Blalock's HR in ninth lifts Rangers over Angels
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07/02/2009 -
Arlington, TX (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Hank Blalock went 3-for-5 with a pair of home
runs, including a two-run blast in the bottom of the ninth inning, to lift the
Rangers past the Angels, 9-7, in the rubber match of a three-game series.
After the Angels scored three runs in the top of the ninth to tie the game,
Los Angeles sent Justin Speier (3-2) to the mound in the bottom half. Michael
Young stroked a single to center to begin the inning, but David Murphy and
Marlon Byrd recorded two quick outs. Blalock then stepped to the plate and
belted a first-pitch fastball over the center-field wall to give Texas the
improbable win.
Young went 3-for-5 with an RBI for the Rangers, who have won two straight
after a three-game skid. Chris Davis drove in a pair of runs, while Murphy and
Julio Borbon each knocked in a run.
Frank Francisco (2-1) picked up the win despite giving up three runs on two
hits in the ninth. Francisco blew his second save of the season. Starter Kevin
Millwood went 6 1/3 frames, allowing four runs on eight hits with four
strikeouts and three walks.
Juan Rivera went 2-for-5 with a three-run homer in the ninth for the Angels,
who have dropped two in a row after a six-game winning streak. Torii Hunter
stroked a two-run double, while Maicer Izturis and Chone Figgins each drove in
a run.
Jered Weaver went 5 1/3 frames, allowing seven runs on eight hits with three
strikeouts for LA.
The Rangers thought they had the game all wrapped up when they sent
Francisco to the mound in the top of the ninth with a three-run cushion. In
fact, Francisco was down to the last out of the game despite walking Bobby
Abreu and Hunter. But Rivera stepped to the plate and drove a 2-0 fastball
just over the wall in right-center field to deadlock the contest.
The Rangers scored a pair of runs in the fourth inning to break a scoreless
contest. Blalock got things started with a one-out, solo home run over the
wall in right-center field. Nelson Cruz then singled, stole second, and scored
on Davis' single to right.
Los Angeles plated a run in the top of the sixth to cut the deficit to one.
Vladimir Guerrero and Rivera singled to put men on the corners with one
out. Izturis stepped to the plate and lined into a sacrifice double play.
Texas responded with five runs in the home half of the frame to extend its
margin to 7-1. Byrd walked and Blalock doubled to put men on second and
third with nobody out. Pinch-hitter Borbon then stroked an RBI single,
before Blalock scored on a wild pitch. Davis added an RBI groundout, while
Young and Murphy hit RBI singles later in the frame.
The Angels put a three-spot on the board in the seventh. Erick Aybar hit a
one-out single, advanced to second on Borbon's fielding error, and scored on
Figgins' triple to center. After Abreu walked, Hunter stroked a two-run double
to right. Darren O'Day got the Rangers out of a jam after taking over for
Millwood on the hill.
Game Notes
LA finished a six-game road trip with a 4-2 record...Cruz left the game in the
bottom of the sixth with a stiff back...The Rangers have now won six of their
last eight matchups with LA and swept a three-game set from the Angels in
Arlington from May 15-17...Texas will welcome the Tampa Bay Rays to town for a
three-game set, starting Friday. LA will begin a 10-game homestand with a
four-game set with the Baltimore Orioles, starting Thursday.
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Kansas City, MO - Kansas City has not officially named Matt Cassel its starting quarterback, but there can be no doubt now.
NFL Betting
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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