Cubs drop another\nCHICAGO -- Doug Davis made another strong start, pitching into the ninth inning as the Milwaukee Brewers beat the Chicago Cubs 2-0 Sunday.\nRight fielder Jason Conti made a sliding, game-ending catch with the bases loaded to preserve the 12th victory in 13 games for Milwaukee, which had a 10-game winning streak snapped Friday. The Brewers won their fourth straight series, the first time they've managed that since August 1996.\nThe Cubs lost for the fourth time in five games, dropping even further back in the playoff race. Chicago is 2 1/2 games behind St. Louis in the NL Central, and 3 1/2 back in the wild-card race.\nDavis (2-0) spent most of the first half of the season with Toronto, going 4-6 with a 5.00 ERA. Designated for assignment on July 10, he opted for free agency and the Brewers signed him.\nThe move couldn't have worked out better for either the Brewers or Davis. He's won his last two starts, giving up just an unearned run, and his ERA in four starts with Milwaukee is 0.95.
Loss drops Astros to second place\nHOUSTON -- Jake Peavy and four relievers combined on a three-hitter as the San Diego Padres beat Houston 3-1 on Sunday and dropped the Astros into second place in the NL Central.\nMark Loretta hit a two-run single for the Padres, who won the series 2-1 and improved to 11-4 at Minute Maid Park.\nPeavy (10-10) allowed one run and one hit in six innings, while striking out 10. Peavy retired 10 batters in a row from the third through sixth before being lifted for a pinch hitter in the seventh.\nScott Linebrink and Mike Matthews pitched a hitless seventh before Morgan Ensberg and Jeff Bagwell got back-to-back singles off Jay Witasick in the eighth.\nRod Beck pitched a perfect ninth for his 20th save in as many chances.
Linebacker Porter shot outside bar\nDENVER -- Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker Joey Porter was seriously wounded when he was among six people shot early Sunday outside a bar following the Colorado-Colorado State football game.\nPorter was in serious condition after being shot in the buttocks, but the injury wasn't life-threatening, police spokesman Sonny Jackson said. One of the other victims died, Jackson said.\nPorter, 26, was not involved in any confrontation. The All-Pro linebacker, a five-year veteran, is a Colorado State graduate.\n"He was an innocent bystander. There was no confrontation or altercation that we know of at this time," said Jackson.\nNo arrests were made.\nJackson said the shots were fired from outside a fenced-in parking lot where the victims were standing just before 2 a.m.
The dead man was identified as Christopher Wilford, 28.\nSteelers coach Bill Cowher said the team would not place Porter on injured reserve, which would sideline him for the season.
