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04/22/2009 - Houston, TX (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Lance Berkman hit a game-tying homer and Ivan Rodriguez singled in the go-ahead run in the eighth inning, lifting the Houston Astros to a 6-5 win over the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Hunter Pence hit a two-run homer and Jason Michaels added a two-run double for the Astros, who also won Tuesday in the first contest of this three-game series.
Houston starter Roy Oswalt allowed four runs on eight hits in six innings, but did not factor into the decision. Chris Sampson (1-0) took the win despite allowing a potentially decisive run in two relief innings, while LaTroy Hawkins tossed a perfect ninth to nail down his second save.
Manny Ramirez, Andre Ethier and Casey Blake all homered in the sixth inning for the Dodgers, who have now lost two in a row following an eight-game win streak.
Los Angeles center fielder Matt Kemp, who had gotten at least one hit in each of the season's first 14 games, went 0-for-4.
Ronald Belisario (0-1) took the loss after allowing the two runs in the bottom of the eighth. He followed LA starter Randy Wolf, who gave up four runs on eight hits in seven frames of work.
With the game tied at four runs apiece, Los Angeles edged in front in the top of the eighth. Facing Sampson, Ethier singled and scored on a James Loney double to left, and suddenly the Dodgers had a 5-4 lead.
Sampson, though, worked out of further trouble and the Astros took the lead in the bottom half. Berkman smacked a one-out solo shot to left field to tie the contest, and after Carlos Lee grounded out, Pence hit a ground-rule double to right.
Belisario unfurled a wild pitch that allowed Pence to move to third, and Belisario intentionally walked pinch-hitter Geoff Blum. But Rodriguez avoided the force out by smacking a grounder back up the middle to plate Pence and give Houston a 6-5 edge.
Hawkins took the mound for the Astros in the ninth and set the Dodgers down in order to end the game.
Houston took a 2-0 lead in the fourth inning. After Lee singled with one away, Pence crushed a fastball at the knees over the fence in left-center field.
But Los Angeles surged ahead with a four-run sixth, which Ramirez and Ethier began with consecutive homers. Russell Martin then walked with one out, and after Kemp struck out, Blake homered to left to give the Dodgers a 4-2 edge.
Michaels had a two-run double in the bottom of the sixth to make it a 4-4 game.
Game Notes
Michaels finished with two doubles in the game...Oswalt tied the franchise record for starts with 245...The Dodgers hadn't had back-to-back homers since September 3 of last season and hadn't hit three in an inning since May 15 of the same year...Berkman's homer was his 292nd with the Astros, moving him past Craig Biggio into second place in Houston franchise history.
<< Cueto, Reds shut down Cubs
Chicago, IL (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Johnny Cueto was stellar on the hill and went
2-for-2 at the plate to help the Cincinnati Reds edge the Chicago Cubs, 3-0,
in the middle tilt of a three-game set from Wrigley Field.
Cueto (1-1) went seven
<< Wade, Heat even series in Atlanta
Atlanta, GA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Dwyane Wade finished with 33 points, seven
assists and five rebounds, as the Miami Heat evened their Eastern Conference
quarterfinal series with a 108-93 Game 2 win over the Atlanta Hawks.
In Game 1 of
<< Red Sox top Twins in nightcap for seventh straight win
Boston, MA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Jeff Bailey's first home run of the season, a
three-run shot, led the way as Boston upended Minnesota, 7-3, in the back
half of a day-night doubleheader which completed a two-game set at Fenway
Park.
<< Wizards, Red Bulls renew Eastern rivalry
Kansas City, KA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Kansas City Wizards are coming off a
dramatic come-from-behind 2-2 draw at Chicago after scoring two goals in the
final 12 minutes last weekend.
The New York Red Bulls are coming off their first w
Andruw Jones exits Texas-Toronto tilt with knee injury >>
Toronto, ON (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Texas Rangers outfielder Andruw Jones
left Wednesday's 8-7 loss in 11 innings to Toronto with an injured right knee.
Jones reached first for his only hit in four at-bats by jumping over first
base
Tennessee's Smith becomes eligible for NBA Draft >>
Knoxville, TN (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Tennessee junior forward Tyler Smith
announced Wednesday he has submitted paperwork to become eligible for this
year's NBA Draft, but has not hired an agent, keeping the door open if he
wants t
Flames squander three-goal lead, recover to even series >>
Calgary, AB (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Jarome Iginla tallied twice and Eric Nystrom
notched the game-winner late in the third period as Calgary wasted a three-
goal lead but recovered to post a 6-4 victory over Chicago in Game 4 of their
Western
Tigers OF Thames to miss more than a month >>
Anaheim, CA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Detroit Tigers outfielder Marcus Thames is
expected to miss more than a month because of a severe rib cage strain.
Thames strained a rib cage muscle in batting practice Tuesday, and an MRI exam
showed the
American Idol odds : Blake Lewis the Early Standout
An important American Idol betting lines recap from February 20 Guys episode. The 12 men came out flat overall with Blake Lewis appearing to have the early edge after the first hour and a half.
Rudy - was quite good singing "Free Ride" to start off. Randy was not impressed though. Paula thought he started off fantastic. "Never had anyone stop off so lively" said Paula but Simon (who does not like Rudy) does not feel he has a distinct voice and was not impressed either.
Brandon was a little pitchy according to Randy and Paula agreed. Simon said he was a good singer but the song was "too safe" and he needs to make an impact. He was listed at +1200 odds or $1200 paid out on a $100 bet should he win the competition.
Big favorite Sundance came in with a flat version of "Knights in White Satin" and the judges let him have it, including Paula. Randy claimed the song was out of pitch throughout.
Korean American - and a Jenny Woo favorite - Paul Kim was up next. Another pitchy flat one but Randy said he still liked his potential. Kim at +3000 odds was said to have sung a "third rate version of that (George Michael) song" according to Simon Cowell. He sang "Careless Whisper".
22 year old Chris Richardson was up next. He was listed with +1100 odds coming in. He got the best response from the judges though Simon did not believe the vocal was that great.
Nick was boring and pitchy. Simon didn't think he was that bad though and predicted he would be back next week. Nick Pedro was a big +3000 dog coming into this competition.
Beat boxer Blake Lewis was listed with early +1000 odds or $1000 payout on a $100 bet if he were to become the next American Idol winner odds . These of course were the early odds. He was considered original for picking an "odd song". He did not beat box and the judges felt it was the best vocal of the night.
Sanjaya came in as the second biggest favorite after Chris Sligh but his performance Tuesday night was not very good.
Chris Sleigh was the early favorite at +450 odds. Great voice and a great sense of humor. He's a real standout. Randy felt it was on point but maybe ahead of the chorus a little bit. Simon Cowell said he felt like he was in some "sort of weird student gig".
Jared Cotter followed. He was listed with +2000 odds early on to win the competition. The judges felt he needs to take more risks but looked good.
22-year old AJ Talbado, who has tried out for American Idol five times, was up next. "Kind of a theme park performance" said Simon. Though the judges felt he performed okay. Simon did feel AJ might be better than he originally thought.
Phil - this season's military favorite - came into this competition with +1200 odds to win the competition. He was the last to perform. He was certainly strong enough to get through this stage of the competition and perhaps the best one after a shaky start.
Tomorrow night, the ladies perform and I sure hope they do a better job than the boys. Check out all the American Idol betting odds here.
To visit this online sportsbook got to MySportsbook.com - this sportsbook accepts credit cards.
NFL betting action is back! At MySportsbook, all of the pro football odds are posted for the NFC North. Check out how we see the four teams in this cloudy division stacking up this year in the chase for the playoffs! Green Bay Packers (+125) - With QB Aaron Rodgers leading the offense and DC Dom Capers working his magic on defense, the Packers are a real force to be reckoned with.
Virtually nothing changed on this offense for Green Bay from last year to this year, save for the addition of rookie OT Brian Bulaga to the bunch. Expect more huge numbers from the Pack, and a relatively favorable schedule should get them over the hump and into the playoffs once again this season. My NFL Betting Predictions: 11-5, 1st place in NFC North Minnesota Vikings (+130) - There are still too many unknowns about the Vikes this year. There is a huge difference between QB Brett Favre and either Tarvaris Jackson or Sage Rosenfels under center. Plus, is Favre comes back, is he really going to be able to keep his pick total under double digits again? Depth at running back looked like it might have been an issue with RB Chester Taylor fleeing in free agency, but drafting RB Toby Gerhart should pick up the difference. This defense is still suitable, but with a first place schedule, making the playoffs is going to be very tough regardless of whether #4 comes back or not.
There is a huge difference between QB Brett Favre and either Tarvaris Jackson or Sage Rosenfels under center. Plus, is Favre comes back, is he really going to be able to keep his pick total under double digits again? Depth at running back looked like it might have been an issue with RB Chester Taylor fleeing in free agency, but drafting RB Toby Gerhart should pick up the difference. This defense is still suitable, but with a first place schedule, making the playoffs is going to be very tough regardless of whether #4 comes back or not. Play this weekly NFL Football Contestto see if you can win.
Chicago Bears (+350) - The Bears are probably a bit of an overhyped team once again this year.No, we don't think it is plausible for QB Jay Cutler to have as bad of a season as he did last year, and we do think the additions of RB Chester Taylor and DE Julius Peppers are going to help immensely, but there's still something in the water in the Windy City that we aren't so sure about. Maybe Chicago finds its way to .500... but then again, maybe it doesn't. If Favre comes back, Cutler might be the worst quarterback in this division this year.
Detroit Lions (+1500) - The Lions are probably once again going to be the whipping boys for the rest of the teams in the NFC North, but they aren't just going to roll over and die once again. There is some real talent amassing on this team offensively, as the combination of QB Matt Stafford, RB Jahvid Best, WR Calvin Johnson, and TE Brandon Pettigrew should put a bunch of points on the board if the offensive line can even remotely hold up. The questions really lie on defense, where it feels like DT Ndamukong Suh is going to be trying to stop opposing teams all by himself. This year should show some marked improvement in the Motor City.
The Patriots will make NFL betting fans a lot of money this season, get in early and enjoy the cash.
To visit this sportsbook go to MySportsbook.com for all your NFL football betting needs.
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