Boston's Beckett eyes win No. 13 vs. White Sox

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07/20/2007 - (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Josh Beckett tries to become the second 13-game winner in the majors this evening when the Boston Red Sox continue their four-game series with the Chicago White Sox at Fenway Park.

Beckett has dropped two of his last three starts, but with a victory tonight he will tie Cleveland left-hander C.C. Sabathia for the league lead in wins. Beckett was the hard-luck loser on Sunday against Toronto, as he surrendered a pair of runs on seven hits in eight innings to fall to 12-3 this season to go along with a 3.35 earned run average.

The 27-year-old right-hander, who has won just once at home since May 29, has faced the White Sox only twice in his young career and is 1-0 against them with a 4.66 ERA.

Chicago will counter with Cuban right-hander Jose Contreras, who is a dismal 5-11 with a 5.32 ERA. Contreras dropped his fourth straight start and fell for the seventh time in his last eight decisions on Sunday in Baltimore, as the Orioles battered him for five runs and 10 hits in six innings.

Contreras is 3-4 lifetime against the Red Sox with an 8.56 ERA in nine games, eight of which have been starts.

In a soggy opener to this set on Thursday, A.J. Pierzynski had three hits and knocked in three runs, and Paul Konerko homered, as the White Sox rolled to a 4-2 win in a game that started nearly two hours late due to rain.

Javier Vazquez (7-5) scattered nine hits and surrendered two runs over 6 1/3 innings to win his fourth straight decision. Bobby Jenks threw the ninth inning for his 26th save, as Chicago won for the third time four games following a three-game skid.

Dustin Pedroia had three hits and knocked in a run for the Red Sox, who have lost three in a row and eight of 11.

Daisuke Matsuzaka (11-7) was lifted after giving up two hits and three runs with a career-high six walks and six strikeouts in five-plus innings.

This is the first series of the season between these teams, but Boston is 12-8 in the matchup since the start of the 2004 campaign. The White Sox have also struggled in Beantown, where they have won just three times in their last seven visits.

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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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