Brewers responding after no-no

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06/21/2007 - (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Sometimes, before you can begin the road of recovery, you need to first hit rock bottom. Over dramatic, yes, but that moment may have happened for the Milwaukee Brewers over a week ago.

Milwaukee had just 10 wins in its last 29 games before getting no-hit by Justin Verlander and the Detroit Tigers on June 12. That embarrassing setback dropped the Brewers to 34-30 on the season, but luckily still good for a 5 1/2-game lead over Chicago and St. Louis for first place in the NL Central.

Since then however, the Brew Crew has gone 7-1 to push their mark back up to 41-31. Milwaukee has won three straight series and is 10 games over .500 for the first time since late May.

The club has also seen its lead in the division stretch to 7 1/2 games over the Cardinals.

The Brewers wrapped a recent nine-game road trip 5-4 on Sunday before kicking off a nine-game homestand the following day. The franchise had lost three of the first four games on the trek, including the no-hitter, but then ripped off four straight wins, two at Detroit and another two in Minnesota.

"We're on a bit of a roll right now, which is nice," Brewers manager Ned Yost said after his team bested the Twins 5-2 on Saturday.

Milwaukee then closed out the trip with a 10-9 loss to the Twins before sweeping the Giants in three games to begin its homestand.

The series was an interesting one to say the least because it featured an appearance by Barry Bonds, who is chasing Hank Aaron's home run record of 755. Aaron, of course, spent the majority of his career in Milwaukee, first with the then Milwaukee Braves before ending his it with the Brewers.

Yost admitted on his club's official Web site that Bonds' visit was an event.

"But it's not because of any other factor than he's a great player," Yost told the site. "We look at him like we look at every team's great player."

However, Bonds and the Giants left Milwaukee disappointed. Not only did the club fail to win a game, but Bonds went just 1-for-6 without a homer.

HALL'S HOT

Bill Hall is finding his hitting stroke.

Hall burst on the scene with a 35-home run campaign a year ago, but had just six home runs and a .250 average after an 0-for-4 day on June 8 at Texas.

Since the, Hall has had a hit in eight of 10 games, lifting his average to .270. In one of those games, Verlander's no-hitter, Hall walked three times in three plate appearances.

Hall also has a pair of home runs in his recent stretch, including a grand slam in the series finale against the Giants on Wednesday. The slam highlighted a five-RBI day for the center fielder.

"Billy has really been putting together some really good at-bats for a stretch now," said Yost after the game. "He is fighting off good pitches and has been hammering what he can handle."

SUPPAN IS NOT

Jeff Suppan continues to struggle since his start to the season. The right- hander is 0-2 over his last three starts and has allowed 18 runs (17 earned) over that stretch.

He was hammered for nine runs and 10 hits in 4 2/3 innings of a no-decision against Minnesota on Sunday.

WOUNDED BREWERS

J.J. Hardy left Wednesday's game against the Giants in the third inning because of tightness in his lower back. He had missed the previous game because of tightness in his left hip.

Starting pitcher Chris Capuano was a late scratch from his scheduled start last Wednesday against Detroit and then landed on the 15-day disabled list due to a strained left groin.

He joins Corey Koskie (post-concussion syndrome) and pitcher Elmer Dessens (strained right shoulder) on Milwaukee's 15-day DL.

Rickie Weeks came off the disabled list on Monday and has gone 4-for-11 since, with all four of his hits being doubles. Weeks was serving as the leadoff hitter before being sidelined with soreness in his right wrist, but has been batting eighth since his return.

UP NEXT

The Brewers continue their homestand with a visit by Kansas City. The Brewers' Jeff Suppan (7-7, 4.69 ERA) counters Jorge De La Rosa (4-7, 5.23) in game one on Friday, followed by Dave Bush (4-6, 5.48) versus Brian Bannister (4-3, 3.21). Rookie Yovani Gallardo (1-0, 4.26) toes the rubber in the finale on Sunday against Odalis Perez (4-7, 6.06).

Houston will then visit Milwaukee to close out the residency.

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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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