Padres hope to get the brooms out in Pittsburgh

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07/25/2010 - (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The San Diego Padres will try to complete a three-game sweep of the Pittsburgh Pirates this afternoon at PNC Park.

The Padres won for the sixth time in eight games since the All-Star break on Saturday, as Everth Cabrera and Oscar Salazar each drove in two runs and Mat Latos was solid in his return from the disabled list, helping San Diego to a 9-2 win.

Latos (11-4) lasted six innings, allowing two runs on seven hits to win his sixth straight decision. The right-hander also stuck out seven and walked two. Latos went on the DL on July 16 with a strained left oblique muscle.

"I thought he threw the ball well from the first inning on," Padres manager Bud Black said of Latos in his return. "Hopefully he'll do what he's done all year."

Nick Hundley, Chase Headley, Adrian Gonzalez and Chris Denorfia each knocked in a run for the Padres, who won 5-3 in the opener of this series and have beaten the Pirates 22 times in their last 31 visits to Pittsburgh.

Gonzalez now has 20 RBI in his last 18 games against the Pirates.

Jose Tabata and Delwyn Young hit solo homers for the Pirates, who have dropped three in a row overall and have not won a series at home from the Padres since 2001.

Jeff Karstens (2-6) went six frames in the start, giving up four runs -- two earned -- on seven hits to drop his fourth straight decision. He also struck out five and walked two.

"I feel like I'm close to getting over that hump," Karstens said. "But they gave me a 2-1 lead and I let it slip away."

Heading to the hill for the Padres this evening will be lefty Wade LeBlanc, who is winless in his last six starts. LeBlanc lost his fourth straight decision on Tuesday in Atlanta, despite a solid effort that saw him surrender two runs in six innings. However, he fell to 4-8 on the year to go along with a 3.28 earned run average.

LeBlanc is 0-1 in two games (one start) against the Pirates with a 3.52 ERA.

Pittsburgh will counter with 25-year-old righty Brad Lincoln, who will be trying to bounce back from the worst outing of his brief career. Lincoln could not get out of the third inning on Tuesday against Milwaukee, which ripped him for seven runs and nine hits in 2 1/3 frames.

Lincoln, who has never faced the Padres, is 1-3 on the year with a 6.29 ERA.

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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."

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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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