Diaz helps Braves slip past slumping Phils
Baseball Betting Lines
07/02/2009 -
Atlanta, GA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Matt Diaz belted a go-ahead RBI double in a
three-run eighth, as the Atlanta Braves recorded their first home sweep of the
Phillies since 2005 with a 5-2 victory at Turner Field.
Garret Anderson added a two-run homer in that fateful inning, as the Braves
swept Philadelphia for the first time at home since April 22-24, 2005. It was
the first sweep of the reigning World Series champs since April 2-5, 2007.
Diaz finished the game 3-for-4 with a pair of runs scored, while Casey
Kotchman went 2-for-2 with a two-run homer, as the Braves have now won a
season-high four straight games. Mike Gonzalez (3-0) pitched a scoreless
eighth to earn the win, and Rafael Soriano earned his seventh save of the
season.
Javier Vazquez got a no-decision after yielding two runs on seven hits with
five strikeouts in 5 1/3 innings.
Jimmy Rollins snapped a career-worst 0-for-28 skid with a 2-for-4 night, but
it was of no use, as the Phillies fell into a virtual tie with the Marlins for
first place atop the NL East standings after losing three straight and 14 of
18 overall.
J.A. Happ pitched well in the start, allowing only two runs on seven hits and
a pair of walks, with five strikeouts. in seven strong innings.
The Phillies inserted Ryan Madson (2-4) to keep the game tied in the home
eighth, but the Braves forged ahead. Brian McCann led off with a single after
an 0-2 count, and Yunel Escobar sacrificed pinch-runner Jair Jurrjens to
second. Diaz followed with an RBI double to deep center field to give Atlanta
a 3-2 lead.
After Diaz stole third, Anderson hit a towering home run to right field
for a comfortable 5-2 edge. Soriano set the Phillies down in order to finish
the win.
The Braves put runners on first and third with nobody out in the second for
the game's first scoring chance. Happ, though, was up to the task, striking
out Jeff Francoeur and Vazquez amidst a Kotchman walk to load the bases. A
fielder's choice groundout by Gregor Blanco ended the frame.
Vazquez held the Phillies off the board for the first four innings, and
Atlanta finally scored in the home half on Kotchman's two-run homer far beyond
the wall in right field.
Happ's first career hit in the fifth helped Philadelphia put two runners on
base with two outs, but Shane Victorino lined out sharply to shortstop Escobar
to end the threat.
The Phillies finally got to Vazquez in the sixth, knocking him out of the
game. Chase Utley led off with a single and moved to second two batters later,
as Jayson Werth was hit by a pitch. Greg Dobbs followed with a double to deep
center, although Utley barely scored after the center fielder Blanco acted as
if he would catch the ball before it bounced over his head.
Vazquez was pulled in favor of Peter Moylan, who allowed an the tying RBI
groundout by Pedro Feliz before getting out of the inning.
The Braves put runners on the corners with two outs in the seventh for Chipper
Jones, who flied out weakly on a 3-1 pitch to help Happ escape from yet
another jam.
Philadelphia nearly pushed across the go-ahead run in the eighth. Werth drew a
one-out walk, and, with two outs, stole second and moved to third on a
throwing error by the catcher McCann. A wild pitch sent Werth scrambling for
home, but McCann got the ball as it bounced off the backstop and tossed it to
Gonzalez, who was able to tag out Werth in time to end the inning.
Game Notes
After going 14-4 against Atlanta last season, the Phillies are 6-9 against
them this year...Philadelphia outfielder Raul Ibanez will not join the team
this weekend against the Mets after having his rehab start pushed back to
Friday...It was Anderson's first career pinch-hit homer...Atlanta will begin a
10-game road trip on Friday against Washington.
<< Wellemeyer pitches Cardinals over Giants
St. Louis, MO (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Todd Wellemeyer threw 7 1/3 innings to help
the St. Louis Cardinals take a 5-2 win over the San Francisco Giants and split
a four-game series.
Wellemeyer (7-7) scattered seven hits and two runs with a
<< Cubs reliever Cotts has Tommy John surgery
Chicago, IL (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Chicago Cubs relief pitcher Neal Cotts
underwent Tommy John surgery on Thursday and will be sidelined indefinitely.
Cotts was 0-2 this season with a 7.36 earned run average before being demoted
to Tri
<< Report: Artest joining Lakers
Los Angeles, CA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Free agent forward Ron Artest is
reportedly leaving the Houston Rockets to join the Los Angeles Lakers and will
provide the team with more offensive firepower next season, as he'll join Kobe
Bryant
<< Angels come to terms with first-round pick
Anaheim, CA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim came to terms
on a minor league contract with outfielder Michael Trout, the 25th overall
pick in the 2009 First-Year Player Draft.
Trout, who played his high school ball
<< Holy Cross tabs Kearney to replace Willard
Worcester, MA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Holy Cross named Sean Kearney its new head
men's basketball coach on Thursday.
Kearney, who becomes the 15th head coach in the history of the program,
replaces Ralph Willard who resigned last mo
Mayfield a no-show at Daytona >>
Daytona Beach, FL (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Sprint Cup Series driver and team owner
Jeremy Mayfield was not present at Daytona International Speedway on Thursday,
one day after a federal judge granted him a temporary injunction to race
again,
Stockton and Gates lead Edmonton Open >>
Edmonton, AB (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Brady Stockton and Robert Gates both fired
rounds of seven-under 65 on Thursday to share the first-round lead of the
Edmonton Open.
Liam Kendregan and Jon Turcott both shot 66s in round one and ar
Lee homers twice as Cubs down Brewers >>
Chicago, IL (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Derrek Lee headlined a home run parade with two
long-balls -- a three-run shot and a grand slam -- for a career-high seven
RBI, leading the Chicago Cubs to a 9-5 win over the Milwaukee Brewers in the
beginni
Buehrle, ChiSox stop Royals >>
Kansas City, MO (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Mark Buehrle took a shutout into the ninth
inning, as the Chicago White Sox extended their season-high win streak to six
games with a 4-1 win over the Kansas City Royals.
Buehrle (8-2) allowed a run on
Artest joining Lakers >>
Los Angeles, CA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Free agent forward Ron Artest is
leaving the Houston Rockets to join the Los Angeles Lakers and will provide
the team with more offensive firepower next season, as he'll join Kobe Bryant
and Pau
The 2009 AP NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year odds have been released and Denver Broncos' running back Knowshon Moreno has been made the opening favorite.
Bet NFL Sports Lines
Moreno was selected in the first round of April's NFL draft and is expected to carry the rushing load for the Broncos this season. And with Jay Cutler now in Chicago, Moreno might be expected to be Denver's entire offense.
Betting Lines from sports betting lines have made Moreno a 5/2 favorite to win this year's Offensive Rookie of the Year Award. Fellow running back Chris “Beanie” Wells (Arizona Cardinals) is right behind Moreno at 7/2, while Donald Brown (Indianapolis Colts) and receiver Michael Crabtree (San Francisco 49ers) are 5/1 to win. Quarterbacks Mark Sanchez (New York Jets) and Matthew Stafford (Detroit Lions) are 7/1 and 8/1, respectively.
A couple of players who present some value are Josh Freeman, Shonn Green and Darrius Heyward-Bey.
Freeman needs to beat out Byron Leftwich to become the starting quarterback of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers but if he does, he has a lot or raw talent and could use the weapons around him (i.e. Kellen Winslow Jr. and Antonio Bryant) to be very successful in his first season.
Green enters a crowded backfield in New York, but considering both Thomas Jones and Leon Washington are unhappy about their contract situations and might holdout, the former Iowa product could become the Jets' primary back.
Everyone was shocked when Al Davis took Heyward-Bey with the eighth overall pick in April's draft, but the kid has a tremendous amount of talent and if quarterback JaMarcus Russell takes the next step this year, the former Maryland product could blossom. Plus, Heyward-Bey will be looking to prove the people wrong who said Oakland should have taken Michael Crabtree with the No. 8 pick.
And if you're looking for a deep sleeper, check out Pat White at 30/1. He enters the Miami Dolphins vaunted “Wild Cat” offense and could be a big time playmaker.
For complete odds on the 2009 AP NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year odds, see below.
2009 AP NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year Odds to Win
Ramses Barden (NYG) 40/1
Andre Brown (NYG) 20/1
Donald Brown (IND) 5/1
Kenny Britt (TEN) 20/1
Glenn Coffee (SFO) 30/1
Chase Coffman (CIN) 50/1
Michael Crabtree (SFO) 5/1
Josh Freeman (TB) 14/1
Shonn Green (NYJ) 14/1
Percy Harvin (MIN) 10/1
Darrius Heyward-Bay (OAK) 18/1
Juaquan Iglesias (CHI) 30/1
Cornelius Ingram (PHI) 50/1
Rashad Jennings (JAC) 30/1
Johnny Knox (CHI) 40/1
Jeremy Maclin (PHI) 18/1
Mohamed Massaquoi (CLE) 30/1
LeSean McCoy (PHI) 12/1
Knowshon Moreno (DEN) 5/2
Hakeem Nicks (NYG) 18/1
Brandon Pettigrew (DET) 30/1
Brian Robiskie (CLE) 20/1
Mark Sanchez (NYJ) 7/1
Matthew Stafford (DET) 8/1
Jason Smith (STL) 40/1
Mike Thomas (JAC) 25/1
Patrick Turner (MIA) 50/1
Mike Wallace (PIT) 50/1
Chris Wells (ARI) 7/2
Pat White (MIA) 30/1
Field (Any Other Player) 9/1
Betting Line
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For sports betting with credit cards site go to BettingExpress.com as well.
Chiefs' Treen Green out for Sunday's game
How long Trent Green will remain sidelined is unknown. Coach Herm Edwards said Monday he will miss a second straight start Sunday when the Chiefs host the San Francisco 49ers.
A two-time Pro Bowler, Green was going into a feet-first hook slide when he was knocked unconscious by a thunderous, head-snapping hit from Cincinnati's Robert Geathers.
Oddsmakers at online sportsbook MySportsbook.com currently have the Chiefs listed as 7-point favorites versus the 49ers.
The 49ers got beat by Philadelphia 38-24 as a 6.5-point underdog last week. The combined score went OVER the posted over/under total (42.5).
Alex Smith completed 27-of-46 passes for 293 yards with a touchdown. Michael Robinson rushed for 29 yards and a pair of touchdowns on five carries.
The Chiefs lost 9-6 to Denver last week as an 11-point underdog. The combined score was well UNDER the posted over/under total (38).
Larry Johnson rushed for 126 yards on 27 carries. Damon Huard completed 17-of-23 passes for 133 yards with no touchdowns and no interceptions.
To visit this online sports book got to MySportsbook.com for all your football betting needs.
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