Sports
Westplex Sports For August 18, 2010:
By Bob Hudson
Aug 18, 2010 - 1:50:14 PM

A pair of scuffles highlighted Tuesday's practice for the Rams in Earth City. Defensive tackle Gary Gibson and offensive lineman Hank Fraley got into it first, followed shortly by defensive end Chris Long and right tackle Jason Smith getting into it. The second fracus escalated to include running back Steven Jackson pulling Gibson's helmet off.  Head coach Steve Spagnuolo said he doesn't mind the rough stuff in practice as long as guys leave it on the field and don't carry grudges back into the locker room.  The Rams may have been extra fiesty after getting worked 28-7 by the Minnesota Vikings in Saturday's preseason opener. The Rams play at Cleveland this Saturday.

The Rams made a roster switch at safety yesterday. The team cut safety David Roach and signed safety Brett Johnson. Roach played in 14 games for the Rams last season. The 25-year-old was cut after Tuesday's morning practice session. Johnson played at the Univeristy of California and was signed by the Bills this spring as an undrafted rookie but was just released.

The Cardinals activated infielder Tyler Greene off the disabled list Tuesday and optioned him to Triple-A Memphis. Greene had been sidelined since August 1st with an injured right wrist. He his hitting .265 with a .359 on base percentage and .412 slugging percentage with the Cardinals this season.  Greene is expected to focus on playing third base with the Redbirds.  Meanwhile, Cardinals center fielder Colby Rasmus did not start last night's game against Milwaukee, but did fly out as a pinch-hitter. He was pulled from Sunday's game with cramping in his right leg and will also sit out tonight. Rasmus will be re-evaluated before the weekend series with the Giants.

Jon Garland tossed seven scoreless innings to pitch the Padres to a 1-0 victory over the Cubs in the second of a four-game set at Wrigley Field.  Garland gave up just four hits and three walks while striking out three to improve to 12-and-8. Heath Bell closed it out for his 36th save.  San Diego, which recorded only three hits, scored the lone run of the game on Chase Headley's groundout in the first. Randy Wells fanned six through seven innings of one-run ball to suffer the tough-luck loss for Chicago, which has lost 16 of its last 20 games. Starlin Castro collected two hits in the setback.