Pirates extend Rockies' slide in series opener
Baseball Betting Lines
07/27/2010 -
Denver, CO (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Neil Walker finished 3-for-4 with a solo home
run as Pittsburgh continued Colorado's second-half slide with a 4-2 victory at
Coors Field.
Zach Duke (5-9) started the three-game set with six solid innings, allowing
two runs on just three hits with four strikeouts and a pair of walks. Octavio
Dotel pitched the ninth frame for his 21st save of the season. The Pirates
snapped a four-game skid with the victory.
Jorge De La Rosa (3-3) took the loss, surrendering three runs -- two earned --
on six hits with eight strikeouts and two walks over seven frames. Brad Hawpe
and Clint Barmes hit back-to-back home runs for the Rockies, who have lost
seven straight.
The Rockies activated their star shortstop Troy Tulowitzki from the 15-day
disabled list before the game after he missed 33 games with a fractured left
wrist. He went 0-for-4 and committed his sixth error of the season.
The Pirates jumped out for two runs in the top of the first as Andrew
McCutchen shot a ball down the left-field line for a double and scored on Jose
Tabata's single to center. Walker followed with a bunt single, and after a
double play grounder from Garrett Jones, a wild pitch plated Tabata.
Colorado didn't score a run until the fifth frame when Hawpe measured up a
first-pitch fastball, driving it into the left field seats. Barmes followed
with a homer of his own, tying the game at 2-2.
The Pirates didn't waver, striking right back in the sixth with the aide of a
Tulowitzki fielding error. He misplayed Tabata's grounder then Walker reached
on an infield single. Jones doubled home Tabata, putting runners on second and
third with nobody out, but the Pirates failed to score again. Pedro Alvarez
struck out, Lastings Milledge was walked to load the bases and Ronny Cedeno
bounced into an inning-ending double play.
The Rockies threatened in the home half of the seventh with Miguel Olivo's
leadoff double. Hawpe moved him to third with a groundout, but the Pirates
brought the infield in so the catcher couldn't score on Barmes' grounder to
third. Pinch-hitter Seth Smith walked, but Evan Meek retired Dexter Fowler
on a grounder to the mound to thwart the threat.
"We need to come up with a hit there," said Rockies manager Jim Tracy. "That's
basically what's been going on."
Walker hit a solo home run in the eighth to build a two-run cushion at 4-2.
The Rockies brought the tying run to the plate in the ninth after Hawpe's two-
out double to left. However, Dotel got Jason Giambi to loft a fly ball
to left to end the game.
Game Notes
Colorado closer Huston Street was taken to the hospital after being hit in the
lower abdomen by a line drive off the bat of Ian Stewart during batting
practice. He suffered a right abdominal contusion...With Tulowitzki's return,
the club designated infielder Brad Eldred for assignment to clear a roster
spot...Hawpe hit his sixth home run of the season, while Barmes clubbed his
eighth.
<< Haren likely to make next start after X-rays come back clean
Anaheim, CA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Dan Haren is expected to start on Saturday
when the Angels take on the American League West-leading Rangers after X-rays
of his right forearm came back clean on Tuesday.
Haren, acquired by Los Angeles
<< Memphis rookie Vasquez has ankle surgery
Memphis, TN (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Memphis Grizzlies rookie guard Greivis Vasquez
underwent surgery on his right ankle Tuesday to remove a bone spur.
Vasquez, who starred at the University of Maryland, had the procedure
performed in B
<< Lee fans 13, Cruz hits game-winning HR in 10th as Rangers down A's
Arlington, TX (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Cliff Lee set a career high with 13
strikeouts over nine brilliant innings and Nelson Cruz belted a two-run, game-
winning home run in the bottom of the 10th, as the Texas Rangers edged the
Oakland
<< Myers' CG, six-run seventh gets Astros past Cubs
Houston, TX (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Brett Myers went the distance and Lance
Berkman's grand slam capped a six-run seventh inning as Houston downed
Chicago, 6-1, in the second of three between the clubs at Minute Maid Park.
Hunter
<< ECU assistant resigns over possible NCAA violations
Greenville, NC (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - East Carolina assistant football coach Mark
Nelson announced his resignation Tuesday after possible NCAA violations were
uncovered regarding the illegal observation of voluntary summer workouts.
Nelson s
Phillies' Victorino leaves game >>
Philadelphia, PA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Philadelphia Phillies outfielder Shane
Victorino left Tuesday's 9-5 victory over Arizona with a strained left oblique
muscle.
Victorino stated after the game that he suffered the injury while sliding i
Valencia, Twins stay hot in rout of Royals >>
Kansas City, MO (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Danny Valencia knocked in three and
collected four more hits while Carl Pavano turned in his eighth consecutive
winning decision in an 11-2 Twins victory over Kansas City.
Valencia was coming of
Reds subdue Brewers with 19-hit barrage >>
Milwaukee, WI (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Scott Rolen was one of three Cincinnati
players with four hits and drove in three runs as the Reds walloped the
Brewers, 12-4, snapping Milwaukee's five-game winning streak.
Brandon Phillips we
Bay out of Mets lineup >>
Flushing, NY (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Jason Bay is experiencing concussion-like
symptoms several days after crashing into the outfield wall while making a
catch against the Dodgers and was not in the Mets' lineup against St. Louis on
Tuesday
Billingsley, Ethier lead Dodgers over Padres >>
San Diego, CA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Chad Billingsley pitched six shutout frames,
and his pinch-hitter, Andre Ethier, came through with a big hit in the top of
the seventh, as the Dodgers kicked off an important NL West three-game set
with a
NCAA Football Betting
Many fans thought it was the best side in the nation by the end of last season. This year, the polls have built on Georgia's momentum and granted it the No. 1 preseason ranking, followed by Ohio State and USC. (The Associated Press has the Buckeyes at No. 2; USA Today took the Trojans.)
"To have people believing we have one of the best teams in the nation going into this thing, it's exciting for us," Bulldogs coach Mark Richt told the AP. "I don't think anything is guaranteed, but we certainly have put ourselves in position where at least the college football world thinks we're pretty good."
Georgia Bulldogs - 9.5 wins
There's no question they're good, but the Bulldogs have one of the toughest 12-game schedules in the nation, mostly because they play in the powerhouse Southeastern Conference. Away games at No. 15 Arizona State, No. 7 LSU and No. 10 Auburn loom large, with contests between the hedges versus No. 24 Alabama and No. 18 Tennessee as well as the World's Largest Cocktail Party in Jacksonville versus No.5 Florida.
Ohio State Buckeyes - 10 wins
Like the Bulldogs, the Buckeyes also have a number of tough road contests in 2008. After two scrimmages dressed up as real games versus Youngstown State and Ohio, it's off to face USC. Other tough away games include No.13 Wisconsin in October and No. 20 Illinois in November. Granted, it should be pretty easy sledding at the Horseshoe. In fact, the only ranked team that travels to Columbus is No. 22 Penn State, in October.
USC Trojans - 10.5 wins
A similarly light schedule awaits the Trojans of Southern California, which is why the oddsmakers' total is one win more and the over is currently commanding -150 odds. Pete Carroll's troops only play three ranked teams in 2008, and all of those games are at home. After what should be an easy trip to Virginia to start things off on Aug. 30, the Trojans get two weeks to prepare for Ohio State in Los Angeles. Their two other ranked opponents, No. 21 Oregon and No. 15 Arizona State, visit in consecutive weeks to start the month of October. After that, the competition eases up. Of course, this is the same highly-touted school that lost to Stanford in 2007 and Oregon State in 2006. And don't discount the fact that USC plays its biggest rivals, Notre Dame and UCLA, back-to-back to close out the regular season. On paper, the Trojans are far superior, but motivation will be high for the Irish and Bruins, especially if their historic foes are in national-title contention.
Odds to Win the Heisman Trophy
Tim Tebow, Florida - 7/2
He won it last year, so it's no surprise he's the favorite to do it again, making him just the second player to go back-to-back. Ohio State's Archie Griffin turned the trick in 1974 and 1975, and Tebow's coach, Urban Meyer, is pretty sure his star quarterback can match the Buckeyes legend.
"There has never been anyone quite like him," Meyer told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. "I am very lucky to be his coach."
Chris Wells, Ohio State - 5/1
The man they call "Beanie" was a star recruit out of high school, so it's not like nobody knew who the star tailback was before he rushed for 576 yards as a freshman in 2006 and 1,609 as a sophomore. But perhaps his finest moment came last year versus Michigan when he rumbled for 222 yards and two touchdowns in the Buckeyes' 14-3 victory over the hated Wolverines.
Knowshon Moreno, Georgia - 8/1
If the Bulldogs are to live up to expectations, they'll need a huge effort from their sophomore running back. This might be the last year of college ball for Moreno, who rushed for 1,334 yards and for 14 touchdowns as a freshman, while adding 253 receiving yards on 20 receptions, so expect big things for the man from Belford, N.J.
Stay with us here as we take you through the best in NFL action on a consistent basis, with advice columns as well as handicapping selections. If you're looking for college football betting, that's in our NCAA section, which you can reach by clicking here. And if you're looking for a different kind of football, such as the Canadian Football League, which we'll deal with occasionally, or the Arena Football League, which we really like, you can find it in our Miscellaneous section by clicking
Note: Monday night game will be picked Monday. Lines used are from football betting lines .
To visit this sportsbook got to MySportsbook.com for all your football betting needs. Mysportsbook.com online sports betting
|