Bautista homers again as Jays hammer Rays
Baseball Betting Lines
08/31/2010 - St. Petersburg, FL (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Jose Bautista's 43rd home run of the season highlighted a 10-run sixth inning as Toronto hammered the Rays, 13-5, at Tropicana Field.
Bautista leads the league in homers with his three-run blast giving him 102 RBI on the year, becoming the second player in the majors to reach the century mark. He later added an RBI single for a four-RBI night, but still trails the Tigers' Miguel Cabrera in the category.
Aaron Hill had a two-run homer, John McDonald hit a solo home run and DeWayne Wise ended with three hits, knocked in two and scored twice in the rout that snapped a two-game skid and evened the three-game series at a game apiece.
Meanwhile, Toronto starter Ricky Romero (11-8) pitched a three-hitter, leaving after 7 1/3 innings having allowed five runs -- four earned -- and five walks with as many strikeouts.
Tampa Bay faltered a night after taking the series opener, 6-2, and saw the Yankees grab sole possession of first place in the AL East by a game with their 9-3 rout of Oakland on Tuesday. The Rays still lead Boston in the wild card standings by a healthy seven games.
The hosts' undoing came by way of starter Jeff Niemann (10-5), who was roughed up for seven hits and seven runs in five-plus innings. He pitched to six batters in the fateful sixth frame without recording an out before Lance Cormier came on to allow four runs.
After McDonald's home run in the third, Tampa Bay actually took the lead on a Ben Zobrist RBI single and Dan Johnson's two-run double in the fifth.
It was all Toronto from there, starting with the marathon 10-run sixth as fourteen batters in all came to the plate. The barrage of runs started with Wise's base hit to center to score Fred Lewis.
Vernon Wells doubled home two to begin a string of three consecutive two- baggers with Adam Lind and John Buck following suit to make it a 5-1 game and chase Niemann from the mound.
Hill greeted Cormier with a two-run shot to left and Bautista later slugged his three-run blast out over the same wall for a commanding 11-3 lead.
It was a 10-run game in the eighth as Wise scored a run with a groundout and Bautista added a run-scoring hit off Andy Sonnanstine.
Reid Brignac chased home two runs with a single in the home eighth, but it was too little too late for the Rays.
Game Notes
Bautista also scored two runs and walked while McDonald scored three runs and was 2-for-4 with a walk...The Blue Jays accounted for 15 hits and went 7- for-12 with runners in scoring position...Romero has won four of his last five decisions...Niemann was coming off the worst performance of his career, having been battered for 10 runs and eight hits in 3 1/3 innings against Anaheim last Wednesday...The Rays had won three straight and seven of nine overall coming in.
Chicago, IL (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Neil Walker finished 4-for-5 with a two-run homer and four RBI while Jose Tabata contributed three hits, two RBI and three runs scored, as the Pittsburgh Pirates scored early and often in a 14-7 drubbin
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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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