Phils' Myers brilliant in shutout of punchless Nats
Baseball Betting Lines
08/21/2008 -
Philadelphia, PA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Brett Myers threw a nine-hit shutout,
and Greg Dobbs hit a two-run homer, as Philadelphia blanked Washington, 4-0,
in the second of three games with the Nationals.
Myers (6-10) worked out of several jams to keep the Nationals off the
scoreboard, walked one and struck out nine. It was the seventh career complete
game and third career shutout for Myers, who is now 3-1 with a 1.47 earned run
average over his past five starts.
Jayson Werth doubled and drove in a run, while Chase Utley, Shane Victorino
and Chris Coste each collected two hits for the Phillies, who have won three
in a row and four of five.
Washington, meanwhile, saw its losing streak reach 12 games behind an offense
that tallied as many hits as the Phillies -- nine -- but didn't push a run
across the plate.
Anderson Hernandez, who was acquired from the Mets as the player to be named
in a deal that sent Luis Ayala to New York on Sunday, had three hits. Ronnie
Belliard and Emilio Bonifacio each had two.
Collin Balester (2-6) took the loss after allowing four runs -- three earned
-- on seven hits and one walk in six innings.
Myers nearly lost the shutout in the very first inning. With two outs, Ryan
Zimmerman reached on third baseman Dobbs' throwing error, and Lastings
Milledge walked. Belliard followed with a single to left, but Pat Burrell made
a strong throw to get Zimmerman out at the plate.
The Phillies' starter worked out of a first-and-second situation, with one
out, in the second by getting Balester to pop up a bunt and fanning Bonifacio.
Then, an error helped Philadelphia get on the scoreboard in the third. Dobbs
led off with a walk and Coste was hit by a pitch. After Myers bunted into a
fielder's choice, Jimmy Rollins grounded to second for a potential double
play. But shortstop Hernandez's relay throw was off the mark as Coste scored.
In the home fifth, Victorino beat out an infield single, and Dobbs followed by
blasting a pitch into the right field stands for a 3-0 lead. Coste then
singled, and went around to third on Rollins' base hit with one out. After
Rollins was caught stealing, Werth doubled to right field to plate the run and
make it a 4-0 contest.
Myers allowed one runner in the sixth, seventh and eighth innings, but worked
around him each time. Hernandez beat out a short chopper to second base with
two outs in the ninth, but Myers fanned Aaron Boone to end the game.
Game Notes
It was Myers' first complete game since September 20, 2006 against the Chicago Cubs. It was also his first shutout since May 20, 2004 against the Los Angeles Dodgers...Washington's Tim Redding (8-8) and Philadelphia's Jamie Moyer
(11-7) are scheduled to start Thursday's series finale...The Phillies lead the
season series 8-3...The Phillies activated third baseman Pedro Feliz from the
15-day disabled list Wednesday. Feliz has been on the DL since July 25 while
suffering from a bulging disc in his lower back. In a related move, the
Phillies optioned pitcher Les Walrond to Triple-A Lehigh Valley.
<< LaRue, Cardinals rough up Pirates
St. Louis, MO (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Jason LaRue hit a two-run homer, doubled
and finished with three runs batted in, as St. Louis blasted Pittsburgh, 11-2,
in the finale of a two-game set with the Pirates.
Rick Ankiel also had a two-run bl
<< Cardinals P Wainwright to return
St. Louis, MO (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - St. Louis Cardinals pitcher Adam
Wainwright is expected to return from the disabled list and start Friday
against the Atlanta Braves.
Wainwright has been on the DL since June 8 with a
<< Dunn, D-Backs overcome early deficit to clip Padres
Phoenix, AZ (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Adam Dunn hit a three-run homer and walked
twice, as the Arizona Diamondbacks held on for an 8-6 win over San Diego, in
the second of three games with the Padres.
The game was expected to be a pitcher
<< Top-notch field of 11 set for Pacific Classic
Del Mar, CA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Eleven of the best older thoroughbreds in
training make up the field for Sunday's $1 million Pacific Classic at Del Mar.
The winner of the 1 1/4 mile race gains an automatic spot in the 2008
Breeder
<< Verdasco rolls; Fish advances, Karlovic falls at Pilot Pen
New Haven, CT (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Top-seeded Spaniard Fernando Verdasco was
an easy third-round winner, while second-seeded Croat Ivo Karlovic went by way
of the upset Wednesday at the $708,000 Pilot Pen Tennis event, a final U.S.
Open tu
Marlins SS Ramirez leaves game vs. Giants with thumb injury >>
San Francisco, CA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Florida Marlins lost shortstop
Hanley Ramirez to a thumb injury in Wednesday's 6-5 loss to the San Francisco
Giants.
Ramirez singled in the top of the third inning and stole second base. As
Heat re-sign Wright >>
Miami, FL (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Miami Heat re-signed guard/forward Dorell
Wright to an undisclosed contract Thursday.
Wright, who originally signed with the Heat after being drafted in the first
round in the 2004 NBA Draft, has app
Benesova, Suarez Navarro reach Forest Hills semis >>
Forest Hills, NY (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Third-seeded Czech Iveta Benesova
and fourth-seeded Spaniard Carla Suarez Navarro were a pair of quarterfinal
winners Thursday at the $74,800 Forest Hills Tennis Classic, a final U.S.
Open tu
Rams RB Jackson signs six-year extension >>
St. Louis, MO (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The St. Louis Rams signed running back
Steven Jackson to a six-year contract on Thursday.
Jackson arrived in St. Louis on Thursday morning, ending his lengthy holdout
as his agent and the club ironed
Gene Upshaw dead at 63 >>
New York, NY (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Gene Upshaw, longtime head of the NFL players
union and Pro Football Hall of Famer, has died at the age of 63.
The first NFL Hall of Famer who played exclusively offensive guard, Upshaw was
battling pancreat
Chiefs' Treen Green out for Sunday's game
How long Trent Green will remain sidelined is unknown. Coach Herm Edwards said Monday he will miss a second straight start Sunday when the Chiefs host the San Francisco 49ers.
A two-time Pro Bowler, Green was going into a feet-first hook slide when he was knocked unconscious by a thunderous, head-snapping hit from Cincinnati's Robert Geathers.
Oddsmakers at online sportsbook MySportsbook.com currently have the Chiefs listed as 7-point favorites versus the 49ers.
The 49ers got beat by Philadelphia 38-24 as a 6.5-point underdog last week. The combined score went OVER the posted over/under total (42.5).
Alex Smith completed 27-of-46 passes for 293 yards with a touchdown. Michael Robinson rushed for 29 yards and a pair of touchdowns on five carries.
The Chiefs lost 9-6 to Denver last week as an 11-point underdog. The combined score was well UNDER the posted over/under total (38).
Larry Johnson rushed for 126 yards on 27 carries. Damon Huard completed 17-of-23 passes for 133 yards with no touchdowns and no interceptions.
To visit this online sports book got to MySportsbook.com for all your football betting needs.
“You play to win the game!”
Those are the words of notoriously intense head coach Herman Edwards. Unfortunately, from a bettors’ perspective, most coaches don’t feel that way about the NFL preseason. August is a time to evaluate young players, finalize the depth chart and pray your star players stay healthy.
The trick to making money during the exhibition schedule is identifying coaches – like Edwards – who can’t stand losing even when there's nothing on the line.
The New York Jets betting won 15 of 21 preseason games and went 14-7 against the spread (ATS) during Edwards’s five-year tenure with the club. In his first season as the Kansas City Chiefs field boss, the team improved from 0-4 to 2-2.
Identifying win-a-holics like Edwards is a good start if you plan betting the preseason – even though most say you shouldn’t ... but what the hell do they know anyway?
Here’s a brief rundown of two teams that have a habit of winning during the second-stringers’ season, and another club that has a good chance of exceeding this year.
New York Giants betting lines
Playing in the media hub of North America can be stressful but the press can’t write anything negative about the way Tom Coughlin’s boys play in the preseason. The Giants won and covered all four games last summer, improving their record to 7-1 both straight up (SU) and against the spread over the last two years.
Coughlin has shown he’s not afraid to give his starters more time in the second preseason game than most of his colleagues, no doubt one of the reasons his team has been so dominant.
Dallas Cowboys betting lines
Bettors can count on America’s team early on. The Cowboys are 14-6 both SU and ATS since 2002 in warm-up contests. Former coach Bill Parcells, the coach of the team the last four years, has an intimidating, in-your-face presence – surely a reason Dallas has had so much early success.
The Big Tuna won’t be strolling the sidelines with looks of disgust, but new coach Wade Phillips will be anxious to make a good first impression for owner Jerry Jones.
Dallas plays the Indianapolis Colts and the Denver Broncos before things get serious. They then face the Houston Texans in their third contest (the game starters see most game time) and finish off with the Minnesota Vikings.
Expect a Dallas team able to walk away with another 3-1 preseason record.
Oakland Raiders betting lines
This team scored a league-worst 12 offensive touchdowns last season, so the rookies and veterans each have something to prove. There’s a bounty of first-unit jobs up for grabs and plenty of bodies competing for those slots.
First-time head coach Lane Kiffin will be eager to impress an owner who employs the philosophy, “Just win, baby!”
The 32-year-old Kiffin has to command respect from a locker room full of players older than him. All of these factors should lead to purpose in preseason.
Don’t forget: before playing like a team that belonged in NFL Europe, Oakland went 4-1 (both SU and ATS) in exhibition games.
To visit this online sportsbook got to MySportsbook.com for all your football wagering needs. Mysportsbook.com online sportsbook accepts Visa and Mastercard credit cards.
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