Angels and Dodgers to wrap up latest Freeway Series

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06/17/2007 - (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Kelvim Escobar will try continue his strong start to the season as the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim wrap up a three-game interleague set with the Los Angeles Dodgers in the latest edition of the Freeway Series from Dodger Stadium.

Escobar, who came into the 2007 campaign with a 25-28 record in three seasons as an Angel, is off to a strong start and currently ranks sixth in the AL with a 2.89 earned run average. The veteran right-hander has yielded just 10 earned runs in 38 innings over his last five starts, with five of those runs coming in a loss to Baltimore on May 31.

On Tuesday, Escobar failed to earn a decision in a 5-3 loss at Cincinnati after allowing three earned runs and five hits over six innings of work. He walked just one while striking out a career-high 14 batters. It was the most strikeouts by an Angel since Chuck Finley fanned 15 against the Yankees in 1995.

In three career starts against the Dodgers, Escobar is 2-1 with a 2.53 ERA and 0.89 WHIP. He picked up the win against the Dodgers on May 20th, allowing just three hits over eight scoreless innings of a 4-1 triumph.

Taking the hill for the Dodgers today will be Randy Wolf, who has earned victories in five of his last six decisions. On Monday, the left-hander defeated the Mets by yielding three earned runs and nine hits over six innings in a 5-3 Los Angeles triumph.

Wolf, who is 6-2 with a 3.62 ERA in nine home starts this season, has never faced the Angels in his career.

On Saturday, Jered Weaver tossed 5 1/3 scoreless innings to win his fifth consecutive decision as the Angels blanked the Dodgers, 3-0.

Weaver (6-3) yielded four hits and four walks while striking out three for the Angels, who have won three of their last four and 10 of 14.

The Angels scored all of their runs in the fifth-inning, highlighted by a Reggie Willits two-RBI single and a run-scoring hit from Howie Kendrick.

After retiring the first two batters of the fifth, Dodgers starter Jason Schmidt got into trouble. He plunked Vladimir Guerrero before Gary Matthews Jr. singled to right and Casey Kotchman walked to load the bases for Willits, who singled to right to plate Guerrero and Matthews.

Schmidt (1-4) went 4 2/3 frames, allowing three runs on five hits while walking four and striking out two for the Dodgers, who had a four-game winning streak snapped.

The Angels swept the Dodgers in a three-game set in Anaheim last month, outscoring their area rivals 19-4 in the process. However, the Angels have lost five of the last six games as the visitor in this series.

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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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