Cardinals fall to Nats, lose ground in NL Central

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08/29/2010 - Washington, DC (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - John Lannan spun 7 2/3 solid innings and Mike Morse belted a two-run home run as Washington continued to put a crimp in St. Louis' playoff push with a 4-2 win Sunday to close a four-game series.

Lannan (6-6) yielded a lone run on eight hits while fanning four and not issuing a walk and chipped in with a key two-run double for the Nationals, who claimed three of four in the set. Drew Storen gave up a home run in the ninth but recorded the last four outs to earn his third save of the year.

Morse and Adam Dunn each finished with a pair of hits and two runs scored as the hosts evened the season series at three games apiece.

Adam Wainwright (17-9) absorbed the loss after giving up four runs on six hits with three walks and seven strikeouts over five frames for the Cardinals, who fell a season-high five games behind Cincinnati in the National League Central.

Dunn and Morse opened the second with singles but stayed put when the next two hitters struck out. However, Lannan helped his own cause with a double to left to score both runners to put the Nats on top.

Dunn drew a two-out walk in the third and scored when Morse followed with his long ball to left.

St. Louis got on the board in the seventh when Matt Holliday led off with a double and scored after ground outs by Pedro Feliz and Jon Jay.

Lannan was removed after a two-out single by Aaron Miles in the eighth and Storen came on to strike out Albert Pujols to end the inning.

The rookie right-hander got the first out in the ninth before Feliz homered just out of the reach of a leaping Willie Harris in front of the wall in left field. Storen, though, retired two of the next three hitters to end the game.

Game Notes

St. Louis' Colby Rasmus was in the original starting lineup but was scratched shortly before first pitch. He has not started the last 12 games due to a strained calf and has only two at-bats since August 17...Wainwright dropped to 9-2 in day games this season and 3-2 in eight career meetings, six starts, against the Nats...St. Louis is 52-29 in games started by Wainwright, Chris Carpenter and Jaime Garcia...Holliday extended his hitting streak to 11 games...Washington is 11-5-2 in series play at home since April 23...Saturday and Sunday marked the first time during the month of August the Nats have won consecutive games.

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NFL Football Betting : Odds on NFL Division to Win the Super Bowl

NFL Super Bowl Betting

The AFC South and the NFC East are the favorite divisions to have the next Super Bowl champ among them in the NFL betting odds. But more down to the point, these football odds are in favor of the Indianapolis Colts, by far the strongest team in the AFC South, and the Dallas Cowboys of the NFC East.

Most sports fans would agree that these two teams top the list to win it all before the season even begins. In the BetUS Sportsbook football futures, the Colts are +800 in the odds to win the Super Bowl, while the Cowboys are sitting at +1000 and the Super Bowl XLIV champions New Orleans Saints at +900. In the AFC South, the Colts won the division for five straight years after the 2002 realignment, before the Tennessee Titans won it in 2008. But the Colts came back strong in 2009 to win the division again en route to the Super Bowl. The Cowboys are the favorite to win the NFC East, as well as to advance far into the post season. The Cowboys won the division last season before their horrendous loss in the NFC Divisional playoff to Brett Favre and the Minnesota Vikings. But the ‘Boys will take that loss humbly and be ready for the playoffs this time around.

The NFC South is also very strong, at +600 in the NFL futures, considering that it is home to the defending Super Bowl champions. However, some predictions have the Atlanta Falcons with possibilities of claiming the divisional title this season in place of the Saints, as no team has won back-to-back division championships since the division realignment took place. Let’s not overlook the AFC North at +500. As TO goes to Cincinnati to join Chad OchoCinco and Adam “Pac-Man” Jones, this team looks to claim the division title again. And it is likely they will do so. The Bengals lost in the AFC Wild Card spot in a hard-fought battle against the New York Jets last season. Lest not forget the Pittsburgh Steelers, the XLII Super Bowl Champions… All these teams present interesting odds and matchups for the upcoming season, but the safest and surest bet seems to be with the Colts in the AFC South and the Cowboys in the NFC East. Play this weekly NFL Football Contestto see if you can win.

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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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