Myers opposes red-hot Hudson in the desert

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09/03/2010 - (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Trade deadline pick-up Daniel Hudson can continue a sterling National League debut tonight when the Arizona Diamondbacks host the Houston Astros in the opener of a three-game series at Chase Field.

A 23-year-old from Lynchburg, Va., Hudson was acquired in a late July deal that sent veteran pitcher Edwin Jackson to the Chicago White Sox. He's since made six starts for Arizona, winning four times and allowing three runs or less in each outing.

Hudson was on the mound for seven innings in his last outing on Aug. 28, when he allowed four hits and two runs in the Diamondbacks' 11-3 win at San Francisco. The Old Dominion University product has pitched at least seven in each NL outing.

Overall with Arizona, Hudson has allowed just 30 hits and nine runs in 43 2/3 innings with 42 strikeouts. In three starts with Chicago before the trade, he'd given up 17 hits and 11 runs in just 15 2/3 innings.

Hudson has never faced Houston.

For the Astros, super-consistent righty Brett Myers aims for a 28th straight start in which he's pitched at least six innings. In his first year with Houston, Myers has been a symbol of durability while notching 145 strikeouts and allowing just 174 hits in 185 innings.

He's on pace to surpass 200 innings for the second time in his career and first since 2005, when he logged 215 1/3 innings while going 13-8 with the Philadelphia Phillies.

The former first-round draft pick (12th overall, 1999) won double-digit games five times with the Phillies and reached that mark for Houston in his last start when he allowed six hits in seven scoreless innings of a 4-1 win over the New York Mets.

Myers, who is 4-7 on the road this year, got a no-decision against the Diamondbacks in Houston on May 5, when he was touched for six hits and two runs in seven innings of the Astros' 4-2 victory.

Lifetime against Arizona, he is 2-2 with a save in seven games with a 3.92 earned run average.

On Wednesday in Houston, Hunter Pence hit a three-run homer as part of a four- run fifth inning, as the Astros completed a three-game sweep of the St. Louis Cardinals with a 5-2 win at Minute Maid Park.

Michael Bourn added a single, RBI and run scored for Houston, which has won nine of its last 11. Carlos Lee chipped in with a sacrifice fly.

Nelson Figueroa (4-2) took the win after throwing five innings. The veteran yielded two runs on six hits, walked three and struck out one. Brandon Lyon worked a perfect ninth inning to record his 11th save of the season.

In Arizona, Brandon Allen belted his first career grand slam in the bottom of the seventh inning, and the Diamondbacks beat San Diego, 5-2, to complete a three-game sweep.

It was quite a 2010 debut for Allen, who was promoted from Triple-A Reno earlier Wednesday, the first day major league rosters could be expanded.

Barry Enright (6-2) gave up two runs and nine hits over seven innings for Arizona, which has won six of its last seven games. The rookie right-hander has yet to allow more than three runs in any of his 12 starts.

Arizona is 3-1 against the Astros 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."

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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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