Tale of Two Cities: Surging Twins upend slumping Tribe
Baseball Betting Lines
07/04/2008 -
Minneapolis, MN (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Delmon Young went 3-for-5 with a three-run
home run and finished with four runs driven in, and Nick Punto hit a solo home
run while also driving in four runs, as the Minnesota Twins crushed the
Cleveland Indians, 12-3, in the opener of a three-game set from the Metrodome.
Justin Morneau went 2-for-3 with two doubles, scored twice and had two RBI for
the Twins, who have won three in a row, four of five and eight of their last
10 overall. Livan Hernandez (9-5) took the win as he hurled six innings and
was touched for just three runs on five hits.
Kelly Shoppach went 3-for-3 with a two-run homer for the Tribe, who have
dropped six straight and eight of their last 10 contests overall. Ben
Francisco accounted for the other Cleveland run with a solo shot. Paul Byrd
(3-10) took the loss as he was roughed up for six runs on eight hits in 5 1/3
innings of work.
"It's been extremely frustrating," Byrd said. "I don't mind the solo shots,
it's the three-run shots that get to me."
Punto took Byrd's 3-1 fastball over the fence in right for a 1-0 Twins lead
in the first inning.
"It's definitely important to start the game off like that," Punto said.
"Especially when your facing a guy like Paul Byrd."
Minnesota tacked on another run in the second inning. Young led off with a
single and scored as Brian Buscher belted a double to center.
Cleveland tied it up in the third. Ryan Garko opened the frame with a single
and Shoppach followed with a home run, knotting it up at two runs apiece.
The Twins broke the tie in the home third, however. Morneau worked a two-out
walk and Jason Kubel laced a double to right before Young deposited a 1-1
curveball deep into the seats in left field for a 5-2 Minnesota lead.
Francisco led off the sixth with a home run, which cut Cleveland's deficit to
two runs.
Minnesota got the run back in the home sixth, though. Kubel led off with a
single, but was out at second as Young grounded into a force. Buscher then
walked and Brendan Harris followed with an RBI line drive to center, and it
was 6-3.
Punto worked a walk off Jensen Lewis to begin the seventh frame and, after Joe
Mauer struck out, Morneau cracked an RBI double to left. Kubel flied out to
right, which moved Morneau to third, and Young connected on an RBI single to
make it an 8-3 game.
Harris led the home eighth off with a single off Brian Slocum. Denard Span
followed with another base hit, and Carlos Gomez was hit by a pitch to load
the bases. Punto kept it going with a three-run double and Mauer put runners
on the corners with a single. Morneau offered up a sac fly to plate Punto and
pinch-hitter Mike Lamb hit a single.
Edward Mujica was called in from the 'pen and got out of the jam, but the
Twins brought nine batters to the plate and ran the score to 12-3.
Jesse Crain kept the Indians off the board in the ninth despite allowing two
hits.
Game Notes
Minnesota has amassed an impressive 16-3 record since June 13, a surge that
has vaulted the Twins to within one game of the first-place Chicago White Sox
in the American League Central standings. Most of that damage has come at
home, where Minnesota has won 11 of its last 13 games and owns an outstanding
30-18 mark at the Metrodome this season...Cleveland has been going in a far
opposite direction than Minnesota as of late. The defending Central champion
Indians currently reside in the division basement.
<< Hamlin wins at Daytona
Daytona Beach, FL (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Denny Hamlin held off teammate Kyle Busch
in a green-white-checkered finish to win Friday night's Winn-Dixie 250
Nationwide Series race at the Daytona International Speedway. The driver of
the No
<< Cust homers, Blanton dazzles as A's top ChiSox
Chicago, IL (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Jack Cust slammed a two-run homer and Joe
Blanton pitched seven solid innings in Oakland's 7-1 victory over the Chicago
White Sox in the second of a four-game series.
Blanton (5-11) allowed just one ru
<< Calvillo's big first half paces Als over Bombers
Montreal, QC (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Anthony Calvillo threw for 372 yards and four
touchdowns as the Montreal Alouettes held off a second-half charge from
the Winnipeg Blue Bombers to notch a 38-24 win at Molson Stadium.
Calvillo finishe
<< Four top leaderboard at Saskatchewan Open
Saskatoon, SK (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Graham DeLeat carded a six-under 66 Friday to
move into a tie for the lead after two rounds of the Saskatchewan Open.
He completed 36 holes at 13-under-par 131 and was joined atop the leaderboard
by Ryan Car
<< Phils down Mets on Victorino's two-out, game-winning single
Philadelphia, PA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Shane Victorino's two-out single in the
bottom of the ninth inning lifted the Philadelphia Phillies to a 3-2 win over
the New York Mets in the opener of a four-game series at Citizens Bank Park.
Duaner
Zambrano comes back strong as Cubs nip Cardinals >>
St. Louis, MO (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Carlos Zambrano was impressive in his first
game back from the disabled list, and he shut down St. Louis as the Cubs beat
the Cardinals, 2-1, in the opener of a three-game set.
Zambrano (9-3) pitched for
It's in the Cards: Cubs' Zambrano makes return >>
St. Louis, MO (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Chicago Cubs' ace Carlos Zambrano started
Friday's 2-1 victory over the St. Louis Cardinals after a two-week stint on
the disabled list with a strained right shoulder.
Zambrano, who returned from his first
Report: Duhon to become a Knickerbocker >>
Chicago, IL (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The New York Knicks have reportedly agreed to a
two-year, full mid-level exception $12 million contract with guard Chris
Duhon.
The Chicago Tribune reported Friday that Duhon will sign with the Knicks wh
Rapids roll to 4-0 win over Red Bulls >>
Commerce City, CO (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Mehdi Ballouchy, Colin Clark and Tom
McManus each had a goal and an assist as the Colorado Rapids rolled to a 4-0
win over Red Bull New York on Friday to snap a four-game winless streak.
Omar Cum
Angels rout Blue Jays >>
Anaheim, CA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Howie Kendrick finished 2-for-4 and drove in
three runs as Los Angeles drubbed Toronto, 8-2, in the first of a three-game
set.
Garret Anderson went 3-for-4 with a two-run homer and a pair of runs scored
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.
|
