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Reds' Volquez takes mound in finale with Nationals

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07/22/2010 - (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Nationals' rotation has gotten a jolt ever since Stephen Strasburg joined the club in June. The Reds are hoping for a similar result from Edinson Volquez.

Volquez will make his second start since returning from Tommy John surgery this afternoon when Cincinnati tries to deny Washington a split of their four- game series at Great American Ball Park.

The right-handed Volquez took the field on Saturday for the first time since June 1 of last year and got the win after holding the Rockies to just a run and three hits over six innings, walking two while striking out nine.

The Reds will hope for more of that today from Volquez, who also served a 50- game suspension during his recovery for violating the league's drug policy and went 4-2 with a 4.35 earned run average in nine starts a season ago after winning 17 games in 2008.

"It was not easy, but I was comfortable [Saturday] after the first inning," Volquez told the Reds' website. "I was really, really excited, big crowd tonight, first time. It seemed like this was my first time in the big leagues."

The 27-year-old has faced the Nationals just once before, picking up a victory on July 6, 2008 after getting charged with three runs over six frames of work.

Volquez will be looking to pitch the Reds to a series win tonight after they took the first two games of this set prior to losing 8-5 last night to Strasburg and the Nationals. Washington's phenom yielded three runs and seven hits over 5 2/3 innings, striking out seven to win his third straight start.

"We've been putting up runs these last few games and it's great," Strasburg said. "It makes the pitcher's job a lot easier. Hopefully we can keep it going."

Cristian Guzman notched a two-run homer, Willie Harris added a solo shot and both Nyjer Morgan and Ian Desmond produced two-run singles for the Nationals, who snapped a four-game skid and won for the second time in eight games.

Miguel Cairo had a two-run single for the Reds, but Bronson Arroyo was charged with seven runs over 5 2/3 innings. Cincinnati's second loss in six games dropped the club 1 1/2 contests behind first-place St. Louis in the National League Central.

"It was a tough loss tonight because we swung the bats well against a very tough pitcher," Reds manager Dusty Baker said. "He has good stuff and he's going to be good for a long time."

Nationals starter Livan Hernandez is in search of his first win since June 21, going 0-2 in five starts since. His two losses have come in back-to-back starts and he has allowed four or more runs three times over his winless drought.

That wasn't the case on Saturday versus the Marlins as Hernandez only allowed two runs, one earned, over six innings of a 2-0 loss. The 35-year-old right- hander fell to 6-6 with a 3.27 ERA on the season and 2-4 with a 4.32 ERA in eight road outings.

Hernandez did not factor into the decision of a June 4 start versus the Reds even though he allowed just two runs over six innings. He did have to work around eight hits and four walks, though, and is just 2-7 with a 5.46 ERA lifetime against Cincinnati in 14 starts.

The Cuban hurler isn't expected to face Reds' triple crown threat Joey Votto, who is hitting .305 with 23 homers and 64 RBI in 90 games this year. He is expected to get the day off in favor of catcher Ramon Hernandez, who will come off the disabled list today and play first. Hernandez has been out since July 4 because of a sore knee.

The Reds took two of three in Washington from June 4-6, but it was the Nationals who won three of four at Cincinnati last season.

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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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