Mets turn to rookie in hopes of besting Cubs

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09/04/2010 - (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Jenrry Mejia makes his first major league start this afternoon, when the New York Mets continue their three-game series with the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field.

The 20-year-old right-hander made the Mets with a terrific spring and was used in relief before being sent to Double-A in late June to stretch him out to become a starter. He was 0-2 with a 3.25 earned run average in 30 appearances with the big-league team.

"It helped me," Mejia said of his time in the bullpen with the Mets. "Now I know I can pitch here."

Mejia excelled at Double-A Binghamton after being sent down, going 2-0 with a 1.32 ERA in six starts. In his first Triple-A start for Buffalo, Mejia gave up a run in eight innings on Monday.

He faced the Cubs twice earlier in the season, tossing two scoreless innings.

The Cubs drew first blood in this series on Friday, as Blake DeWitt's three- run homer in the sixth provided the difference in Chicago's 7-6 victory.

DeWitt hit his fourth home run in just 30 games with Chicago since a midseason trade with the Dodgers, and the Cubs improved to 7-3 under interim manager Mike Quade. Alfonso Soriano also hit a three-run shot in the victory, while Xavier Nady went 3-for-4 with an RBI and two runs scored.

Chicago's Randy Wells allowed four runs, eight hits and four walks in the start, and James Russell (1-1) earned the win for retiring the only batter he faced. Carlos Marmol ended up with his 26th save of the season.

David Wright hit a solo homer among three hits and drove in three runs for the Mets, while Luis Hernandez hit his first home run with the team. That still wasn't enough to prevent New York from falling for the fourth time in five games.

Mets starter R.A. Dickey (9-6) squandered an opportunity to set a new career- high in wins after giving up a season-worst seven runs on eight hits and a walk in six frames.

Today Chicago will hand the ball to volatile righty Carlos Zambrano, who has won his last three decisions. Zambrano won his second straight start Monday against Pittsburgh, which managed just an unearned run and four hits in 5 1/3 frames off him.

The three-time All-Star is 3-0 with a 1.84 ERA in five starts since returning to the rotation following anger management classes.

Zambrano lost to the Mets earlier in the year and is 4-3 lifetime against them with a 3.63 ERA in 11 games, 10 of which have been starts

The Mets won three of four meetings with the Cubs in a series held in New York back in April.

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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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