Cincy Sporting News

Terrell Owens misses flight

admin — Thu, 29 Jul 2010 19:41:27 +0000

By Roger Hudson / Staff Writer and Wire Reports. AP

GEORGETOWN, Ky.—Wide receiver Terrell Owens missed his flight from Los Angeles this morning, forcing him to take a later flight.

Terrell Owens Arrives In Cincinnati

The Bengals had planned on him arriving early in the day, taking his physical and signing his one-year contract while the rest of the team held its first workout. They scheduled an introductory news conference after the morning practice.

The news conference had to be rescheduled for after the evening session. Coach Marvin Lewis wasn’t sure whether the 36-year-old receiver would arrive in time to work out.

On his Twitter account, Owens posted a note Wednesday night saying he was headed to see a movie. He didn’t explain why he missed his flight on Thursday, but confirmed that his news conference had to be rescheduled.

“My Press conf about my “Decision” 2 take my talents 2 Cincy will b held 2nite after 7pm practice!!” he tweeted, playing off LeBron James’ one-hour television show announcing his decision to leave Cleveland.

Owens also misspelled Cincinnati in one of his tweets and was quickly corrected by a follower.

“Okayyyyyy I got it now, 2 n’s & 1 t! CINCINNATI!! LOL!” he tweeted.

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Bengals top pick TE Gresham unsigned

admin — Thu, 29 Jul 2010 03:14:40 +0000

Associated Press

GEORGETOWN, Ky. —First-round draft pick Jermaine Gresham remains unsigned as the Cincinnati Bengals open training camp.

First-rounder Jermaine Gresham is the only unsigned player but he didn't look to be close enough to a deal get here by Thursday's morning practice.

The Bengals signed second-round pick Carlos Dunlap, a defensive end from Florida, and receiver Jordan Shipley, a third-round choice from Texas, shortly after the rest of the team reported Wednesday.

That left Gresham, a tight end from Oklahoma, as the Bengals’ only unsigned pick.

Last year, the Bengals got into an impasse with first-round pick Andre Smith. The offensive tackle didn’t sign until Aug. 30, missing the first three preseason games. He broke his left foot two days later. Smith ended up playing in six games, starting one of them.

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Bengals sign DE Carlos Dunlap

admin — Thu, 29 Jul 2010 03:03:53 +0000

By M.Bowman / Staff Contributor and Wire Reports

CINCINNATI—The Cincinnati Bengals have signed second-round rookie defensive end Carlos Dunlap.

Bengals sign second-round pick Carlos Dunlap.

Dunlap was named first-team All-Southeastern Conference last season after recording 38 tackles, 13 1/2 for losses and nine sacks. The 6-foot-6, 278-pounder is still regarded as an excellent pass-rushing prospect.

Dunlap was charged with DUI prior to the Gators’ bowl game, causing his draft stock to slip.

Bengals first-rounder, Jermaine Gresham, is the only unsigned player but he didn’t look to be close enough to a deal get here by Thursday’s morning practice.

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Harang beings throwing progam

admin — Thu, 29 Jul 2010 02:03:39 +0000

By M.Bowman / Staff Contributor and Wire Reports

CINCINNATI — Aaron Harang has resumed a throwing program in Cincinnati. A target date has not been determined and remains very much up in the air.

Injured Reds starter Aaron Harang (lower back spasms) has resumed a throwing program in Cincinnati.

Reds manager Dusty Baker said Wednesday. “By all rights, he should be stronger down the stretch if he can get his sharpness back. We were fighting it for a while. He’ll have to go out and have a rehab assignment to get his endurance up and get everything together. It’s an important stretch for us and for him.”

Harang has not pitched since his June 30 start against the Philadelphia Phillies.

“I heard he’s feeling good,” Baker said. “I’m glad we had the backup we have when he went down. Or we’d be up the creek.”

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Phillips, Reds slams Brewers 10-2

admin — Thu, 29 Jul 2010 01:30:51 +0000

Associated Press

Brandon Phillips reacts after hitting a 450-foot grand slam that landed in Bernie Brewer's slide in deep left field and Travis Wood earned his first win in the majors for the Cincinnati Reds, 10-2 over Milwaukee on Wednesday.

MILWAUKEE — Brandon Phillips hit a 450-foot grand slam that landed in Bernie Brewer’s slide in deep left field and Travis Wood earned his first win in the majors for the Cincinnati Reds, 10-2 over Milwaukee on Wednesday.

The Reds scored 10 unanswered runs, capped by Phillips’ shot and Joey Votto‘s solo homer in the eighth.

With the win, Cincinnati kept the pressure on St. Louis for first in the NL Central after the teams entered play Wednesday in a virtual tie at the top.

Wood (1-1), who took a perfect game into the ninth inning on July 10, won in his sixth career start and the Reds piled on the runs, scoring five in the sixth off starter Chris Narveson and reliever Kameron Loe and five more off Carlos Villanueva in the eighth.

Cincinnati finished the trip 4-2 and is 26-24 away from Great American Ball Park.

The Reds’ bullpen of Jordan Smith, Arthur Rhodes, Nick Masset and Francisco Cordero combined for four scoreless innings, allowing three hits.

Trailing 2-0, the first six batters reached to start the sixth for the Reds, who sent 11 men to the plate. Votto’s RBI single chased Narveson (8-7) and Jonny Gomes tied the game when he drove in the 300th run of his career with a double off Loe.

Miguel Cairo followed with a two-run double and Ryan Hanigan’s squeeze bunt made it 5-2. The long inning ended Wood’s day, who finished scattering five hits and a walk with six strikeouts over five innings.

In the eighth, Villanueva loaded the bases on two singles and a walk to bring up Phillips, who hit the ball into the bright yellow slide in left field that starts in the upper deck and spirals down to the club level for his fourth career slam.

Votto followed two batters later with another shot to left field that made it 10-2. The slugging first baseman is 14 of 26 with three homers, nine runs and six RBIs in his last six games.

Cincinnati scored 22 runs off 32 hits in the final two games of this series after managing two runs off six hits in a 3-2 loss in the opener on Monday night.

Milwaukee had been playing better baseball of late, but the Brewers trail the Reds by nine games in the division with the non-waiver trade deadline looming Saturday.

Wood struck out five consecutive batters at one point, but trailed 2-0 on Ryan Braun’s RBI double and run-scoring single by Jonathan Lucroy. It could’ve been more, but right fielder Jay Bruce made a diving grab on a soft flare by Carlos Gomez to end the inning.

Game notes

Brewers 1B Prince Fielder was ejected after being called out on strikes to end the eighth and slamming his helmet. … Wood began walking off the mound after striking out Joe Inglett in the third, but had to be summoned back because there were only two outs. Wood struck out Narveson to end the inning. … Brewers 3B Casey McGehee took a hard shot to his lower right leg when Orlando Cabrera slid into him cleats first trying to steal third in the fourth. … Both teams have a day off Thursday.

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Reds’ Daniel Ray Herrera arrested for public intoxication

admin — Thu, 29 Jul 2010 01:08:24 +0000

By Michael Grant / The Louisville Courier-Journal

Louisville Bats pitcher Daniel Ray Herrera was arrested early Wednesday morning in Clark County for misdemeanor public intoxication, the Indiana State Police said.

Daniel Ray Herrera was arrested, his blood alcohol level was .228.

Sgt. Jerry Goodin of the Indiana State Police said troopers were dispatched to US 31 northbound following a complaint from a taxi driver that he had an irate passenger in his car. According to Goodin, when officers arrived at the scene, Herrera was arrested for public intoxication at 3:35 a.m. and was taken to the Clark County jail.

Maj. Chuck Adams of the Clark County sheriff’s office said Herrera was scheduled to be released on his own recognizance about 7 p.m. provided that his blood alcohol level registers 0.00.

According to Adams, when Herrera was arrested his blood alcohol level was .228.

The 25-year-old left-hander has been with the Bats since being sent down by the Reds on June 30. He is 1-1 with a 3.31 ERA and two saves. He pitched in Tuesday night’s victory 19-6 home victory over Charlotte. He worked one scoreless inning with two strikeouts.

Bats spokesman Nick Evans said the team was aware of the arrest but had no immediate comment. A message left for Reds farm director Terry Reynolds was not immediately returned.

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New York (63-36) at Cleveland (42-58) Preview

admin — Wed, 28 Jul 2010 19:48:19 +0000

STATS LLC

Starting Pitchers New York: Burnett (8-8, 4.77 ERA) Cleveland: Carmona (10-7, 3.51 ERA) 7:05 PM ET, July 28, 2010 Progressive Field, Cleveland, Ohio

Alex Rodriguez is hitless in Cleveland as his pursuit of homer No. 600 has stalled.

After failing to come through on his 35th birthday, Rodriguez tries again to become the seventh player to reach the 600-homer plateau when the New York Yankees and Indians continue their four-game series Wednesday night.

New York (63-36) had little success Tuesday against Josh Tomlin, who made his major league debut a success by pitching Cleveland (42-58) to a 4-1 victory. Rodriguez went 0 for 4, including three at-bats against Tomlin.

“That would have been a fantastic present, but it didn’t work out,” Rodriguez said. “I’ve had some good birthdays. Today wasn’t the greatest.”

The star third baseman was the potential tying run entering his final at-bat in the ninth inning against closer Chris Perez, but he grounded out to end the game.

“I was thinking: ‘Don’t give it up. Don’t let number 600 be a big one like that,’” Perez said.

Rodriguez is 0 for 8 in this series and 7 for 40 with no homers in his last 11 games at Progressive Field. He’s 2 for 8 with one homer against Fausto Carmona (10-7, 3.51 ERA), who will start Wednesday.

“A few times over the last three or four days, I’ve tried to swing a little too hard or maybe get a little pull happy,” said Rodriguez, homerless in five straight games.

Yankees designated hitter Mark Teixeira went 0 for 4 on Tuesday as his streak of reaching base in 42 straight games ended. Teixeira is hitless in seven at-bats in this series.

Catcher Jorge Posada was scratched from New York’s lineup minutes before the game because of a sore left knee. He was replaced by Francisco Cervelli, and manager Joe Girardi said Posada will likely serve as the DH on Wednesday.

Carmona looks to win four straight starts for the first time since he won his final five of 2007. He yielded an unearned run and one hit over five innings in a 3-1 win over Tampa Bay on Friday that was called after 6 1/2 innings due to rain.

Carmona matched a season high with seven strikeouts and had one walk after allowing 10 in his previous two starts. He has a 2.41 ERA over his last three outings.

The right-hander is 1/3 with a 5.56 ERA in six career starts against the Yankees. No hitter has faced Carmona more than Curtis Granderson, who is 14 for 34 against him.

Yankees starter A.J. Burnett (8-8, 4.77) will try to put aside his disastrous past at Progressive Field. Burnett has a 9.00 ERA in losing all four previous starts in Cleveland, although none were with New York.

The veteran right-hander earned his second career win over the Indians on May 30, giving up three runs over eight innings in a 7-3 home victory.

Burnett threw five scoreless innings before being lifted due to a rain delay in Friday’s 7-1 win over Kansas City. He bounced back from a loss to Tampa Bay six days earlier, when he left after giving up four runs in two innings because he cut both palms slamming a set of double doors in frustration.

“I just focused more on what I had to do in my job,” Burnett said. “When I do that, I’m good.”

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Bengals report for camp, TO to follow

admin — Wed, 28 Jul 2010 19:32:35 +0000

Associated Press

GEORGETOWN, Ky.—A flamboyant Cincinnati Bengals receiver has the whole team talking, and this time it’s not Chad Ochocinco.

T.O. and Ocho together at last.

Bengals players are eager to meet new teammate Terrell Owens. The 36-year-old receiver agreed to a one-year, $2 million deal on Tuesday, uniting him with close friend Ochocinco.

The two reality TV stars are expected to be together on the field for the first time on Thursday evening, when the Bengals hold their second practice of training camp. Owens is on his way and is expected to arrive in camp on Thursday.

Asked whether there’s a concern that Owens could disrupt the team, receiver Andre Caldwell said that if Ochocinco hasn’t been able to do it, then Owens won’t be able to, either.

The rest of the players reported for the start of camp at Georgetown College.

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Questionable NFL free-agent signings: Bryant to the Bengals

admin — Wed, 28 Jul 2010 17:17:24 +0000

By Mike Florio SportingNews.com

In March, the Bengals conducted a two-float receiver parade. First came Antonio Bryant for a visit. As he left, Terrell Owens arrived.

In light of their most recent signing, the Bengals might have overpaid for Antonio Bryant.

Then, after T.O. was gone, Bryant received a four-year, $28 million deal.

So why did the Bengals sign Owens nearly five months later? The ability to team Bryant with T.O. and Chad Ochocinco should give the Bengals a potent passing attack, but with Bryant potentially the odd man out when the team employs two-receiver sets, it made no sense for the Bengals to pay him so much money so early in free agency.

Already rumblings have emerged Bryant could be cut, but with $7.85 million already in hand, it’s unlikely Cincinnati will dump him before 2011. Instead, the team will have to move forward with football’s version of LeBron, Dwyane, and Bosh, mindful of the fact there are eight other guys on the field with them, not two.

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Reds rough up Brewers 12-4

admin — Wed, 28 Jul 2010 11:52:30 +0000

Associated Press

Brandon Phillips, Joey Votto and Scott Rolen all had four hits and Cincinnati roughed up Milwaukee Brewers 12-4

MILWAUKEE — Dusty Baker said Cincinnati’s performance reminded him of a merry-go-round. The Reds’ 19-hit effort brought them back where they’ve been most of the season — first place.

Brandon Phillips, Joey Votto and Scott Rolen all had four hits and Cincinnati roughed up Milwaukee Brewers ace Yovani Gallardo in a 12-4 win Tuesday night that moved them back into a tie for first in the NL Central with St. Louis.

“If we can just keep the merry-go-round going, guys on the bases, pitchers in the stretch and them on defense, sooner or later, you can wear them down,” Baker said. “We needed to win, St. Louis lost so we’re back tied again. We’ll just go from here.”

The Reds trail St. Louis by percentage points in the standings, but it’s been rare for Cincinnati to be outside the top spot in the division. Since May 16, the Reds have spent 51 of the previous 72 days in first place or tied for first, exactly where they will start Thursday be when they try to win the three-game series against the Brewers.

The top four hitters in Cincinnati’s lineup — Phillips, Orlando Cabrera, Votto and Rolen — finished 15 for 22 with eight runs and seven RBIs as the Reds matched a season high with 19 hits.

“It was a big day for all of us,” Votto said. “When you get them all in a bunch, it’s usually a good thing for us.”

Rolen, who returned Monday night after missing nine games with a hamstring injury, snapped an 0-for-16 slump with hits in his first four plate appearances. He also had a sacrifice fly in the seventh.

“We swung the bats well and put pressure on them all night,” Rolen said. “I feel good, I feel healthy, I’m going to get a day off tomorrow and we’ve got a day off after that. It’s good to get back out on the field.”

Rickie Weeks homered for the third time in as many days for Milwaukee, which saw its season-best five-game winning streak snapped.

Rookie reliever Logan Ondrusek (2-0) earned the win with 2 1/3 hitless innings after Reds starter Edinson Volquez had another trying night in his third appearance since reconstructive elbow surgery.

Gallardo (9-5) hit a two-run homer in his only at-bat, but looked uncomfortable on the mound and left when Phillips drove in a run on a two-out single in the third that made it 6-3.

It matched Gallardo’s shortest start of the season when he had to leave on July 4 in St. Louis after straining his left side. Gallardo went on the disabled list after that start and pitched well in his first game back last week in Pittsburgh.

“It was one of those days that it just felt like anything I threw up there was going to get hit,” Gallardo said.

The Reds, who lead the NL in runs scored, tacked on four more against Brewers reliever Chris Capuano and two off David Riske. One thing Cincinnati was missing in this hit parade — a homer.

“It wasn’t like there were any cheap hits,” Brewers manager Ken Macha said. “A couple of guys in the middle of the order had big nights. Not much to say.”

Volquez smacked his glove in frustration in the second inning after Gallardo hit the eighth homer of his career, and Volquez failed to make it out of the fourth inning because he struggled with command. Ondrusek settled things down, allowing just one baserunner on a walk.

“My whole body is strong, I just can’t throw a strike,” Volquez said. “I still have a little bit of a problem with my mechanics. Because my arm is good, my speed was pretty good, too, I just can’t put it together.”

Weeks continued his tear with his 22nd homer, a leadoff shot in the fourth off Volquez. Weeks has homered in seven of the last 10 games and has scored at least one run in the past 11.

Milwaukee has hit at least one homer in its last 16 games — going 11-5 — but the loss killed much needed momentum for the Brewers, who still aren’t sure if they’ll play a role of buyers or sellers in the trade market.

Game notes

Brewers RF Joe Inglett pitched a 1-2-3 ninth, hitting as high as 56 mph on the radar gun. He received a standing ovation. … Brewers RF Corey Hart (wrist, thumb) missed his fourth straight game, but says he’ll be ready to return to the lineup Friday. … With OF Jim Edmonds (Achilles) also ailing, LHP Randy Wolf pinch-hit in the third. … Reds RHP Homer Bailey gave up three runs in four innings and took the loss in a rehab start for Class-A Dayton on Monday night. … Brewers RHP LaTroy Hawkins (shoulder) says he’ll throw a final bullpen session on Wednesday. He’s expected to be activated from the 60-day DL before Friday’s game at Houston.

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