Padres go for unprecedented road sweep of Cubs

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08/19/2010 - (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The San Diego Padres are pulling away in the National League West and look to further distance themselves from the rest of the division this afternoon, when they shoot for a rare four-game sweep of the Chicago Cubs from historic Wrigley Field.

The Padres have never swept the Cubs in four games in the Windy City, but did win a four-game series between the teams at Petco Park from May 5-8, 2006. They've won the first three portions of this set and are coming off Wednesday's 5-1 triumph in which starter Clayton Richard stymied the opposition with 6 2/3 innings of one-run ball to improve to 11-5 this season.

"You can't look at your opponent -- even if they're struggling -- because everyone is here for a reason," Richard said. "As a pitcher, we have to attack them as the best hitters out there. [The Cubs] deserve respect, they're big league hitters."

Adrian Gonzalez clubbed his 23rd homer and scored three times for the Padres, who have won nine of 10 games and pushed their lead atop the NL West to six games over San Francisco. The Giants dropped their third straight game last night in Philadelphia. Matt Stairs knocked in two runs in a winning effort.

San Diego will pay a visit to Milwaukee following its series in the Second City.

Surprising Padres starter Mat Latos will make his 23rd start of the season today and is 12-5 with a 2.32 earned run average. Latos is 7-1 over his last eight decisions, but did not factor in the outcome of a 3-2 loss at San Francisco last Saturday.

Latos pitched well enough for the win, allowing only one run on five hits through six innings of work. He has pitched at least six innings in three straight and six of his last seven trips to the mound.

The right-hander, who is 8-3 in 14 road starts this season, will face the Cubs for only the second time in his career. Latos lost to Chicago back on August 19 of last season, as he permitted five runs and seven hits in just 3 2/3 frames of a 7-1 loss.

Chicago made some news before losing for the third straight time by dealing two-time All-Star first baseman Derrek Lee to the Atlanta Braves on Wednesday for three minor league pitchers. Lee rejected a deal to Anaheim in July, but was willing to join the NL East-leading Braves for a possible run to the playoffs.

"It's tough. That's the hardest part just leaving your teammates, especially having to play against them this weekend," Lee said during a news conference. "I had a great time here. I grew as a player, grew as a person."

Lee also stated how it was disappointing not to win a championship for the title-plagued Cubs and enjoyed playing in front of the Wrigley Field crowd. He also said joining an Atlanta team that is in contention of going to the postseason was an opportunity he couldn't pass up.

He will switch dugouts when the Braves land in Chicago tomorrow for a weekend series.

The news of losing perhaps their best offensive player didn't sit well with the Cubs, who got a team-best two hits from Alfonso Soriano. Jeff Baker drove in the team's only run during the second inning and Xavier Nady went 1-for-3 with a double in Lee's spot at first base.

Casey Coleman pitched the first 4 1/3 innings for the Cubs and yielded three runs on six hits and three walks.

"It's a good learning experience, first time out as a starter," Coleman said. "Facing a good team -- first place. It's a team with that lineup [Wednesday] that's going to put pressure on you with all the lefties and speed they had in there. I just have to do a better job of throwing strikes and getting ahead and putting the pressure on them."

Taking the mound for the Cubs this afternoon will be Carlos Zambrano, who is set to start for the third time since his team-imposed suspension. He did not record a decision on August 9 in a loss at San Francisco and allowed two runs in five innings. He last toed the rubber in Saturday's 3-2 road victory over St. Louis and tossed 5 2/3 innings of two-run ball, improving to 4-6 in 27 games (11 starts) to go along with a 5.27 earned run average.

Zambrano has pitched well in his career against San Diego, going 6-2 with a 2.71 earned run average in 10 starts.

The Padres and Cubs are meeting for the first time since San Diego took five of nine matchups a year ago. The Padres had lost five straight at Wrigley Field before winning Monday's opener of this series.

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FOOTBALL BETTING : Cassel Signs Contract

Kansas City, MO - Kansas City has not officially named Matt Cassel its starting quarterback, but there can be no doubt now.

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After praising his leadership and work ethic through spring workouts, the Chiefs announced Tuesday they had signed the 27-year-old Cassel to a multiyear contract. Terms were not disclosed, but he will almost certainly be one of the highest-paid members of the team.
"We are excited to be able to reach a long-term agreement for Matt Cassel to be a Kansas City Chief for many years to come," owner and board chairman Clark Hunt said in a statement. "His proven leadership on and off the field will be a tremendous asset to the organization."
Patriots made him their franchise player, meaning his salary for this season will be about $15 million.
New head coach Todd Haley, taking over for Herm Edwards after a 2-14 season, refused to name a starter at any position during offseason workouts. But it was obvious to everyone the team belonged to Cassel.
"I go out there each and every day with that focus that I'm the starter," Cassel said during a June minicamp. "Competition brings out the best in everybody."
The signing will come as welcome news to Cassel's new coaches and teammates. Amiable and hardworking, online football betting he appeared to win over everyone at minicamp.
"I think he's got some unique leadership qualities. I think his teammates like him and have respect for him. I think he's doing a pretty good job on the field, too," Haley said last month. "He's doing everything that I'm asking him, that our coaches are asking him to do. I don't have one single complaint how he's carrying himself."
After one workout, wide receiver Devard Darling declared Cassel "a breath of fresh air."
"He has a lot of swagger, a lot of confidence. It's good for us," said Darling. "We trust in him that he's going to go out there and lead us all the way."
nse to accommodate his specific abilities.
Trapped on the bench behind Heisman winners Carson Palmer and Matt Leinart at USC and then unable to unseat Super Bowl MVP Brady at New England, Cassel seemed destined to be a backup all his life. As Brady was helped off the field last September, Cassel seized the opportunity he'd been waiting for since high school.
In his only sustained action since his teens, he hit 349 of 555 passes for 3,949 yards at New England. He had 23 touchdown passes and 13 interceptions as the Patriots, who had gone unbeaten through the regular season the year before, finished 11-5 and out of the playoffs.
Chiefs general manager Scott Pioli, who had been Bill Belichick's assistant in New England, engineered the trade after the Patriots became convinced that Brady would recover fully from his knee operation.
"Since Matt arrived in Kansas City, he has embraced the team and the community," Pioli said. "His work ethic, his ability and competitive presence is what we expect from our players."

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