Butler's late homer lifts Royals over O's

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07/31/2010 - Kansas City, MO (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Billy Butler's go-ahead, two-run homer in the eighth proved to be the difference, lifting the Kansas City Royals to a 4-3 win over the lowly Baltimore Orioles.

Butler's 10th home run of the season gave the Royals their second win in the first three games of this series. Mitch Maier added a solo homer and two RBI in the victory.

Zack Greinke (7-10) went eight innings, allowing three runs on seven hits and three walks while fanning six to earn the win. Joakim Soria pitched a scoreless ninth for his 28th save.

Nick Markakis notched a two-run double for the Orioles, who have lost seven of eight. Adam Jones had two hits and an RBI in defeat.

Brad Bergesen lasted seven innings, yielding just two runs, five hits and a walk. He was in line for the win before David Hernandez (5-8) allowed Butler's homer in the eighth.

Hernandez came on to pitch the bottom of the eighth for Baltimore, but couldn't protect a 3-2 lead.

Chris Getz lead off with what looked to be an extra-base hit in the right- center field gap, but Markakis dove for an outstanding catch. It proved to save a run, as Butler followed a Jason Kendall single with a blast to left, putting Kansas City ahead, 4-3.

Soria pitched around a two-out single in the ninth to preserve the victory.

Maier's leadoff blast in the third gave the Royals a lead, but Bergesen shut down Kansas City's offense from there.

Bergesen didn't allow a baserunner -- other than Maier -- to advance past first base in any of the first five innings, and the Orioles finally provided some run support in the sixth.

Julio Lugo began the inning with an infield single and quickly scampered to third on Brian Roberts' base hit to right. Markakis sent a 1-0 pitch to left for a two-run double and a Baltimore lead, and Markakis later scored on Adam Jones' single for a 3-1 advantage.

The Royals cut their deficit in half in the seventh.

After Bergesen retired Jose Guillen, Alex Gordon, Mike Aviles and Maier all singled in succession, with Maier's hit driving in a run. With two runners still on base, Bergesen was able to get out of the jam by striking out Willie Bloomquist and getting Yuniesky Betancourt to ground out.

Game Notes

Kansas City leads the season series, 3-2...The Royals acquired pitchers Jesse Chavez and Tim Collins and outfielder Gregor Blanco from Atlanta in exchange for outfielder Rick Ankiel and pitcher Kyle Farnsworth...The Orioles acquired pitcher Rick Vanden Hurk from Florida in exchange for pitcher Will Ohman...The Orioles fell to 17-15 in one-run games and had as many hits with runners in scoring position (two) as they did in the previous five games combined.

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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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