07/04/2009 - (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Right-hander Brad Thompson starts against the Cincinnati Reds for the second time this season today when the St. Louis Cardinals head to Great American Ball Park for the middle test of a three-game series with their National League Central Division rivals.
Thompson, who entered 2009 with just 24 starts in 153 big-league appearances, began this season with nine straight outings out of the bullpen before getting a start against the Reds on June 2.
He went five innings in the Cardinals' 5-2 win, getting a no-decision after giving up five hits and two runs in five innings.
Since, he's 2-3 in five starts, allowing 16 earned runs in 28 1/3 innings.
For Cincinnati, resurgent No. 5 starter Micah Owings seeks a third win in four starts.
The 26-year-old Georgian was 3-7 after losing four straight starts between May 16 and June 5, before toppling Atlanta, 4-3, on June 17.
He dropped a 7-5 verdict at Toronto six days later, but recovered again in the northeastern portion of the "Battle of Ohio," defeating the Cleveland Indians, 8-1, with six innings of five-hit, one-run ball.
Owings got a no-decision in his lone career start against the Cardinals while with Arizona, giving up four hits and seven runs - two earned - in 2 2/3 innings.
The Cardinals enter the day in sole possession of first place in the tightly- bunched NL Central, leading second-place Milwaukee by a game, while the Reds sit fourth in the six-team loop, three games behind.
On Friday, Jarrett Hoffpauir came through in a big way in his major league debut, hitting the go-ahead two-run single in the ninth inning, lifting St. Louis to a 7-4 win.
Fresh off being named NL Player of the Month, Albert Pujols belted his fourth grand slam of the season in the eighth inning and knocked in five runs over the final two frames. He upped his major league- leading totals to 31 homers and 82 RBI.
Jerry Hairston Jr. had three hits and an RBI for the Reds, who had won four of five coming into the weekend.
Reds starter Homer Bailey had a strong outing, yielding three hits and two runs over 7 1/3 innings, while St. Louis' Joel Pineiro allowed eight hits and three runs -- two earned -- in seven frames.
Nick Masset was on the mound for the top of the ninth, but left after taking a ball of his arm. Danny Herrera (1-4) then relieved Masset and retired Joe Thurston on a pop-up, but Colby Rasmus and Brendan Ryan singled and Skip Schumaker was safe on an error by shortstop Paul Janish, a ball that he couldn't handle on a short hop.
Then, in his first official big league at-bat, Hoffpauir smacked a soft liner to left field. Hoffpauir, a sixth-round draft pick by the Cardinals in 2004, was called up Wednesday from Triple-A Memphis and became the 15th rookie to appear with St. Louis this year.
Pujols then greeted reliever Carlos Fisher with an RBI double down the left- field line.
It was a tenuous bottom of the ninth, but Ryan Franklin was able to pick up his 20th save of the year. Edwin Encarnacion doubled with one out, and Willy Taveras walked with two down, putting runners at the corners. Joey Votto walked before Brandon Phillips struck out to end the game.
Cincinnati has split its eight meetings with the Cards this season.
<< BoSox try to bounce back against Mariners
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Boston Red Sox will try to return to the win column
when they host the Seattle Mariners this afternoon at Fenway Park.
Boston's starter this afternoon will be Brad Penny, who has one win in his
last six starts. The la
<< No rest for the weary: Tigers, Twins back at it after marathon
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Detroit Tigers will try to put distance between them
and the Minnesota Twins when the two teams collide this afternoon in the
second matchup of a three-game series at the Metrodome.
Edwin Jackson will toe the rubber
<< Sibling smash: Serena bests Venus to win Wimbledon
Wimbledon, England (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - In an overpowering performance, Serena
Williams bested her older sister, Venus, in straight sets to win the title at
Wimbledon for a third time.
The 27-year-old Serena denied her sibling a three-peat
<< Home Cooking: Cubs target seventh straight home win against Brewers
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Chicago Cubs have picked the perfect time to get hot.
Today, they try to win their seventh straight game at home and their fourth
consecutive game overall, as they continue a four-game set with the Milwaukee
Brewers at W
Rockies resume homestand with last-place Diamondbacks >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Streaking Colorado right-hander Aaron Cook makes his 20th
career appearance against the Arizona Diamondbacks tonight, when the Rockies
host their National League West Division foes at Coors Field for the middle
test of a thre
Floyd attempts to slow down White Sox >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Gavin Floyd will try to keep the good times rolling when
he takes the mound this afternoon for the Chicago White Sox in the second
meeting
of a three-game series against the Kansas City Royals at Kauffman Stadium.
Floyd
Floyd attempts to slow down Royals >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Gavin Floyd will try to keep the good times rolling when
he takes the mound this afternoon for the Chicago White Sox in the second
meeting of a three-game series against the Kansas City Royals at Kauffman
Stadium.
Floyd
Echenique birdies the last for the lead in Paris >>
Paris, France (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Overnight leader Rafa Echenique birdied the
last hole Saturday to hold on to his spot atop the leaderboard after the third
round of the Open de France.
Echenique shot a one-under 70 and finished 54 holes at
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, 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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