Colorado manager Clint Hurdle called it the “Tulo Trap.” Whatever it’s called, it helped the Rockies beat the Arizona Diamondbacks on Sunday. Troy Tulowitzki caught rookie outfielder Justin Upton making a wide turn at third base to end an Arizona rally and the Rockies held on to beat the Diamondbacks 4-3.
Chad Billingsley probably will have one more start against San Diego this season, which can’t be good news to the Padres. Billingsley shut down San Diego’s resurgent offense with seven brilliant innings of four-hit ball that carried the Los Angeles Dodgers to a 5-0 win on Sunday. The 23-year-old right-hander beat the Padres for the third time this season by matching his career-high with nine…
The Pittsburgh Steelers re-signed right guard Kendall Simmons to a four-year extension on Sunday that could be worth as much as $24 million, a deal that makes certain they won’t go into the 2008 season without both starting guards. The deal secures Simmons through the 2011 season and guarantees him $7.85 million in new money.
The New England Patriots activated tight end David Thomas off the physically unable to perform list and released 21 players Saturday, including quarterback Vinny Testaverde, who at 43 would have been entering his 21st season in the NFL. New England also placed defensive lineman Richard Seymour on the physically unable list.
Brad Keselowski, driving for Dale Earnhardt Jr.’s JR Motorsports, injured a leg in a four-car crash midway through Saturday night’s NASCAR Busch Series race at California speedway.
Two executives with the Arizona Diamondbacks have purchased majority interest in the NASCAR team owned by Troy Aikman and Roger Staubach, Sports Betting News learned Saturday night.
^At Gateway International Raceway< ^Madison, Ill.< ^Lap length: 1.25 miles< ^(Starting position in parentheses)
Mark Mulder will rejoin the St. Louis Cardinals’ rotation for the first time in more than a year on Wednesday, just in time for the stretch drive. Manager Tony La Russa said Sunday he’s not sure what to expect from the left-hander, who had rotator cuff surgery in September 2006. But he thought it was worth taking a shot with a man who had been the winningest pitcher this decade before being injured.
Before Derrek Lee even had a chance to look at the big, old-fashioned scoreboard at Wrigley Field, a helpful Cubs fan let him know what he needed to do. Lee drove in three runs, including a go-ahead two-run homer in the eighth inning, and the NL East-leading Chicago Cubs rallied to beat the Houston Astros 6-5 on Sunday.
Surprisingly entrenched in last place, the Chicago White Sox still get plenty of enjoyment out of beating the Cleveland Indians. Jose Contreras allowed four singles while pitching into the seventh inning, and A.J. Pierzynski tied a career high with four hits as the White Sox snapped the first-place Indians’ eight-game winning streak, 8-0 Sunday.
