Homer-happy Dodgers top Cubs in NLDS opener
Baseball Betting Lines
10/02/2008 -
Chicago, IL (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - James Loney clubbed a two-out grand slam in the
fifth inning and Manny Ramirez homered in the seventh as the Los Angeles Dodgers beat the Chicago Cubs, 7-2, in the opener of their National League
Division Series.
Russell Martin also hit a solo shot in the ninth for the Dodgers, who took
advantage of eight walks, including three in the decisive fifth inning, to
post their second playoff victory (2-12) since winning the 1988 World Series.
Casey Blake added an RBI single in the eighth inning for the NL West
champions.
Derek Lowe (1-0) had six strikeouts over six innings in his eighth career
playoff start. The right-hander gave up seven hits with Chicago's lone two
runs coming on a homer by Mark DeRosa in the second inning. Lowe allowed a
base runner in each one of his innings, but managed to consistently escape
trouble.
"Derek was great," said Dodgers manager Joe Torre. "He's got that preparation
look in his eye, very focused early on. He just battles you. I watched it for
a number of years when he was with the Red Sox. But tonight was huge."
Ryan Dempster (0-1) was charged with seven of the walks, as he yielded four
hits and four runs in 4 2/3 innings for the Cubs, who have been snake-bitten
in the postseason. It's been 100 years since they last won a World Series
title. They were swept in the first round of the 2007 playoffs by Arizona.
Dempster came into the contest with a 14-3 mark at Wrigley Field this year,
the most since Ferguson Jenkins had a franchise-record 15 in 1967, but control
problems in the fifth factored heavily in the defeat of the NL Central
champions.
"Unfortunately, it just came down to my lack of execution that put us in a
hole," said Dempster. "It was too bad, because I felt like a really let the
guys down today. I could have been a little bit more aggressive, throw the
ball over the plate a little bit more than I did."
The Cubs went 0-for-6 with runners in scoring position and left eight men on
base. Chicago's Alfonso Soriano, who went 2-for-14 in the NLDS last year, was
0-for-5 in this game. The Cubs' No.2 hitter in the lineup, Kosuke Fukudome,
was hitless in four at-bats.
Game 2 of the best-of-five series will be Thursday night at Wrigley Field.
Chad Billingsley will be on the mound for the Dodgers, while Carlos Zambrano
pitches for Chicago.
"We need Zambrano to go out there and pitch a good ball game for us tomorrow
and get us to our short relief," said Cubs manager Lou Piniella. "I thought
one of the keys in this series, too, was for the starting pitchers to go deep
into the game. Today obviously that didn't happen, and their team tacked on
runs on us."
Rafael Furcal walked with one out in the fifth, and with two down Ramirez and
Andre Ethier drew back-to-back walks. Loney then took a 1-2 offering from
Dempster over the ivy-laden wall in center field to give the Dodgers a 4-2
lead.
"I swung at the first three that were real low," said Loney. "I had to make
the adjustment, and the one I hit was a little bit higher."
The Cubs wasted a lead-off double by Aramis Ramirez in the sixth, as Lowe
fanned Geovany Soto, retired Jim Edmonds on a ground ball and got DeRosa to
fly out tight to the line in right.
"I think for me the biggest out was Geovany in the sixth inning," said Lowe.
"I had fallen behind 2-0, lead-off double, we're up 4-2, and to be able to
get that out, for me kind of kept the momentum on our side."
Manny Ramirez crushed his 25th career postseason homer, extending a major
league record, by taking an 0-2 pitch from Sean Marshall into the bleachers
beyond the wall in left-center field. How Ramirez hit the lead-off homer was
more impressive, though. After fouling off three straight pitches, he reached
out to get a ball low, almost golfing it over the wall by using his incredible
power.
"He did make a great pitch," said Manny Ramirez. "You've got to give him
credit. But I don't know how I did it. Put a good piece of wood on the bat,
and I drove the ball."
Blake DeWitt doubled to center field and reached third on an Edmonds error to
start the eighth. Blake then grounded a single up the middle.
Martin homered to center off Jason Marquis leading off the ninth.
Four-time Cy Young Award winner and former Cub Greg Maddux pitched the ninth
inning. It was his third career postseason relief appearance in 33 games.
In the first-ever postseason meeting between the teams, Edmonds singled up the
middle with one out in the second. DeRosa then hit a 1-0 pitch from Lowe over
the wall in the right field corner for his first career postseason homer.
The Dodgers loaded the bases with two outs in the third inning on a pair of
walks and an infield single by Manny Ramirez, but Ethier struck out.
DeRosa and Ryan Theriot singled with two outs in the fourth, but Dempster
fanned.
Game Notes
Furcal started at shortstop despite missing 125 games this season due to back
surgery...Piniella and Torre are meeting in the playoffs for a third series,
but for the first time in the National League. Torre's Yankees beat Piniella's
Mariners in the ALCS in 2000 and 2001...Loney hit the Dodgers' first
postseason grand slam since Ron Cey did it off Steve Carlton in the opener of
the 1977 NLCS...Torre is appearing in his 13th straight postseason, one shy of
the record for a manager, held by Bobby Cox (1991-2005). Torre has more
postseason victories (77) than any manager in major league history.
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American Idol Betting Odds: Season 6
The online gambling websites are in the process of deciphering each American Idol contestant and his or her chances of winning Season 6 to come up with the early American Idol betting lines.
Tim Dalton of MySportsbook.com has been locked away in a soundproof room coming up with all the latest tallies, we are told. "American Idol has become one of the most significant betting events of the year," claims Jack Black of MySportsbook.com. "Last year, millions were bet during the season across the globe, not just in America.
It's tough early on since we really do not have a glimpse as to how well each of these individuals will perform solo on a week-to-week basis. It's like Week 1 of the NFL. Pre-season means nada!
We do know the 24 finalists however.
Sanjaya Malakar is the young man whose sister failed to make it into the Top 24. He's very low key but - unless he totally flubs - will probably win over the young girlie vote for a few weeks anyway. He's too young to go all the way, according to Payton O'Brien.
Brandon Rogers - Who?
Phil Stacy is the military guy who missed his daughter's birth because of the Memphis audition. He should go a good distance.
Chris Sligh - He's got the humor and in many ways he's the Anti-American Idol much like last year's winner Taylor Hicks was. And this is why he'll probably get pretty far in this competition. He's chubby, white with a big curly afro....but more importantly, a great voice! People love "real", not "real cute" to go all the way.
"Blake Lewis should go far because of his uniqueness and looks. He's the boy next store with a twist - he beat boxes. But on top of this, he's a great singer, and I adore him," Payton O'Brien relayed.
A talented beat-boxer Blake Lewis was a hit during the group sing in Hollywood but Simon explained that this is a singing contest just before he told him he was “in.”
Paul Kim has caught our own roving reporter, Jenny Woo's eyes.
"I love the fact that there is a Korean American on the show and he is bound to get more Asians tuning into the show," Woo said from her Miami Beach estate. "There has never been a major presence of Asian-Americans on American Idol in the past. He's a hottie with a nice voice so that should help to take him far. Expect heavy betting action from the Asian community."
Sundance Head - He's not perfect, but he's got the personality that will take him through a few weeks, plus he's got the lineage (son of Roy Head - whose 1965 single, "Treat Her Right," hit No. 5 in the charts)
And the others:
Rudy Cardinas
AJ Tabaldo - the 5th time is the charm
Nicolas Pedro
Chris Richardson
Jared Cotter
The girls
"Melinda Doolittle has one of the best voices," says MySportsbook.com Reporter and an acclaimed dancer in her own right, Destiney Lewis. "It is great to see a back up singer step out like she has. The girl needs to gain more confidence but that can also be a positive. I think she will go far."
Alena Alexander - Those tears (she never seems to stop bawling) should get her far.
"Single mom Lakisha Jones I suspect will be a pretty big favorite entering Week 1 of the competition," says Destiny Williams. Jones is an excellent singer and down to earth. "She'll have a wide appeal," echoed O'Brien.
Nicole Trellis - Seems to exert confidence.
Amy Krebs - a powerful singer.
Antonella Barba
Gina Glocksen
Hailey Scanardo
Jordan Sparks
Stephanie Edwards
Leslie Hunt
Sabrina Sloan
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Last two contestants will be?
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MySportsbook.com week 1 NFL lines
Now that the 2007 NFL schedule is finally out, it is only matter-of-course for lines on “Week 1” to follow. Of course MySportsbook.com is the first to churn out odds for the NFL’s inaugural week for the upcoming season. Expect a lot of fireworks the first Thursday night of the season as the defending champion Indianapolis Colts face off against the surprise of the 2007 season, the New Orleans Saints. These teams were ranked #1 and #3 in the NFL respectively a season ago so a high scoring affair could be in order. As of now, the Colts will be giving 6 points to the Saints; keep in mind the Saints were one of the better road teams last season going 6-3 SU and 7-2 ATS. The first Monday night of the season will again provide a “double feature”. Coming off a disappointing season, the Cincinnati Bengals will look to get back to playoffs and improve their public image as they take on the AFC North favorite Baltimore Ravens. The second game features a couple of teams that haven’t had too much success recently but each could make some noise if the NFC is as weak as it was last year as the San Francisco 49ers host the Arizona Cardinals. The most interesting game of the opening week will feature the NFC champion Bears as they hit the road to take on the NFL’s top team during last year’s regular season, the San Diego Chargers.
MySportsbook.com Week 1 odds:
Saints +6 @ Colts -6
Falcons @ Vikings (pick ‘em)
Panthers @ Rams (pick ‘em)
Broncos -3.5 @ Bills +3.5
Chiefs -1 @ Texans +1
Dolphins +3 @ Redskins -3
Patriots -5 @ Jets +5
Eagles -3.5 @ Packers +3.5
Steelers -4 @ Browns +4
Titans +6 @ Jaguars -6
Bears +6 @ Chargers -6
Lions +3 @ Raiders -3
Bucs +6.5 @ Seahawks -6.5
Giants +4 @ Cowboys -4
Ravens +3 @ Bengals -3
Cardinals +3 @ 49ers -3
Super Bowl line (2008)
NFC +6.5 vs. AFC -6.5
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