Valbuena and Francisco help Indians past A's

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07/04/2009 - Cleveland, OH (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Luis Valbuena and Ben Francisco each went 3- for-3, with Valbuena knocking in a run and scoring twice and Francisco adding a two-run homer in Cleveland's 5-2 win over Oakland.

Carl Pavano (7-7) evened his record with 6 2/3 quality innings on the mound, giving up two runs on eight hits and two walks for the Indians, who won back- to-back games for the first time since June 11-12.

Grady Sizemore went 2-for-4 with a homer and two RBI in the win.

Vin Mazzaro (2-4), now winless in his last five starts, yielded five runs on 10 hits and a walk in six-plus innings for the Athletics, who have dropped eight of 10. Orlando Cabrera recorded an RBI and three of the A's eight hits.

Oakland had a chance to jump on the hosts early but only got one run across in the first inning when Adam Kennedy raced home on Matt Holliday's sacrifice fly. Ryan Sweeney lined out with the bases loaded to end the frame.

Cleveland took the lead in the third. Ryan Garko singled, advanced to second on a wild pitch and scored on a base hit to left by Valbuena, who trotted home when Francisco followed with a blast over the left-field wall.

Valbuena was thrown out at home in the fifth in attempt to extend the Indians' lead, which eventually moved to 4-1 when Sizemore opened the sixth with a bomb to straightaway center.

Cabrera cut Oakland's deficit with an RBI single in the seventh, driving in Mark Ellis, who walked with one away and stole second.

Sizemore's broken-bat, RBI groundout to third got the run back in the bottom half, while the combination of Tony and Joe Smith hurled a scoreless top of the eighth.

Kerry Wood was spotless on the hill in ninth for his 10th save of the season.

Game Notes

Pavano had lost three of his previous four starts...Cleveland has won 11 of the last 15 matchups versus the Athletics at home...Francisco had a steal in the game, his 12th of the year...Oakland left nine runners on base...Game time: 2:28.

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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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