Braves try to stay hot in opener vs. Nats
Baseball Betting Lines
07/03/2009 - (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 place, Atlanta got itself right back in the thick of the NL East race this past week, as it swept a three-game set from the defending world champion Philadelphia Phillies, culminating with a 5-2 win in Thursday's finale.
"Any time you play in the division you want to play well," said Matt Diaz. "We're right there in the middle of it. Somehow, some way, we are. It was fun. The last three nights have been fun.
Diaz finished 3-for-4 and belted a go-ahead RBI double in a three-run eighth, while Garret Anderson added a two-run homer in the same frame to help the Braves pull within two games of the division-leading Phillies and Florida Marlins.
They are also a game back of the New York Mets.
"Without question everyone's got a shot," Diaz added when asked about the division's future prospects. "The Mets are going to get healthy; the Marlins are as good as they were in the beginning of the year when they might be the favorites; and the Phillies are the defending world champs, and when (Raul) Ibanez gets healthy, their offense is completely different. Everyone has a shot, except for Washington."
Mike Gonzalez (3-0) pitched a scoreless eighth to earn the win, and Rafael Soriano earned his seventh save of the season.
Tonight, the Braves turn to Japanese import Kenshin Kawakami, who has not pitched since June 24, when he was forced to leave after three perfect innings when he was hit in the neck by a line drive off the bat of New York Yankees pitcher Joba Chamberlain.
Kawakami, who has allowed three or fewer earned runs in each of his last 10 starts, is 4-6 this season with a 4.25 ERA. He has also faced the Nats twice this season, going 1-1 with a 4.09 ERA in those contests.
Washington, meanwhile, is the lone team in the NL East not competing for the top spot. At 22-54, the Nationals not only have the worst record in baseball, but they sit 17 games back of the front-running Marlins and Phillies.
Manny Acta's crew did not help their cause any this past week, as they were swept in a three-game set by the Marlins and have dropped eight of their last 10 contests.
Hoping to reverse that trend tonight will be rookie Ross Detwiler, who at 0-4 is still searching for his first big league win. Detwiler was charged with the loss last Friday in Baltimore, as the Orioles hit him for five runs and nine hits in five innings, bumping his ERA to 5.24.
Detwiler, who has received one run of support in five of his eight outings, will be making his first ever start against the Braves.
Atlanta has won four of its six matchups with the Nats this season after Washington took 12 of the 18 meetings a year ago.
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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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