Braves' Hanson hopes to end winless drought versus Mets
Baseball Betting Lines
09/01/2010 - (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - A matchup at home versus the struggling New York Mets should translate into Tommy Hanson's first victory in nearly two months, but things just haven't gone the right-hander's way as of late.
Hanson will look to halt his winless stretch at 10 straight starts this evening, when the Atlanta Braves try to make it five straight victories overall in the third contest of a four-game set with New York at Turner Field.
Hanson has several factors working in his favor tonight. First is the fact that the Mets have lost 15 of their last 21 meetings with the Braves, as well as 11 of the past 14 played between the teams at Turner Field.
Run support has also been an issue when Hanson has been on the mound, but the Braves have plated 18 runs in the first two games of this set and have scored at least seven runs in six of their last nine contests.
Still, the fact remains that Hanson hasn't won since July 3, having gone 0-5 with a 3.08 earned run average in 10 starts since. He has also lost in each of his last two starts and served up four homers and seven runs -- six earned -- in a 7-1 loss to the Marlins on Friday.
"I left some balls up to start the game," said Hanson, who is 8-10 with a 3.76 ERA this year. "I never got into a rhythm, never really got anything going."
Luck hasn't been on his side when facing the Mets this year. He is 0-1 in two starts against the club, despite a 1.69 ERA.
Hopefully Atlanta can keep swinging a hot bat for Hanson in this contest. The club certainly did that on Tuesday, when David Ross capped a seven-run fifth inning with his first career grand slam to help the Braves to a 9-2 victory.
"That was a fun game," said Ross. "Any time I can succeed and contribute to a win feels good. It's just nice that I had a good game. I have to do my part whenever I get in there."
Derrek Lee added three hits and an RBI and Jason Hayward smacked a two-run double for the Braves, who have won four straight and maintained a three-game edge over Philadelphia for first place in the National League East. Atlanta will try to win five games in a row for the first time since June 16-20.
The Braves are expected to add more offense to the lineup today as rosters expand. The team is expected to promote first baseman Freddie Freeman, the International League's Rookie of the Year who hit .319 with 18 homers and 87 RBI for Triple-A Gwinnett this year.
Jeff Francoeur and Henry Blanco each drove in a run for the Mets, who have dropped five of their last seven. Francoeur was then traded to the Rangers for infielder Joaquin Arias after the game .
Jon Niese took the loss, though five of the eight runs he allowed over 4 2/3 innings were unearned.
"It's a combination of things," said David Wright. "Obviously we don't want to make errors and you hope that when you do make an error that the pitcher can pick you up. Unfortunately, neither one of those things happened. We made the errors and couldn't stop the bleeding. When you're facing a team this good, you can't give them extra outs."
Mets shortstop Jose Reyes missed his fifth game in a row due to a right oblique injury, while teammate Angel Pagan also sat out last night due to a right wrist injury that has him day-to-day.
The good news for the Mets is that Mike Pelfrey has seemed to regain his early season form that saw him start the year 10-2. The right-hander then went winless over seven straight starts and four consecutive decisions between June 30-Aug. 4, but is 3-1 with a 1.20 ERA over his last four starts.
Pelfrey has won each of his last two starts, going eight innings in both. He held Houston to just six hits without a run on Friday, improving to 13-7 with a 3.61 ERA this year.
"Henry [Blanco] and I have gone back to the four-seam fastball," Pelfrey said in talking about his recent string of successful outings. "It's something we did earlier in the year and I've gotten back to using it again. [Friday] I was fortunate, I was pretty erratic to say the least. I felt like when it came time to, though, I made some pitches."
The 26-year-old Pelfrey is 2-2 with a 3.80 ERA in four starts versus the Braves this season.
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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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