05/11/2008 - Arlington, TX (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Emil Brown finished with four runs batted in, including a three-run homer, as the Oakland Athletics avoided a weekend sweep and clobbered the Texas Rangers, 12-6.
Daric Barton hit a two-run homer and Frank Thomas had two RBI. Mark Ellis went 3-for-5 for Oakland, which halted a two-game losing streak and has won five of seven overall.
A's starter Rich Harden was roughed up after being activated from the disabled list before the game, lasting only 3 2/3 innings, giving up five runs on eight hits and four walks. Harden, who had been out since early April with a strained right shoulder, struck out five.
"I went out there and felt strong," Harden said. "I just threw too many pitches. It wasn't the prettiest game but I'm just glad to be back."
The A's pitching finally settled down in the latter stages, getting 3 2/3 innings of scoreless relief from Santiago Casilla (2-0), Alan Embree and Huston Street to close out the game.
Ian Kinsler went 3-for-5, scoring twice with a run batted in for Texas. Jarrod Saltalamacchia drove in two runs.
Texas starter Sidney Ponson lasted 5 1/3 innings, surrendering six runs on seven hits and five walks.
The loss halted a five-game win streak for Texas, which lost for just the third time in its last 12 contests.
Oakland jumped on top for good in the seventh with two runs during a back and forth affair. Bobby Crosby doubled and Ellis singled. Franklyn German (1-1) threw to first on a pick-off try and had Ellis hung up going to second, but forgot about Crosby, who raced home just ahead of the tag for the go-ahead run. Jack Hannahan singled and Jamey Wright then came in from the bullpen, but Ryan Sweeney lofted a sacrifice fly to center for an 8-6 Oakland lead.
The A's added a run in the eighth on an RBI single from Brown and three in the ninth on a two-run home run from Barton, and pinch-runner Donnie Murphy scored on an errant throw from Saltalamacchia on a double steal attempt.
The A's scored four runs in the first off Ponson. Mike Sweeney took first after being hit by a pitch with one out, Jack Cust doubled and Thomas singled to center for a 1-0 lead. Brown followed taking a first-pitch fastball to the left field seats.
Texas got one back in the bottom half on consecutive two-out doubles from Josh Hamilton and Milton Bradley and added another in the second on a Kinsler RBI single to center.
The Rangers picked up two more in the third to tie the game. Texas loaded the bases with two outs on a pair of walks and a base hit before Saltalamacchia singled to right scoring two, but then overslid the base at second for the third out.
Hamilton tripled in Kinsler in the fourth, but Oakland scored twice in the sixth to assume a 6-5 edge. The A's loaded the bases on a single and two walks with one out. Ponson walked Cust to force in a run before he was lifted in favor of German, who gave up a sac fly to Thomas.
Texas came right back in the bottom half and tied it on a Michael Young RBI single.
Game Notes
Texas continues its homestand, opening a three-game set with Seattle on Monday...Oakland stays on the road heading to Cleveland for a three-game, beginning Tuesday...Thomas has 1,695 RBI, tying Cal Ripken Jr. for 21st on the all-time list.
<< Jazz tie series with OT win; Kobe fights through injury
Salt Lake City, UT (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Deron Williams poured in 29 points and
doled out 14 assists as the Utah Jazz survived a late surge and downed the Los
Angeles Lakers, 123-115, in overtime to knot their Western Conference
semifin
<< Cubs top D-Backs
Chicago, IL (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Daryle Ward's two-run pinch-hit double in
the bottom of the eighth inning lifted the Chicago Cubs over the Arizona
Diamondbacks, 6-4, to complete a three-game sweep at Wrigley Field.
The start of g
<< Atletico Madrid pulls level with Barcelona
Madrid, Spain (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Diego Forlan scored as Atletico Madrid edged
Deportivo, 1-0, to pull even in points with third-place Barcelona, which blew
a two-goal lead in a 3-2 loss to Mallorca on Sunday in the Spanish La Liga.
Atletic
<< Gagne relieved of closing duties for Brewers
Milwaukee, WI (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Milwaukee Brewers manager Ned Yost announced
before Sunday's 5-3 win over St. Louis that Eric Gagne had been relieved of
his closer duties and will approach the ends of games with a closer-by-
committ
Holm's first career homer propels Giants past Phillies >>
San Francisco, CA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Steve Holm's first major league home
run in the bottom of the seventh inning drove in the winning run, as the San
Francisco Giants edged the Philadelphia Phillies, 4-3, in the rubber match at
AT&
Flyers D Coburn leaves after getting hit with puck >>
Pittsburgh, PA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Philadelphia Flyers defenseman Braydon
Coburn left in the first period of his team's playoff game against Pittsburgh
after the puck hit him in the face.
Just 1:51 into the second game of the Easte
Astros bring out brooms against Dodgers >>
Los Angeles, CA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Hunter Pence went 3-for-4, drove in two
runs and scored twice as the Houston Astros fought off Hiroki Kuroda's no-hit
bid and rallied for six runs in the eighth inning and an 8-5 win over the Los
Angeles
Knost rallies for first Nationwide victory >>
Fort Smith, AR (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Trailing by six strokes at the start of the
day, Colt Knost closed with a five-under 65 to come from behind and win the
Fort Smith Classic.
Knost, the 2007 U.S. Amateur and U.S. Amateur Public Links cha
Brandon Roy Favorite to Win 2007 NBA Rookie of the Year
Portland TrailBlazer’s guard, Brandon Roy, is MySportsbook.com’s overwhelming favorite to win the NBA Rookie of the Year odds.
Despite missing 20 games due to an injury earlier this season, Roy has definitely put up the best numbers of his 1st year peers. In 32 games, Roy is averaging 15.3 PPG, 4.2 boards and 3.5 assists in over 33 minutes of play per game. While most rookies breakdown as the season progresses (see Morrison), Roy is only getting stronger as his playing time and scoring average has increased each month.
With 30 or so games left in the regular season, Roy isn’t a lock for the award by any means. Other rookies are putting together some pretty impressive campaigns and a few could give Roy a run for the award with increased playing time. Heading the list is first pick, Andrea Bargnani of the Toronto Raptors. Even though he has started only two games all season, Bargnani is averaging 10.3 PPPG while shooting 35% from deep.
Randy Foye of the Minnesota Timberwolves could be set to give Roy the best competition NBA Rookie of the Year betting lines. With the benching of Mike James, Foye looks like he could be the starter in the T-Wolves backcourt for the rest of the season. So far, Foye has averaged 9 PPG and 2.4 assists in just under 21 minutes per game. With his new role of starter, Foye’s numbers will definitely increase. In his first game as the new starting guard this past Sunday, Foye had 10 points; five rebounds and 8 assists. More importantly, he logged 34 minutes of playing time; his third highest run of the season.
Adam Morrison, of the Charlotte Bobcats, was the favorite early on in the season after averaging 15+ PPG through the first month of the season. Ever since his torrid start, Morrison’s point production has declined each month. This really isn’t surprising, considering at 6’8” he only weighs 205 lbs. Obviously he will need to hit the weights big time during the off-season in order to keep from breaking down in the future.
Be sure to log on to MySportsbook.com to bet on the NBA. With the regular season about to hit the homestretch, it is important to point out that MySportsbook.com has the highest credit card acceptance rate in the industry.
To visit this online sportsbook got to MySportsbook.com - this sportsbook accepts credit cards.
El Duque expected to throw Tuesday
PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. -- New York Mets pitcher Orlando Hernandez, sidelined at spring training because of arthritis in his neck, is expected to resume throwing on Tuesday.
Hernandez received a cortisone shot Thursday after leaving camp and returning to New York to have his neck examined. The 41-year-old right-hander is penciled in as the team's No. 2 starter behind Tom Glavine.
El Duque's health is a major issue for the Mets, who won the NL East in 2007 and came within one victory of the World Series. Their aging and unsettled rotation is a big question mark this year.
MySportsbook.com has the Mets as -110 favorites to repeat as NL East champions odds.
Hernandez went 11-11 with a 4.66 ERA last season, including 9-7 with a 4.09 ERA in 20 starts after the Mets acquired him from Arizona in late May. But he missed the playoffs because of a torn calf muscle.
New York already is without Pedro Martinez, out until at least midseason following rotator cuff surgery. Among those competing for starting jobs are prospects Mike Pelfrey, Philip Humber and Jason Vargas, plus veterans Chan Ho Park, Jorge Sosa and Aaron Sele.
Notes: Mets manager Willie Randolph is excited about two new utility players he could have on his bench: Damion Easley and David Newhan. ''Their value is really all over the place,'' Randolph said. Easley can play anywhere in the infield and could be used as an emergency outfielder, though Randolph said he would prefer to keep the veteran in the infield. Newhan, meanwhile, can play second base, third or any outfield position for the Mets. ''I love versatility,'' Randolph said. ''I love guys that can give me options when I need them to step in.''
Additional baseball lines can be found at: www.MySportsbook.com
To visit this online sportsbook got to MySportsbook.com - this sportsbook accepts credit cards.
Sports Betting News: Football Betting | Baseball Betting | Basketball Betting | Hockey Betting | Golf Betting | Tennis Betting | Auto Racing Betting | Horse Racing Betting | Soccer Betting