Cards try to give KC royal flush

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06/13/2007 - (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Kansas City Royals may own the second worst record in the majors, but they've been quite good when facing National League teams so far this season. Tonight the club shoots for a second consecutive victory over the St. Louis Cardinals in the middle test of the I-70 Series from Kauffman Stadium.

Kansas City took Tuesday's opener behind an outstanding start from Brian Bannister. The second-year right-hander tossed seven shutout innings to lead the Royals to an 8-1 victory.

Bannister (3-3) scattered seven hits and two walks while striking out seven to win his third straight start. He received plenty of offensive support from his teammates, who banged out 13 hits and erupted for five runs in the first inning.

Esteban German went 3-for-5 with three RBI for the Royals, while Mark Teahan also collected three hits while driving in two runs. Alex Gordon finished 3- for-4 with an RBI and Jason LaRue contributed a two-run double to the rout.

Cardinals starter Brad Thompson (4-2) was rocked for eight runs and 10 hits over 4 1/3 innings. St. Louis' lone run came on a pinch-hit solo homer from Ryan Ludwick in the ninth.

Juan Encarnacion extended his hitting streak to 12 games with an eighth-inning single for the Cardinals, who have lost four of their last five.

The Royals just took two of three interleague games with Philadelphia over the weekend and are 5-2 thus far against the NL this season. Conversely, the Cardinals have dropped six of their seven interleague matchups in 2007.

The Cardinals also struggled against the AL during the 2006 regular season, recording a 5-10 overall mark in interleague games last year. The club did take four of six meetings from the Royals, however, and swept a three-game series at Kauffman Stadium.

St. Louis has still taken 11 of the last 15 encounters between the teams and has gone 10-2 in Kansas City over that span.

Adam Wainwright will get his first taste of this in-state rivalry in a starting role with he takes the mound for St. Louis tonight. The 25-year-old made three relief appearances against the Royals last season and posted one save and a 3.86 earned run average over 4 2/3 innings of work.

Wainwright has had an up-and-down campaign as a starter in 2007, as his 4-5 record and 5.19 ERA will attest. He struggled against Cincinnati his most recent time out, surrendering four runs and eight hits -- including three homers -- over six innings in a 5-1 loss on Friday.

The former first-round draft choice had allowed two runs or less in each of his last three outings prior to Friday's loss.

Kansas City will be sending out an inconsistent pitcher of its own in Odalis Perez, who brings a 3-6 record and 5.68 ERA into tonight's tilt. The left- hander is coming off a loss at Cleveland on Thursday in which he gave up three runs and seven hits over 5 1/3 frames.

Perez has lost four of his last five decisions and has amassed a 7.31 ERA over his three most recent starts.

The 30-year-old also does not have good career numbers against St. Louis. In nine lifetime games (six starts) versus the Cardinals, Perez is just 2-3 with an ugly 8.57 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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