seven straight games starting with tonight's opener of a
four-game series against the Seattle Mariners at Safeco Field.
The Indians are coming off
LPGA Taiwan to start in 2011 >>
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LPGA Taiwan has been scheduled for October 2011 at Sunrise Golf & Country
Club.
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Mound Presence: A's lefty Braden faces Yankees again >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Oakland Athletics starter Dallas Braden won't have to worry
about Alex Rodriguez running across his pitching mound this afternoon due to
the slugging third baseman currently being on the disabled list.
Braden, making hi
Phillies make a quick stop at Colorado >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Given how well the Phillies have played out west over the
last week, they certainly won't mind staying there for an extra game. It
doesn't hurt that its a matchup against the Rockies either.
Philadelphia will try
Braves' Hudson aims to shut down Mets in series finale >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Offense has been tough to come by for the Mets in their
current series with the Braves. It should be even tougher tonight with Tim
Hudson, the National League's earned run average leader, set to take the hill.
Huds
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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