Silva: Each NFL team enters the offseason with a series of pressing needs. Sometimes a team can address them all, sometimes they ignore them all. But if a team's smart, they'll listen to us. These are the most crucial aspects for NFC teams.
SportsTalk: Albert Pujols signs with the Angels and Prince Fielder joins the Tigers. Which team is better now?
Ryan Callahan scored three goals as the New York Rangers beat Philadelphia 5-2 on Saturday for their seventh straight win over the Flyers.
Jeremy Lin hit a free throw with 4.9 seconds left to overcome a dreadful second half and lift the New York Knicks to their fifth straight victory, 100-98, over the Minnesota Timberwolves on Saturday night.
Arc's five up, five down: After No. 11 Michigan State's 58-48 upset of No. 3 Ohio State, you'd be a fool to discount the Spartans' national title chances now.
CFT: Jordan Jefferson makes it clear he wasn't happy with LSU's game plan in the Tigers' BCS Championship Game loss to Alabama.
Move over, Hollywood and NFL types, golf's two real A-listers take center stage Sunday at Pebble Beach, both in need of a win.
The United States swept favored Switzerland out of the Davis Cup on Saturday when Mardy Fish and Mike Bryan beat Roger Federer and Stanislas Wawrinka 4-6, 6-3, 6-3, 6-3.
Luis Suarez's refusal to shake hands with Patrice Evra overshadowed Manchester United's 2-1 win over rival Liverpool that lifted the defending champions to first place in the Premier League on Saturday.
Marlies Schild of Austria won her sixth World Cup slalom of the season Saturday after overall leader Lindsey Vonn and defending champion Maria Hoefl-Riesch crashed out in the opening run on the windy Pyrenees course.
Robins: It’s the Year of the Dragon on the Lunar calendar, and this Chinese influence could extend to it also being the year of the Pekingese on the green carpet at the 136th Westminster Dog Show on Tuesday.
AP
HOUSTON - The Houston Astros felt like they got lucky against San Francisco ace Matt Cain.
Geoff Blum and Kaz Matsui homered and Cain’s six-start unbeaten streak was snapped with the Astros’ 4-3 win over the Giants on Monday night.
“Guys like that have to make mistakes in order for you to beat them,” Houston manager Cecil Cooper said. “You don’t get a whole lot off guys like that. We made it all count.”
Blum led off the fifth with a homer to right, the first earned run allowed by Cain in 14 innings. That cut the Giants’ lead to 2-1 and Matsui put Houston on top in the sixth with a two-run shot off the right-field foul pole.
Cain (12-3) also gave up Carlos Lee’s RBI single in the eighth and the Giants lost for the first time in the last six games he started.
“I just got lucky there,” Lee said. “I guess it was our night. He was pitching really good. Even the balls we hit were good pitches.”
Cain went 3-0 with an 0.94 ERA in six July starts. He allowed only four earned runs the whole month.
“He still pitched a good ballgame,” Giants manager Bruce Bochy said. “He gave up a couple of long balls, but pitched well enough that he should’ve gotten the win.”
Mike Hampton (7-8) gave up eight hits, only one after the Giants took a 2-0 lead in the third. He struck out six and won for just the third time in eight starts.
Hampton plunked Ryan Garko with a pitch in the sixth and one out later, Edgar Renteria doubled over Lee’s head in left. Hampton intentionally walked Randy Winn to load the bases, then struck out Cain and Eugenio Velez.
“It was a fun win,” Hampton said. “It was one of those games you really want to be involved in.”
Jose Valverde gave up an RBI double to Pablo Sandoval with two outs in the ninth, but got Bengie Molina to ground out to secure his 13th save.
The Giants led 1-0 in the first after consecutive singles by Sandoval, Molina and Ryan Garko.
Hampton allowed runs in the first inning for the 12th time in 19 starts. He came in with an 11.50 ERA in the first inning (23 earned runs), the highest in the majors among pitchers who started at least 15 games.
Renteria singled in the second, advanced on Cain’s bunt and tried to score on Velez’s single to right. Hunter Pence’s throw was off line, but catcher Ivan Rodriguez caught it and tagged out Renteria near the plate.
The play inspired Hampton.
“They’re going to put a lot of balls in play when I pitch,” Hampton said. “Great throw by Hunter, as usual. He doesn’t miss by much when he does and tonight he threw one right there.”
Freddy Sanchez singled in the third and went to third when Sandoval’s hard grounder ricocheted off Hampton to the side of the mound. Molina’s sacrifice fly made it 2-0.
Blum’s sixth homer of the season was only the second allowed by Cain in seven starts.
“I thought it was a good pitch,” Cain said, “one of those pitches that you get away with.”
Michael Bourn led off the Astros’ sixth with a triple to right center, his NL-leading ninth of the season. Matsui homered off the right-field foul pole, his fifth of the season and second in five games.
Cain had not allowed two homers in a game since June 9.
“He’s got great velocity, a good slider and curve,” Matsui said through an interpreter. “His control is good, too. I have to be patient.”
Pence tripled to center in the eighth and Lee drove him in with a single to right. Houston’s eight hits were the most allowed by Cain since Seattle had 10 in the Giants’ 5-1 win on May 23.
Notes: Houston RHP Roy Oswalt felt pain in his lower back after a bullpen session and will skip his scheduled start on Tuesday. Forced to leave his previous outing because of an irritated disk, Oswalt said he would meet with doctors on Tuesday and throw another bullpen session on Wednesday. ... Cain failed in his bid to become the fourth pitcher in Giants history to win 13 of his first 15 decisions in a season.
SportsTalk: Albert Pujols signs with the Angels and Prince Fielder joins the Tigers. Which team is better now?
DeMarco: Plug in a well-heeled ownership group and negotiate one of those mega-bucks TV deals that are going around, and the Dodgers could become the west coast version of the New York Yankees or Boston Red Sox.
HardballTalk headlines |
 | Interactive |
 |
 | Slideshow |
 | Unbreakable records in baseball A look at the most unbreakable records in baseball including Nolan Ryan's seven no-hitters. |
| Slideshow |
 | The top tools of baseball You hear a lot about the tools of baseball, but who are the best hitters, fielders and pitchers? We break it down. more photos |
 | Slideshow |
 |
The Week in Sports Pictures The Giants on top of the football world, getting ready for the London Olympics and more. more photos |
Jeremy Lin hit a free throw with 4.9 seconds left to overcome a dreadful second half and lift the New York Knicks to their fifth straight victory, 100-98, over the Minnesota Timberwolves on Saturday night.
Doron Lamb hit a 3-pointer with 3:18 left to put No. 1 Kentucky ahead to stay, and the Wildcats took a big step toward a Southeastern Conference regular-season title by beating Vanderbilt 69-63 Saturday night for their 17th straight win.
Silva: Each NFL team enters the offseason with a series of pressing needs. Sometimes a team can address them all, sometimes they ignore them all. But if a team's smart, they'll listen to us. These are the most crucial aspects for NFC teams.