Blue Jays homer four times in rout of Twins

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05/18/2010 - Toronto, ON (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Aaron Hill smacked a three-run home run as the Toronto Blue Jays dominated the Minnesota Twins, 11-2, to split a two-game set.

Lyle Overbay went 2-for-4 with a two-run home run and three RBI, Vernon Wells hit a solo home run and drove in two and Edwin Encarnacion hit a two-run home run for the Blue Jays, who have won five of six. Shaun Marcum (3-1) went seven innings in the start and was charged with just one run on five hits with two walks and three strikeouts.

Alexei Casilla and Jason Kubel each drove in a run for the Twins, who had a two-game win streak stopped. Carl Pavano (4-4) was tagged for six runs on 10 hits over four innings.

Toronto grabbed the lead in the first as a sacrifice fly from Wells was followed by an RBI double by Overbay for a 2-0 lead.

In the second, Jose Bautista was hit by a pitch to start the inning and Encarnacion followed by hitting a pitch off the top of the wall in left-center and over for a 4-0 lead.

In the third, Wells started the frame by drilling the first pitch he saw into the left field stands for a 5-0 lead.

Minnesota finally got on the board in the fourth when Michael Cuddyer led off with a triple and Kubel followed with a single to make it a 5-1 game.

Toronto, though, got the run back in the bottom of the fourth. Jose Molina reached first on an infield single to start the inning and Fred Lewis followed with a double. After Hill struck out, Adam Lind singled to right to easily score Molina, but Lewis was gunned down at home by Kubel.

Toronto blew the game wide open in the sixth. With one out, Molina and Lewis singled and Hill followed with a blast over the left field wall. After Jesse Crain entered the game, Wells reached base on an infield single, making it to third on an error from Crain, and Overbay made it an 11-1 game with his fourth home run of the season.

Casilla's pinch-hit, one-run triple in the eighth accounted for the final score.

Game Notes

Toronto has another two-game set with the Mariners in Seattle starting on Wednesday...Minnesota also has a two-game set in Boston beginning on Wednesday...Toronto has won 15 of the last 19 against Minnesota...Pavano is 3-5 in 10 appearances against Toronto...Marcum improved to 2-1 in four starts against Toronto...Encarnacion was activated from the 15-day disabled list prior to the game.

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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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