Hamilton, Rangers double up A's

Baseball Betting Lines

05/31/2008 - Arlington, TX (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Josh Hamilton homered and drove in three runs as the Texas Rangers pounded out 14 hits en route to an 8-4 win over the Oakland Athletics in the second of a three-game series.

Ian Kinsler went 3-for-5 with a double and two runs batted in for the Rangers, who have won two straight and three of their last four. Michael Young and Frank Catalanotto each went 3-for-4, drove in a run and scored twice, while Gerald Laird collected two hits and scored two runs.

Sidney Ponson (4-1) earned the win after allowing four runs on nine hits over seven innings, striking out four without issuing a walk.

Travis Buck and Jack Hannahan drove in two runs each for the A's, who suffered their fourth straight loss. Eric Chavez went 3-for-4, doubled and scored, while Joe Blanton (3-7) took the loss after being rocked for six runs on 10 hits in six innings.

After Oakland tied the game with three runs in the top of the fifth, Texas punched right back in the bottom half. Kinsler grounded a double into left to lead off, then scored the go-ahead run when Young punched a single to right. Two pitches later, Hamilton smoked a line drive into the Rangers' bullpen in right to extend the lead to 6-3.

A two-out rally against Ponson pulled the A's within two in the seventh. Kurt Suzuki singled up the middle, then scored when Hannahan ripped a line drive double. But, Bobby Crosby struck out swinging to thwart a further charge.

Consecutive doubles by Laird and Catalanotto plated an insurance run in the eighth against Chad Gaudin, and Kinsler knocked in Catalanotto with a single off Brad Ziegler to put the game out of reach.

The Rangers picked up a run off Blanton in the first, as Young tripled to right and scored on a groundout by Hamilton.

Blanton's struggles continued in the second, as he surrendered three straight singles to Laird, Catalanotto and Brandon Boggs to plate another run. Ramon Vazquez grounded into a fielder's choice, but Kinsler singled back through the middle to plate Catalanotto and give the Rangers a 3-0 edge.

After being held to one hit through four innings, the Oakland offense finally awoke in the fifth. Chavez, Emil Brown and Mark Ellis singled to load the bases with nobody out, and Buck delivered a two-run single through the right side of the infield. One out later, Suzuki lined a single to center that loaded the bases, then Hannahan lofted a sacrifice fly to left that plated Ellis with the tying run before Ponson fanned Crosby to finally escape the frame.

Game Notes

Young extended his hit streak to 16 games, while Kinsler has hit safely in 16 straight games...Hamilton's three RBI gives him 61 for the season, making him the first major leaguer to eclipse 60 this season...Before the game, the Rangers announced that pitcher Jason Jennings will be out for the remainder of the season after undergoing flexor tendon surgery in his right forearm Friday in Dallas...The A's have dropped 11 of their last 14 away from home.

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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 and World Series odds can be found at: www.MySportsbook.com

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Pro Football Odds : NFC SOUTH BETTING ODDS

NFL Sports Betting

NFL betting action is back! At MySportsbook, all of the pro football odds are posted for the NFC North. Check out how we see the four teams in this cloudy division stacking up this year in the chase for the playoffs! Green Bay Packers (+125) - With QB Aaron Rodgers leading the offense and DC Dom Capers working his magic on defense, the Packers are a real force to be reckoned with.

Virtually nothing changed on this offense for Green Bay from last year to this year, save for the addition of rookie OT Brian Bulaga to the bunch. Expect more huge numbers from the Pack, and a relatively favorable schedule should get them over the hump and into the playoffs once again this season. My NFL Betting Predictions: 11-5, 1st place in NFC North Minnesota Vikings (+130) - There are still too many unknowns about the Vikes this year. There is a huge difference between QB Brett Favre and either Tarvaris Jackson or Sage Rosenfels under center. Plus, is Favre comes back, is he really going to be able to keep his pick total under double digits again? Depth at running back looked like it might have been an issue with RB Chester Taylor fleeing in free agency, but drafting RB Toby Gerhart should pick up the difference. This defense is still suitable, but with a first place schedule, making the playoffs is going to be very tough regardless of whether #4 comes back or not.

There is a huge difference between QB Brett Favre and either Tarvaris Jackson or Sage Rosenfels under center. Plus, is Favre comes back, is he really going to be able to keep his pick total under double digits again? Depth at running back looked like it might have been an issue with RB Chester Taylor fleeing in free agency, but drafting RB Toby Gerhart should pick up the difference. This defense is still suitable, but with a first place schedule, making the playoffs is going to be very tough regardless of whether #4 comes back or not. Play this weekly NFL Football Contestto see if you can win.

Chicago Bears (+350) - The Bears are probably a bit of an overhyped team once again this year.No, we don't think it is plausible for QB Jay Cutler to have as bad of a season as he did last year, and we do think the additions of RB Chester Taylor and DE Julius Peppers are going to help immensely, but there's still something in the water in the Windy City that we aren't so sure about. Maybe Chicago finds its way to .500... but then again, maybe it doesn't. If Favre comes back, Cutler might be the worst quarterback in this division this year.

Detroit Lions (+1500) - The Lions are probably once again going to be the whipping boys for the rest of the teams in the NFC North, but they aren't just going to roll over and die once again. There is some real talent amassing on this team offensively, as the combination of QB Matt Stafford, RB Jahvid Best, WR Calvin Johnson, and TE Brandon Pettigrew should put a bunch of points on the board if the offensive line can even remotely hold up. The questions really lie on defense, where it feels like DT Ndamukong Suh is going to be trying to stop opposing teams all by himself. This year should show some marked improvement in the Motor City.

The Patriots will make NFL betting fans a lot of money this season, get in early and enjoy the cash.

NFL Betting

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