Diaz helps Braves slip past slumping Phils

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07/02/2009 - Atlanta, GA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Matt Diaz belted a go-ahead RBI double in a three-run eighth, as the Atlanta Braves recorded their first home sweep of the Phillies since 2005 with a 5-2 victory at Turner Field.

Garret Anderson added a two-run homer in that fateful inning, as the Braves swept Philadelphia for the first time at home since April 22-24, 2005. It was the first sweep of the reigning World Series champs since April 2-5, 2007.

Diaz finished the game 3-for-4 with a pair of runs scored, while Casey Kotchman went 2-for-2 with a two-run homer, as the Braves have now won a season-high four straight games. Mike Gonzalez (3-0) pitched a scoreless eighth to earn the win, and Rafael Soriano earned his seventh save of the season.

Javier Vazquez got a no-decision after yielding two runs on seven hits with five strikeouts in 5 1/3 innings.

Jimmy Rollins snapped a career-worst 0-for-28 skid with a 2-for-4 night, but it was of no use, as the Phillies fell into a virtual tie with the Marlins for first place atop the NL East standings after losing three straight and 14 of 18 overall.

J.A. Happ pitched well in the start, allowing only two runs on seven hits and a pair of walks, with five strikeouts. in seven strong innings.

The Phillies inserted Ryan Madson (2-4) to keep the game tied in the home eighth, but the Braves forged ahead. Brian McCann led off with a single after an 0-2 count, and Yunel Escobar sacrificed pinch-runner Jair Jurrjens to second. Diaz followed with an RBI double to deep center field to give Atlanta a 3-2 lead.

After Diaz stole third, Anderson hit a towering home run to right field for a comfortable 5-2 edge. Soriano set the Phillies down in order to finish the win.

The Braves put runners on first and third with nobody out in the second for the game's first scoring chance. Happ, though, was up to the task, striking out Jeff Francoeur and Vazquez amidst a Kotchman walk to load the bases. A fielder's choice groundout by Gregor Blanco ended the frame.

Vazquez held the Phillies off the board for the first four innings, and Atlanta finally scored in the home half on Kotchman's two-run homer far beyond the wall in right field.

Happ's first career hit in the fifth helped Philadelphia put two runners on base with two outs, but Shane Victorino lined out sharply to shortstop Escobar to end the threat.

The Phillies finally got to Vazquez in the sixth, knocking him out of the game. Chase Utley led off with a single and moved to second two batters later, as Jayson Werth was hit by a pitch. Greg Dobbs followed with a double to deep center, although Utley barely scored after the center fielder Blanco acted as if he would catch the ball before it bounced over his head.

Vazquez was pulled in favor of Peter Moylan, who allowed an the tying RBI groundout by Pedro Feliz before getting out of the inning.

The Braves put runners on the corners with two outs in the seventh for Chipper Jones, who flied out weakly on a 3-1 pitch to help Happ escape from yet another jam.

Philadelphia nearly pushed across the go-ahead run in the eighth. Werth drew a one-out walk, and, with two outs, stole second and moved to third on a throwing error by the catcher McCann. A wild pitch sent Werth scrambling for home, but McCann got the ball as it bounced off the backstop and tossed it to Gonzalez, who was able to tag out Werth in time to end the inning.

Game Notes

After going 14-4 against Atlanta last season, the Phillies are 6-9 against them this year...Philadelphia outfielder Raul Ibanez will not join the team this weekend against the Mets after having his rehab start pushed back to Friday...It was Anderson's first career pinch-hit homer...Atlanta will begin a 10-game road trip on Friday against Washington.

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Big East Conference odds

Work left to do: Villanova, Syracuse, DePaul, West Virginia, Providence

Notre Dame and Louisville appear to have done enough to make the move, so we'll make them locks. The Cardinals, despite a modest RPI, are trending way up and have clinched at least a tie for third in the Big East, which should be more than enough with their pair of big road wins. Villanova got back to .500 and gets back to more solid footing. Syracuse got a very important road win and crippled a fellow contender in the process. West Virginia's fate could be in its hands Tuesday at Pitt.

Work left to do:

Villanova [18-9 (7-7), RPI: 21, SOS: 5] Pounded Rutgers to get back to .500. If Cats can get their last two (at UConn, vs. Syracuse), that should be enough with strong computer numbers and a host of wins away from The Pavilion. The Cats have beaten Texas and swept the Big 5 (never easy in Philly), but have a couple of losses to bubble teams (Xavier, Drexel), too. I still think they'll be OK, possibly even at 8-8.

Syracuse [20-8 (9-5), RPI: 53, SOS: 62] History says 10 wins will be plenty, but it might be hard for the Orange to get that last one with a final two vs. G'town, which is trying to win the league title, and at Villanova, which will be desperate for a W. The relative lack of nonconference heft and the weak computer numbers are still concerns, but the Orange have won four in a row and got a very, very big win at Providence on Saturday.

DePaul [16-12 (8-7), RPI: 54, SOS: 18] Beat Cincy and should get past South Florida to get to 9-7, but then what? They have beaten Kansas and Cal (right after the DeVon Hardin injury) earlier this season, but also have lost to Bradley and Purdue, among others. They'll likely need a couple of BE tourney wins, too, but we'll see ...

West Virginia [19-7 (8-6), RPI: 58, SOS: 125] The game at Pitt on Tuesday night could decide the Mountaineers' fate (barring a deep tournament run). They can still get to 9-7 in the Big East without it by beating Cincinnati, but the nine wins would be against UConn, Villanova, St. John's, South Florida, DePaul, Rutgers, Seton Hall twice and the Bearcats. Beating bubble foes is fine, but where's the beef? Outside of beating PG-less UCLA in nonconference play (still a top quality win), there's not a lot to fall back on (besides maybe NC State). WVU vs. Syracuse would be an interesting debate, as the teams don't play in the Big East regular season. WVU has the best win, but Cuse has played the much better schedule.

Providence [17-10 (7-7), RPI: 70, SOS: 33] The Friars likely saw their at-large hopes die at home in the four-point loss to Syracuse, barring an unexpected run to the Big East semis or more. The RPI, bad already, won't be helped by playing St. John's and South Florida in the final two league games.

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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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