07/04/2008 - San Francisco, CA (Baseball Betting) - Andre Ethier went 3-for-6 with a homer and three runs batted in, and the Los Angeles Dodgers outslugged the San Francisco Giants, 10-7, in an Independence Day matchup between the NL West rivals.
Nomar Garciaparra returned from the disabled list and went 2-for-4, drove in two and scored for the Dodgers, who have won four straight. Andruw Jones also returned from the DL for LA but wasn't as successful, striking out four times in an 0-for-5 day.
Derek Lowe (6-8) won despite allowing five runs -- four earned -- on eight hits in five innings.
Aaron Rowand went 3-for-4 and drove in two for the Giants, who have split their last six games. Osiris Matos (0-1) took the loss after allowing five runs and four hits in only two-thirds of an inning. Starter Jonathan Sanchez gave up five hits and three runs in five frames, with seven strikeouts and three walks.
The Dodgers turned a two-run deficit into a three-run lead with their five-run sixth. Delwyn Young's pinch-hit RBI single to right plated one run, and after Matt Kemp fanned for the second out, three straight doubles put LA in front. Ethier's double to right scored two runs, and Russell Martin and Jeff Kent followed with two-baggers to left, each driving in a run.
Jones finally struck out, but not before the Dodgers took an 8-5 lead.
Garciaparra's RBI double to left with two outs in the eighth pushed LA up 9-5, but Bengie Molina got that run back with an RBI single to center in the home half of the frame. The Giants loaded the bases later in the inning with no outs, but Rich Aurilia grounded into a 6-4-3 double play.
One run scored on the play to cut the deficit to 9-7, but Omar Vizquel popped out to end the inning.
Andy LaRoche's second homer of the season, a shot to center to lead off the ninth, gave the Dodgers a three-run lead, and Takashi Saito tossed a perfect bottom half for his 15th save.
The Giants jumped on top with two runs in the first. A throwing error by Lowe allowed Ray Durham to score on an infield single by Randy Winn, and Aaron Rowand singled in Winn with two outs for a 2-0 lead.
Lowe led off the third with a single to left, Sanchez walked Kemp, and Ethier singled to right to load the bases. Sanchez walked Martin to force in one run, but got the next two outs. He then issued another walk, to Garciaparra, knotting the game at 2-2 before James Loney flied out to end the threat.
With Fred Lewis at third and Winn at first with one out in the third, the two runners executed a double steal. On the throw to second Lewis took off for home, and both runners were safe, putting the Giants on top. Rowand's ground-rule double to left plated Winn for a 4-2 San Francisco lead.
Lewis' RBI double to left gave the Giants a three-run lead in the fourth, but Ethier's leadoff homer to center in the fifth pulled the Dodgers back within two runs.
Game Notes
To clear roster spots for the two veterans the Dodgers placed infielder Mark Sweeney on the 15-day disabled list with a strained right hamstring, optioned outfielder Jason Repko to Triple-A Las Vegas, and transferred infielder Rafael Furcal from the 15-day DL to the 60-day DL on Friday. Sweeney is hitting a paltry .094 with three RBI in 60 games. Repko went 0-for-7 in a brief call-up from the minors. Furcal underwent surgery on his back on Thursday...Jones' 0- for-5 day dropped his batting average to .159.
<< West Bromwich expects decision from Phillips soon
West Bromwich, England (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - West Bromwich coach Tony Mowbray
expects to hear this weekend whether striker Kevin Phillips has decided to
remain with the club.
The future of last season's 24-goal top scorer has been th
<< O's pound Rangers
Baltimore, MD (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Freddie Bynum drove in three runs and the
Orioles jumped on the Rangers early and came away with a 10-4 victory over
Texas in the first of three meetings at Camden Yards.
Every Baltimore starter eith
<< Menard surprise pole winner in Daytona
Daytona Beach, FL (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Paul Menard became a first-time pole
winner in the Sprint Cup Series, taking the top spot for Saturday night's Coke
Zero 400 at the Daytona International Speedway. The No.15 Dale Earnhardt, Inc.
driver
<< Rockies place Helton on DL
Denver, CO (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Colorado Rockies placed first baseman
Todd Helton on the 15-day disabled list Friday with a strained lower back.
The move is retroactive to July 3.
Helton, 34, is hitting .266 with seven home runs
Sampdoria signs defender Stankevicius >>
Genoa, Italy (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Sampdoria coach Walter Mazzarri has bolstered
his defensive options with the capture of Marius Stankevicius from Serie B side
Brescia.
The 26-year-old Lithuania international has been signed to help fill t
St. Mirren coach hopes for improvement >>
Paisley, Scotland (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - St. Mirren coach Gus MacPherson is
confident his side can improve on their 10-place finish in the Scottish Premier
League last season and push for a top-six spot.
MacPherson accepts that his side
Bedard, Mariners bullpen silence Tigers >>
Seattle, WA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Jamie Burke finished 2-for-3 with a double and
two runs scored, as the Seattle Mariners downed the Detroit Tigers, 4-1, in
the second of a four-game set at Safeco Field.
Raul Ibanez clubbed a solo home run
Bolton signs veteran goalie Walker to new deal >>
Bolton, England (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Bolton has signed veteran goalkeeper Ian
Walker to a new one-year contract.
The 37-year-old former England keeper has been with the Trotters for the past
three seasons and has made eight appearances i
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
MySportsbook.com is offering a 20% signup bonus with an initial deposit (i.e. open your American Idol betting account with $300, receive another $60 in which to bet with).
Last two contestants will be?
1 Male/1 Female +100 (a $10 bet pays $10 plus your initial $10)
2 Males +170 (a $10 bet pays $17 plus your initial $17)
2 Females +130 (a $10 bet pays $13 plus your initial $10)
MySportsbook.com is an online sportsbook accepts Visa Credit Cards and online sportsbook accepts Mastercard Credit Cards for easy American Idol betting lines.
Sports Betting News: Football Betting | Baseball Betting | Basketball Betting | Hockey Betting | Golf Betting | Tennis Betting | Auto Racing Betting | Horse Racing Betting | Soccer Betting