Over four practices with the Denver Broncos this week, the Dallas Cowboys either held back on defense or figured something out. Because they sure had no problem getting into the backfield Saturday night. The attacking, pressure-seeking front being implemented by new Dallas coach Wade Phillips throttled Denver’s starting offense for two quarters, paving the way for the Cowboys to beat the Broncos…
Drew Brees needed only six on-target passes to show that he’s ready — and the Cincinnati Bengals’ defense isn’t. Brees led New Orleans to a touchdown in his only series Saturday night, completing every throw he made and giving the Bengals a half-dozen more reasons to worry in the Saints’ 27-19 preseason victory.
Brady Quinn’s biggest throw could turn out to be a monkey wrench. With flashbulbs popping all around the stadium, Cleveland’s rookie quarterback tossed two fourth-quarter touchdown passes in his first NFL exhibition game and looked better than any Browns quarterback in a 23-20 loss to Detroit on Saturday night.
Roy Oswalt went from cruising to hurting. He got the game-winning hit, but didn’t get the win. The Houston Astros’ ace was one out away from qualifying for his sixth straight victory when he was forced out of Saturday night’s 3-2 win over the San Diego Padres with a strained left oblique. Slugger Carlos Lee left two innings earlier with a strained right hip flexor.
Micah Owings felt right at home on the mound, and when he came to the plate. Owings went 4-for-5, including a pair of mammoth homers, drove in six runs and scored four times while pitching three-hit ball through seven innings as the Arizona Diamondbacks beat the Atlanta Braves 12-6 on Saturday night.
David Ortiz’s left shoulder hurts so badly sometimes that taking another swing seems too painful. The Red Sox are happy he gave it another shot — and put a hurting on the Angels instead. Ortiz hit a grand slam deep into the right field seats in a six-run fifth inning that carried Boston to a 10-5 win over Los Angeles on Saturday night in a matchup of teams with the two best records in baseball.
Matt Schaub looked at ease and Matt Leinart responded to a week of “tough love”‘ from his coach. The starting quarterbacks were terrific in the preseason game between the Houston Texans and Arizona Cardinals. The defense, well, that’s another matter. Schaub was 9-of-12 for 108 yards and ran 5 yards for a score and the Texans went on to beat Arizona 33-20 on Saturday in new Cardinals coach Ken…
Vinny Testaverde re-signed with the New England Patriots on Saturday for his 21st NFL season. The move was expected once the Patriots completed two-a-day practice sessions last week. The 43-year-old quarterback signed with New England last Nov. 14 and played in three regular-season games, including the finale in which he extended his streak to 20 seasons with at least one touchdown pass.
Luis Castillo’s pregame home-run hitting contest with teammate Jose Reyes paid off in a big way Saturday night. Castillo went deep for the first time in more than a year, David Wright hit a tiebreaking two-run double and the surging New York Mets beat the Washington Nationals 7-4. “I don’t know what’s going on,” said Castillo, who hadn’t homered since July 16, 2006, a span of 674 at-bats.
Gabe Gross took advantage of an extra pitch, and Geoff Jenkins did likewise on a bad pitch. Together they helped the Milwaukee Brewers snap a five-game skid. Gross and Jenkins each hit three-run homers Saturday night, leading Milwaukee past the Cincinnati Reds 8-4 and keeping the Brewers within a half-game of NL Central-leading Chicago, which defeated St.
