Mets ready to close out low-scoring home set with Phils

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08/15/2010 - (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Mike Pelfrey may have gotten a once-promising season back on track with his recent performance. The New York Mets pitcher will attempt to build off that encouraging display when he takes on a Philadelphia Phillies squad that's had its troubles scoring runs at Citi Field this season.

After going 0-4 and surrendering four or more runs six times during a frustrating seven-start stretch that began on June 30, Pelfrey was finally unable to regain the form that made him one of the NL's top pitchers during the early portion of this season. The towering right-hander outdueled Colorado ace Ubaldo Jimenez in a 1-0 victory over the Rockies Tuesday at Citi Field, yielding only four hits and one walk over seven shutout innings.

Pelfrey was sensational over the first 2 1/2 months of this campaign, amassing a 9-1 record and a 2.42 earned run average through his first 13 starts, then went into an extended funk afterward. The former first-round pick lost five of his next six decisions and posted an awful 7.74 ERA in nine subsequent outings, and hadn't lasted beyond 5 2/3 innings in seven straight appearances before Tuesday's gem.

One of Pelfrey's early-season wins came against the Phillies at Citi Field back on May 27, with the 26-year-old twirling seven shutout innings of three- hit in a 3-0 triumph. He was also hit hard in a May 1 start in Philadelphia, permitting six runs and eight hits in four innings to take the loss.

For his career, Pelfrey is 5-3 with a 4.83 ERA in 11 encounters with the Phillies, and he sports a solid 7-2 mark with a 3.14 ERA over 13 home starts this year.

Philadelphia finally ended a string of four straight road losses to the Mets -- all of which came via a shutout -- with a 4-0 triumph in last night's second test of this three-game series.

The Phillies were outscored by a 16-0 margin in losing three straight times to New York at Citi Field from May 25-27, then mustered a mere one hit -- a single from starting pitcher Cole Hamels -- against the Mets' R.A. Dickey in a 1-0 defeat in Friday's opener.

Philadelphia countered with a masterful effort from Roy Halladay (15-8) last night, as the staff ace held the Mets to four hits and struck out seven without a walk over the first eight innings to register his 15th win of the season.

"He don't like to give anything up cause he's stubborn," said Phillies manager Charlie Manuel about Halladay. "At the same time, even he gets hit sometimes. He was real good [Saturday], his stuff was crisp."

Philadelphia finally ended its Citi Field scoring drought in the third inning, when Halladay reached on an infield single, moved to second on a Jimmy Rollins base hit, and scored on Placido Polanco's single to center.

The Phillies' other three runs came as a result of two Mets' errors. Rollins crossed the plate in the fifth when New York second baseman Ruben Tejada threw wildly on a double-play attempt, while a miscue by third baseman David Wright enabled two more runs to score in the sixth.

Halladay's strong pitching and New York's shoddy defense made for a tough-luck night for Mets starter Pat Misch, called up from Triple-A Buffalo prior to the game. The lefty was charged with all four runs in six innings of work, but only one was earned.

With the win, Philadelphia closed within two games of Atlanta for first place in the NL East after the Braves lost to Los Angeles on Saturday. The Phillies are just one back of San Francisco for the top spot in the league's Wild Card race.

Kyle Kendrick draws the assignment for Philadelphia tonight and will be seeking to atone for a brutal showing on Tuesday, when he was rocked for six runs (five earned) and eight hits before exiting after 3 1/3 innings of a loss to Los Angeles.

The right-hander had been pitching well prior to that setback, going 2-0 and allowing just four runs in a combined 20 1/3 innings in a three-start stretch against Colorado, Arizona and Florida.

Kendrick has had an up-and-down season for the Phillies in 2010, bringing a 7-5 record and 4.60 ERA over 24 appearances (22 starts) into tonight's tilt. His biggest problem has been with the long ball, as he's served up 21 homers in 131 innings of work.

The 25-year-old is 2-2 with a 3.34 ERA in six lifetime starts against the Mets, but was reached for four runs in five innings of a 9-1 defeat to New York at Citizens Bank Park on April 30. Wright, Jeff Francoeur and Rod Barajas all homered off Kendrick that night.

For the season, New York has won six of its 11 overall matchups with Philadelphia.

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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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