Willis pitches Diamondbacks to second straight win

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06/06/2010 - Phoenix, AZ (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Dontrelle Willis pitched six shutout innings in his return to the National League, helping the Diamondbacks to a 4-3 win over the Colorado Rockies.

Willis (1-0), who was traded from Detroit on Tuesday, allowed five hits, walked four and had three strikeouts. The lefty even singled in the third inning and scored the game's first run on a head-first dive into home following a base hit from Stephen Drew.

"It was good, we battled and I made some pitches when I had to, and we came out with the victory," Willis said. "So it's one series win, it's a good stepping stone, we just have to keep building off of our momentum and go from there."

Ryan Roberts, who had the game-winning pinch-hit RBI single in the ninth inning of Friday's 7-6 win, added a two-run pinch-hit double Saturday night.

The Diamondbacks have posted back-to-back wins following a 10-game slide.

Willis burst onto the major league scene with a dazzling display with the Florida Marlins in 2003, winning 14 games and earning the NL's Rookie of the Year Award while helping the Fish capture a World Series title. He led the Senior Circuit with 22 victories two years later, and compiled a 68-54 record in five seasons with the Marlins before being shipped to Detroit as part of a blockbuster eight-player trade prior to the 2008 campaign. On Tuesday, he was traded to Arizona in a deal that sent right-hander Billy Buckner to the Tigers.

Jhoulys Chacin (3-4) was charged with six hits and four runs -- three earned -- over 5 2/3 innings for Colorado, which lost its third in a row.

Carlos Gonzalez and Ryan Spilborghs each had two hits and a run scored for the Rockies, who went 0-for-11 with runners in scoring position and left 12 men on base.

"We did a tremendous job tonight to get back into the game, and put ourselves in a position to win," Rockies manager Jim Tracy said. "The unfortunate thing is the game boils down to this - offensively 0-for-11 with runners in scoring position. That's simply what it boils down to, we (went) 0-for-11 with runners in scoring position and left 12 runners on base. There is very little else to say."

Both teams wasted opportunities with men in scoring position in the opening two innings before Arizona went ahead 1-0 in the third. Willis singled to start the inning and went to second on a throwing error from first baseman Jason Giambi. With one out, Drew singled sharply to left field and Willis raced home, sliding head-first to the plate to delight the crowd.

Chacin grounded out to leave runners on second and third in the fourth and Brad Hawpe struck out swinging to cap the fifth with men on the corners.

Chris Young walked and stole second with one out in the sixth. Conor Jackson was intentionally walked and the men moved up on a steal and wild pitch. After Chris Snyder struck out, Roberts, again in a pinch-hitting role, doubled down the left field line. Kelly Johnson greeted reliever Randy Flores with an RBI double for a 4-0 lead.

Carlos Rosa started on the bump in the top of the seventh, but surrendered singles to Gonzalez and Spilborghs before walking Giambi to load the bases with nobody out. Troy Tulowitzki and Hawpe each lofted sacrifice flies. Melvin Mora singled and Chris Iannetta walked to re-load the bases. It became a one- run game when Aaron Heilman walked pinch-hitter Seth Smith, but pinch-hitter Ian Stewart fanned to end the frame.

The Rockies didn't have another hitter reach base in the game, and Chad Qualls recorded three groundouts in the ninth to get his 10th save of the year.

Game Notes

Willis is 4-1 lifetime against Colorado...The Diamondbacks tied a franchise- record by playing in their sixth straight game decided by one run...Roberts is 3-for-5 with three RBI in five pinch-hitting appearances after being recalled from Triple-A Reno on May 25...Young had a career-high three stolen bases...Gonzalez is 14-for-28 with five homers and 12 RBI and 11 runs scored this season against the Diamondbacks.

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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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