Torres leads Giants to late win over Dodgers

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07/21/2010 - Los Angeles, CA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Andres Torres sparked a three-run top of the ninth with a two-run double, as the San Francisco Giants rallied past the Los Angeles Dodgers, 7-5, in a wild game between these NL West rivals.

Holding a 5-4 lead, Jonathan Broxton (3-2) took over on the mound for the Dodgers in the top of the ninth. He loaded the bases with one out to bring acting manager Don Mattingly to the mound for a visit. Following the visit, Mattingly took one step off the hill before turning back. San Francisco manager Bruce Bochy was all over Mattingly like a hawk and rushed out of the dugout. The umpires gathered and ruled Mattingly made two trips to the mound.

"Don thought he was still on the mound when he went back to talk to Broxton. But replays showed he was on the grass when he went back," Dodgers manager Joe Torre said.

That forced LA to bring a new pitcher into the game. A cold George Sherrill faced off against Torres, who laced a two-run double into the gap in left- center field. Travis Schlichting was called in from the bullpen and issued an RBI single to Buster Posey two batters later. The Dodgers eventually got out of the inning, but not before the Giants took a 7-5 lead.

The bizarre events in the ninth capped off what was a heated game. A total of three batters were hit by pitches, and many others were almost hit. That helped lead to the ejections of Torre, Los Angeles starting pitcher Clayton Kershaw, and Dodgers bench coach Bob Schaefer.

Pablo Sandoval had two RBI for the Giants, who won 5-2 in the opener of this three-game set and have claimed victory in 11 of their last 13 games.

Tim Lincecum went 4 2/3 innings in the start, allowing five runs on seven hits. Santiago Casilla (3-2) pitched two frames of scoreless relief to pick up the win. Jeremy Affeldt worked around a one-out double in the ninth to record his third save of the season.

"I didn't bring my game to the table. I found myself battling every inning," Lincecum said. "A come back win in general was good for us."

Xavier Paul went 3-for-4 with two runs scored and an RBI for the Dodgers, who have dropped six in a row. Paul will see plenty of action in left field over the next few weeks as Manny Ramirez (right calf) was placed on the 15-day disabled list prior to Tuesday's game.

Andre Ethier hit a two-run homer, while Casey Blake and Blake DeWitt each had two hits and an RBI in defeat.

Kershaw gave four runs -- two earned -- on four hits before being ejected with no outs in the seventh. The left-hander also struck out six and walked two.

The Dodgers got to Lincecum in the first inning. Rafael Furcal walked, stole second, and scored on Paul's double. Ethier followed with a two-run homer to right for a 3-0 lead.

The Giants got a run back in the second. Juan Uribe hit a two-out double and eventually crossed the plate on Edgar Renteria's groundout.

LA plated a pair of runs in the third to go ahead 5-1. Paul singled and Ethier walked before Lincecum recorded two straight outs. DeWitt hit an RBI single in front of Blake's run-scoring double.

San Francisco finally got to Kershaw in the sixth to make things interesting. With one out, Freddy Sanchez and Posey singled to put men on the corners. Pat Burrell then hit a sacrifice fly to deep left field. Sandoval followed with a two-run double down the left-field line to cut the gap to 5-4. Uribe grounded out and Renteria flied out to end the frame.

Emotions started to boil over in the top of the seventh. Kershaw started the inning by hitting Aaron Rowand with a pitch. That led to the ejections of Kershaw and Torre. Hong-Chih Kuo took over on the hill and retired the first three batters he faced to keep LA in front.

Game Notes

Los Angeles has won five of the first eight matchups with San Francisco this season...Schaefer was ejected in the sixth inning after Dodgers catcher Russell Martin was almost hit with a pitch...Posey extended his hitting streak to 14 games...The Dodgers activated catcher Brad Ausmus from the 60-day disabled list...Adrian Johnson was the home plate umpire...Each team stranded seven.

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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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