A-Rod reaches Reggie, Yankees outslug Braves
Baseball Betting Lines
06/25/2009 - Atlanta, GA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Alex Rodriguez moved into a tie for 11th place on the all-time home run list and finished with four runs batted in to lead the New York Yankees to an 11-7 win over the Atlanta Braves in the rubber match of a three-game interleague series at Turner Field.
Rodriguez belted the 563rd homer of his illustrious career and in the process moved into a tie with former Yankee great Reggie Jackson.
Johnny Damon also drove in four runs while Derek Jeter posted four hits and four runs scored for the Yankees, who have won two straight following a three- game skid and will return to New York for a weekend "Subway" series at Citi Field against the Mets. Cody Ransom added two RBI in the win.
Andy Pettitte started on the mound for the Yankees but did not factor in the decision. He lasted just 3 2/3 innings, allowing six runs -- three earned -- on seven hits with four strikeouts and three walks.
Derek Lowe (7-6) toed the rubber for the Braves and was charged in defeat with eight runs, six of which were earned, on 11 hits in three-plus innings of work.
Yunel Escobar knocked in three runs for the Braves, who have dropped four of their last six games overall. Casey Kotchman notched two RBI in the loss.
In the bottom of the ninth, the Yankees held an 11-6 lead and David Robertson was on the hill. He was greeted by Brian McCann's leadoff homer over the wall in right field. With one out, Garret Anderson singled before Robertson fanned Jeff Francoeur. Pinch-hitter Gregor Blanco posted an infield single to put runners on the corners.
Mariano Rivera entered from the bullpen and induced a game-ending fly out off the bat of Diory Hernandez for his 17th save of the season and the 499th of his career.
The Yankees opened the scoring early with a pair of runs in the top of the first inning. Consecutive singles Jeter and Damon preceded a double-play grounder off the bat of Mark Teixeira. On the play, Jeter scored. The next batter was Rodriguez, whose milestone solo homer gave the visitors a two-run lead.
Escobar's RBI double in the home first cut the Braves' deficit in half.
An RBI single by Rodriguez in the second inning made it 3-1.
In the top of the third, the Yankees loaded the bases. One-out base hits by Brett Gardner and Ransom preceded a two-out walk to Jeter and Damon then cleared the bases with a triple for a 6-1 advantage.
Ransom's two-run double in the fourth, which brought home Rodriguez and Jorge Posada, increased the Bombers' lead to seven.
Pettitte found trouble in the bottom of the fourth, though not all of it was his fault. He surrendered a single to Anderson and a double to Francoeur that put runners on second and third. The next batter was Kotchman, who roped a double to right field and drew the Braves within 8-3.
Pettitte then plunked pinch-hitter Matt Diaz and with one out, Martin Prado's fly ball to shallow center was mishandled by Gardner and fell to the grass, allowing Kotchman to score. Chipper Jones drew a walk to load the bases but Pettitte worked hard to strike out McCann. Escobar, though, singled to right scoring both Diaz and Prado.
Alfredo Aceves (5-1) entered from the New York bullpen and struck out Anderson to avoid further damage. Aceves ended with 2 1/3 scoreless frames of relief.
A two-run single by Rodriguez in the seventh padded the New York lead to 10-6.
In between Phil Coke's scoreless relief innings in the seventh and eighth for the Yanks, Damon's RBI single capped the New York offensive output.
Game Notes
This marked the first trip to Atlanta by the Yankees since 2000...The Yankees outhit the Braves, 16-13...Jeter stole his 17th base of the season and raised his batting average to .308...The contest took 3 hours, 49 minutes to complete...The Yankees improved to 12-10 all-time against the Braves in interleague play.
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NFL Football Betting
BILLS (+10) at Steelers SPORTSBOOK LINES
It's impossible to gauge how a team will react after something like the Steve Everett situation, and it probably doesn't matter. That being said, the Bills are going to lose several games this year where they keep things close but fall short in the end to superior teams. Ben Roethlisberger and company could have a field day against Buffalo's decimated defense, but I like the Bills to cover.
BENGALS (-7) at Browns SPORTSBOOK LINES
All you can ask out of your NFL team is that it has a plan. You may not always agree with it as a fan, but as long as it appears the organization is going in some sort of direction, you have to go with it. Which brings us to the Cleveland Browns. You flip a coin to determine whether Chuck Frye or Derek Anderson should start the preseason opener. You start Frye in Week 1, but pull him in the first half. And then you deal him to the Seahawks for a sixth-round pick? Hmm... the Bengals could get six turnovers again this week.
COLTS (-7) at Titans SPORTSBOOK LINES
Tennessee signed ex-Colts cornerback Nick Harper in the offseason so that should help slow down Peyton Manning. Just ask Jason David and the Saints. Oh wait... One of these weeks, I'm going to learn to not pick against Tennessee, which has won seven of its last eight games. But it's not happening against Indy.
TEXANS (+6.5) at Panthers SPORTSBOOK LINES
Houston's Mario Williams, the first pick in the '06 draft, has more touchdowns than Reggie Bush after one week. Somehow I don't see that lasting. Meanwhile, Carolina bottled up what was expected to be a pretty high-octane offense in St. Louis in Week 1. Could this be the Panthers' defense everyone expected last year? Maybe. This feels like a 20-16 Carolina win.
RAMS (-3) vs. 49ers SPORTSBOOKS LINES
Absolutely love this game. Everyone's favorite pick for this year's surprise team -- the 49ers -- laid an egg on Monday night (not that anyone was watching with the game ending in the middle of the night for those of us on the East Coast). St. Louis wasn't much better, delivering a lackluster effort against the Panthers that included two Steven Jackson fumbles and panic from his fantasy owners. Jackson rebounds this week, and the Rams get their first win.
PACKERS (+1.5) at Giants SPORTSBOOKS LINES
Do you really trust this guy to win an NFL game if Eli Manning can't go? I say no. I'd feel alot better about this Packers team if it had any semblance of a running game, but I still think Green Bay's defense is good enough to give it a 2-0 start.
JAGUARS (-10) vs. Falcons SPORTSBOOKS LINES
Does it scare me to pick Jacksonville to cover a double-digit spread after it scored just 10 points last week against the Titans? Absolutely. But can I bring myself to pick Atlanta under any circumstances? No. Check out this poll on ajc.com. It asks what Atlanta's most urgent deficiency is: offense, defense, specials teams or all of the above. "All of the above" has 57 percent of the votes. Ouch.
SAINTS (-3) at Buccaneers SPORTSBOOKS LINES
I'm picking way too many road teams this week. Oh well. New Orleans has had some time to reflect on its lackluster showing in the opener, and the Buccanneers just aren't a very good football team. Anyone else surprised Tampa Bay hasn't made a move to sign Byron Leftwich? I thought that's what they do.
VIKINGS (+3) at Lions SPORTS BETTING LINES
Run the ball and stop the run. Minnesota can do both, and that will keep them in a lot of games this season. Even though it was only one week, Adrian Peterson looks like he was a steal at No. 7 in last year's draft. Not only will he produce, but Peterson delivers excitement to what otherwise would be one of the league's most boring teams.
DOLPHINS (+3.5) vs. Cowboys SPORTS BETTING LINES
Lost in the Tony Romo lovefest is just how bad the Cowboys' defense was last week. I know they're banged up, but Dallas' 'D' allowed 438 yards to the Giants' offense, and backup running back Derrick Ward averaged 6.8 yards per carry. Meanwhile, Cam Cameron's decision to split carries between Ronnie Brown and Jesse Chatman sounds about as can't-miss as Larry David's plan to show up to Marty Funkhouser's party a night late. Still, gotta go with Miami to cover at home.
SEAHAWKS (-2.5) at Cardinals SPORTS BETTING LINES
I'm probably missing something, but this game seems too easy. Arizona blew Monday night's game against the 49ers in typical Cardinals fashion, and the Seahawks beat Tampa Bay by two touchdowns. Love Seattle in this one.
BRONCOS (-9.5) vs. Raiders SPORTS BETTING LINES
Special teams was a major story line in Week 1. Take a look at the Broncos. They had to rush on to the field to get a Jason Elam field goal as time expired against the Bills. Denver drove into Buffalo territory on eight of 10 drives but came away with just a pair of field goals and a touchdown. Look for more scoring from the Broncos this week against an Oakland defense that gave up 36 points to Detroit in Week 1.
BEARS (-12) vs. Chiefs SPORTS BETTING LINES
Everyone talks about Rex Grossman when dissecting the Bears' offense, but Chicago's quarterback got no help in last week's loss to the Chargers. Meanwhile, Kansas City confirmed what we all thought while watching Hard Knocks: The Chiefs are going to stink this year. It could be a rough first month for Larry Johnson fantasy owners. Kansas City's RB was limited to 43 yards on 10 carries in Week 1, and the Chiefs face the Bears, Vikings and Chargers the next three weeks, all formidable run defenses.
RAVENS (-10) vs. Jets SPORTS BETTING LINES
A big dose of Willis McGahee and a usual sound defensive effort will give the Ravens their first win. According to Football Outsiders, no team in the NFL rushed only three defenders on pass plays last year more than the Jets. And according to my special Jets correspondent Ben Stauber, New York did the same in Week 1. Whoever starts at quarterback for the Ravens should have all day to throw.
PATRIOTS (-3) vs. Chargers
Friends and I were discussing how Bill Belichick goes about paying his $500,000 fine for cheating. Does he just write one check to the NFL? Do you need some sort of clearance to make such a monstrous financial transaction? I guess I shouldn't complain about the security deposit I have to put down on my new apartment. Anyway, two of the league's best teams square off in what should be a good one Sunday night. The Patriots always respond well just when you think they're in trouble. And their offensive attack was the story in Week 1.
Note: Monday night game will be picked Monday. Lines used are from football betting.
Huskers' Lucky hospitalized for undisclosed reason
LINCOLN, Neb. -- Nebraska running back Marlon Lucky was hospitalized Monday for undisclosed reasons after Lincoln police responded to a call at his residence.
The Nebraska athletic department said in a release Monday that Lucky was admitted Sunday night.
MySportsbook.com has the Cornhuskers listed at +2500 to win the BCS National Championship odds.
A nursing supervisor at the hospital said all questions about Lucky were being referred to the athletic department. The athletic department said there would be no further comment from the department or Lucky's family.
A Lincoln Police spokesman said officers responded to a call at Lucky's residence 11:30 p.m. Sunday. The spokesman said he didn't know Lucky's condition at the time he was taken to the hospital.
Lucky, from North Hollywood, Calif., started six games last season as a sophomore and was the team's second-leading rusher, with 728 yards and six touchdowns. He also caught 32 passes for 383 yards. He averaged 19.1 yards on eight kickoff returns.
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