Braves try to keep playoff hopes alive in finale with Marlins

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09/19/2007 - (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Lefty Chuck James looks for his third win against Florida in four decisions tonight when the Atlanta Braves close out a three-game series with the Marlins at Turner Field.

The Braves, who won 4-3 on Tuesday, are still clinging to faint playoff hopes. They trail San Diego by 5 1/2 games in the National League's wild card race, as the Padres beat Pittsburgh, 5-3, on Monday.

James, who'll be 26 in November, pulled himself to the .500 mark for the season with a 9-2 defeat of Washington on September 8 in Atlanta. He was roughed up in his last start, also against the Nationals, allowing six hits and three runs in 3 2/3 innings, getting a no-decision in an 8-5 Atlanta win on September 14.

He's faced the Marlins four times in his career - three starts - and is 2-1 with a 1.54 earned run average in 23 1/3 innings.

Florida goes with lefty Dontrelle Willis, who halted a five-start winless streak in his last outing.

The 25-year-old Oakland native scattered seven hits and allowed five runs over six innings on September 14 at Colorado, defeating the Rockies, 7-6, to snap a skid that had resulted in three losses and two no-decisions since August 14.

He dropped a 7-4 decision to the Braves on August 29 in Florida, allowing eight hits and six runs in 5 1/3 innings. Willis is 6-5 in 18 lifetime starts against Atlanta with a 4.92 ERA.

On Tuesday, Brian McCann singled in the eventual winning run, as the Braves downed the Marlins, 4-3.

Jo-Jo Reyes (1-2) allowed one run on three hits, with seven strikeouts and three walks over five frames in his eighth big-league start for Atlanta. Yunel Escobar had three hits, and Matt Diaz notched a pair of hits and a pair of runs scored.

Rafael Soriano tossed a perfect ninth for his seventh save this season.

Florida lefty Chris Seddon (0-1) allowed four runs -- three earned -- on nine hits over 4 2/3 innings in the second start of his career. Miguel Cabrera ended 2-for-4 and drove in a pair of runs for the Marlins, who lost their third straight.

The Braves have won three in a row over the Marlins and now lead the season series 9-8.

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FOOTBALL BETTING : Cassel Signs Contract

Kansas City, MO - Kansas City has not officially named Matt Cassel its starting quarterback, but there can be no doubt now.

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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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