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Hard-charging Phils continue key series with MarlinsBaseball Betting Lines09/07/2010 - (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Philadelphia Phillies have been inconsistent on offense all year, and it was never more evident than during Monday's doubleheader versus the Florida Marlins. That still didn't stop the club from pulling within a half-game of first place in the National League East. The Phillies will try to grab sole possession of first place for the first time since late May as Joe Blanton aims to extend an eight-start unbeaten streak in tonight's third contest of a four-game series versus the Marlins at Citizens Bank Park. Philadelphia entered Monday's twinbill one game back of the front-running Braves for the NL East's top spot and had the opportunity to move ahead of Atlanta after it lost to the Pirates yesterday. However, the Phillies were out hit 13-3 in dropping the first game, 7-1, before responding with a 7-4 triumph in the nightcap. Florida's Adalberto Mendez pitched six shutout innings in his MLB debut in the first game, though he did leave with a strained right quad suffered while running to first in the seventh. However, Philadelphia managed just Jayson Werth's RBI single off the rookie. Marlins rookie Mike Stanton entered the series in a 3-for-45 slump, but homered in both contests and had four hits in nine at-bats. His solo homer in the second inning of the nightcap was one of three homers allowed by Phils starter Roy Oswalt, who also yielded home-run balls to Hanley Ramirez and Cameron Maybin. Oswalt, though, still got the win thanks in part to a five-run second inning by his offense. "The pitches I threw to Hanley and Maybin were just poor pitch selection," Oswalt admitted. "Played right into their hands," Chase Utley and Placido Polanco combined to drive in three runs in the second frame, and both ended with a pair of hits and two RBI in game two. Carlos Ruiz got the run started with a bases-loaded walk off Anibal Sanchez. "The worst of it was a lot of walks, a lot of balls, a lot of being behind in the count," Sanchez said after giving up seven runs over four-plus innings. "That's not good for me." Philadelphia has now won nine of 12 since a four-game losing streak and pulled within a half-game of Atlanta. A victory tonight coupled with another loss by the Braves would put the Phillies, who also lead the Giants by 1 1/2 games for the NL Wild Card spot, back into sole possession of first place for the first time since May 30. If the Phillies are to do their part, they will need a better effort out of Blanton than the one he gave last time out. The righty hasn't lost since July 21, having gone 3-0 in eight starts since, and had notched a 2.81 earned run average over his previous five starts before getting tagged for six runs -- four earned -- on 10 hits, three homers and two walks in just 4 1/3 innings versus Colorado on Thursday. However, his offense rallied for a 12-11 win to take Blanton off the hook. The 29-year-old is 6-6 with a 5.25 ERA in 23 starts this year and has yet to face Florida in 2010. Lifetime versus the Marlins, he is 4-2 with a 3.44 ERA. The Marlins, who had won four of five prior to Monday's doubleheader, will try to get a fourth straight win tonight out of Chris Volstad, who left his last start on Wednesday versus Washington after five innings. Volstad allowed six runs in the 16-10 victory, but was ejected after he threw behind the Nationals' Nyjer Morgan, sparking a benches-clearing brawl. Morgan charged the mound after the pitch and connected with a left to Volstad's neck. "Obviously, he's not coming out there to talk," Volstad said. "I had to defend myself and not to get hurt." The 23-year-old righty, who earned his career high-tying ninth win to match his total from last year, was fined and suspended for six games but is appealing. Volstad is 0-1 with a 5.63 ERA in three starts versus the Phillies this year and was beat up for six runs -- five earned -- over four innings in his last start at Philadelphia on June 8. He'll look for some help from the offense tonight, especially from Ramirez, seeing as the shortstop is hitting .471 (24-for-51) with five homers and 14 RBI over a 14-game hitting streak. The Phillies notched a three-game sweep in Miami the last time these clubs met and own an 8-5 edge in the season series.
<< Skidding Rangers resume set at Toronto
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Texas Rangers try to avoid a fifth straight loss this evening when they continue their four-game series with the Toronto Blue Jays at Rogers Centre. The Blue Jays drew first blood in this series on Monday, as Verno
<< Rays try again to snap slide against Red Sox
<< White Sox send Garcia to mound in Detroit
<< Sabathia goes for 20th win vs. O's in the Bronx
<< Silva set to return as Cubs battle Astros
Giants eye first place as they continue series in Arizona >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) -Runs were hard to come by in Monday's opener of a three- game series between the San Francisco Giants and Arizona Diamondbacks, and another pitcher's duel could be in the works when the two National League West foes square off
Braves seek to bounce back in second test with Pirates >>
Padres try to string back-to-back wins together against LA >>
Rockies hope to stay hot versus Reds >>
Week One Highlights >>
Online Sportsbook Football BettingColts give the ‘D’ its dueThe Indianapolis Colts know that winning the Super Bowl last season put a huge target on their backs, and they expect opponents to go all-out to knock them from the top of the mountain. They’ll get their first test from the New Orleans Saints this Thursday night. The defending champs had nothing but good things to say about the New Orleans defense this past week, praising their opponents’ pass rush and run-stopping abilities. "They play very aggressively," head coach Tony Dungy told the New Orleans Times-Picayune. "They play a lot of man-to-man coverage, and they come after you. They have good pass rushers, and they're going to try to pressure us, I'm sure." Both center Jeff Saturday and quarterback Peyton Manning gave New Orleans’ front four props, admitting keeping guys like Will Smithand Charles Grant contained would be a tall task for the offensive line. New Orleans ranked second in total defense during the preseason at a sportsbook, allowing just under 233 yards per game. Last season, the defense finished 11th in the league after giving up 307.3 yards and 20.1 points per contest. Not so sound on the ground If Indianapolis' efficient offense has a weakness it has to be its running attack. The Colts one-two-punch of Dominic Rhodes and Joseph Addai is no longer, leaving the bulk of the carries to Addai, the second-year back out of LSU. Former Saskatchewan Roughrider Kenton Keith was named Addai’s backup this week after beating out DeDe Dorsey for the second-string position. Indy has only three backs on the roster right now, including fullback Luke Lawton, and coach Dungy is aware of the thinness of his ground game. Sports Betting lines on the game can be found at BettingExpress.com “We’ll continue to look. Luke Lawton’s done a good job for us too. So probably getting a third true tailback is something that we’d like to do,” Dungy told the Indiana Tribune-Star. Last season, Addai rushed for over 1,000 yards in his rookie campaign and scored seven touchdowns on the ground. Brees says bring it on Opening the season on the road against the defending Super Bowl champions is not the way most teams would like to kick off their year – unless you’re the New Orleans Saints or their quarterback Drew Brees. This internet Sportsbooks had the Saints as the favorites. Brees told the New Orleans Times-Picayune that he is excited to get the regular season started and the Colts are a great challenge for him and his teammates. The 28-year-old QB, entering his second season with the Saints, is expecting a wild environment in the RCA Dome this Thursday when the franchise celebrates its 2007-2007 championship. Brees said he sees the opening game scheduling as an honor and a testament to how well New Orleans did last season. The Saints missed facing the Colts in the Super Bowl by one game, losing to the Chicago Bearsin the NFC Championship game. "I mean, people think we can hang with these guys," Brees told reporters. "Even if they didn't, it wouldn't matter what they thought because as a team we're very confident. We know what we can do. We're not satisfied where we finished the season last year. And we've been looking forward to this opportunity for a long time." SportsBooks ready for a shootout Oddsmakers are preparing for some fireworks this Thursday when the NFL season kicks off. online Sportsbooks have Thursday’s total set at a whopping 52 points, accounting for two of the league’s most explosive offenses. “This is like must-see TV,” Saints cornerback and former Colt Jason David told the Baton Rouge Advocate. “It’s two exciting offenses with great players. You’ve got a lot of star power on offense. At any given time a big play can happen. If I was a fan, I wouldn’t miss a snap.” New Orleans, who ranked No.1 in total offense last season, can go blow-for-blow with the Colts’ attack. Head coach Sean Payton’s offensive schemes will get even better production out of Drew Brees, Reggie Bush and receiver Marques Colston now that they’ve each had a season of playing together under their belts. The Saints and Colts were the top two passing teams in the NFL last year, but while Indianapolis managed to put up almost 27 points per game, New Orleans struggled to capitalize on their efforts. The Saints ranked fifth in points per game. “Yards are great,” running backDeuce McAllister told reporters, “but to be able to score more touchdowns would be important for us.” |
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