Preise » r Dallas Keuchel, a lefty who leads the league

HOUSTON -- Right-hander Charlie Morton agreed to a contract with Houston on Wednesday, giving the Astros two of the best groundball pitchers in the majors.Morton accepted a $14 million, two-year deal that includes annual salaries of $7 million and performance bonuses of $625,000 apiece for 12, 20, 25 and 30 starts each season.Morton, who ranks second in the majors among active pitchers in career groundball to fly ball ratio (2.48), joins a staff that features last years American League Cy Young Award winner Dallas Keuchel, a lefty who leads the league in that category (2.84).I think thats where the match comes, his ability to get the ball on the ground and our ability to position our fielders and get the outs on the ground, manager A.J. Hinch said. Were getting pretty good at that. So it seems like a perfect fit for us.Morton made just four starts last season for the Phillies before a torn left hamstring which required surgery ended his year. It was the fourth surgery Morton has had in recent years including Tommy John surgery in 2012. But he said Wednesday that hes healthy now and has thrown six bullpen sessions since recovering from his hamstring injury, including three where he threw more than 50 pitches.The 33-year-old Morton has spent his entire nine-year career in the National League where he played for the Braves, Pirates and Phillies.He doesnt think the transition to the AL will be that difficult.It doesnt really matter who youre facing, it doesnt really matter how lineups are structured, Morton said. If you make quality pitches and take care of ... one hitter at a time, at the end of the day youll look back and have done it right.Morton is 46-71 with a 4.54 ERA in his career. His best season came in 2011 when he pitched a career-high 171.2 innings in 29 starts and won a career-best 10 games.The Astros are trying to add depth to a rotation that was hit hard by injuries late last season, hurting its chase for a wild-card playoff spot.We saw last season with our rotation that depth matters and we had six starters for the whole year until we passed the trade deadline and then all of the sudden two of our starters go on the shelf and we were a little short-handed, general manager Jeff Luhnow said. We know it takes eight or nine starters to get through the year. We really love the quality of what Charlie brings in terms of his pitches and the effectiveness of that pitches and what hes been able to do.---AP Baseball Writer Ronald Blum contributed to this report. Morten Andersen Womens Jersey .Y. -- Bills receiver Stevie Johnson has a bone to pick with the NFL schedule maker. Morten Andersen Youth Jersey . Gather a group of friends, or find a league to join online, draft your team, set your lineup and compete in a number of different formats. http://www.shoptheofficialsaints.com/Elite-Ted-Ginn-Jr-Saints-Jersey/ . Barcelonas entertaining victory ensured the defending Spanish champions retained their share of the league lead with Atletico Madrid two rounds ahead of their meeting in the capital. Real Madrid needed a late goal by substitute Jese Rodriguez to earn a 3-2 victory at Valencia to stay in third place and three points behind its title rivals. Marcus Davenport Womens Jersey . LOUIS -- Cardinals cleanup hitter Allen Craig says hes recovered from a foot injury and ready to be put on St. TreQuan Smith Jersey .Y. - New York City has been selected to host the NBA All-Star weekend in 2015, with the game played at Madison Square Garden and the slam dunk contest and other skills events held at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn. CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. -- Alejandro Bennifield threw four touchdown passes, and Chattanooga dominated Division II Shorter from the start in a 66-0 season-opening win Thursday night.The Mocs return 46 lettermen with half on the offensive side of the ball and have won the Southern Conference title three straight years. Chattanooga is 19-3 in conference play in the last three years and 27-12 overall during that span.Chattanooga outgained Shorter, from Rome, Georgia, 441-16 in total yards.Bennifield threw a 30-yaard score to James Stovall, 20 yards to Xavier Borishade, and 9 yards each to C.ddddddddddddJ. Board and Tyler Roberson.Chattanooga scored six touchdowns in the first half and three in the second.Shorter fumbled the ball on its first play from scrimmage. Chattanooga drove 25 yards in five plays capped by Derrick Craines 2-yard touchdown run with 12:53 left in the first quarter. ' ' '