Pirates, Brewers to go back it at after slugfest

Baseball Betting Lines

07/21/2010 - (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Though it went from a laugher to a nail-biter, the Pittsburgh Pirates were still able to snap their five-game losing streak to Milwaukee last night. Another offensive outburst might be needed, given Zach Duke's history against the Brewers.

The Pittsburgh starter will aim to halt his personal five-start slide this evening in the third contest of a four-game series versus the Brew Crew at PNC Park.

After losing a close encounter with the Brewers in Monday's opener, the Pirates raced out to a nine-run lead in the first inning of last night's contest, sending 13 batters to the plate in a frame that was highlighted by rookie Pedro Alvarez's first career grand slam and three Milwaukee errors that led to five unearned runs.

According to the Elias Sports Bureau, Pittsburgh scored nine runs in the first inning of a home game for the first time since Aug. 8, 1893, and the first time in any frame since June 8, 1989 at Philadelphia.

Amazingly, the Pirates lost that game to the Phillies over 21 years ago, and nearly did so again last night. Ryan Braun's two-run homer in the sixth inning pulled the Brewers to within a run, but Pittsburgh held on for an 11-9 victory for just its third win in its last 11 games.

Alvarez homered twice and drove in five runs while fellow rookie Neil Walker finished 5-for-5 with an RBI and run scored for the Pirates, who have still lost nine of 13 to the Brewers this year, including five of seven at home.

"That first inning was simply awesome," said Walker. "Hitting is contagious, and we certainly showed that. This is certainly something that we are capable of -- big innings like that one."

It was needed as well, as starter Brad Lincoln yielded seven runs over just 2 1/3 innings and the Pirates needed Octavio Dotel to record his 20th save of the season when all was said and done.

Lincoln actually exited the game before Milwaukee starter Dave Bush, who yielded 10 runs -- five earned -- over four innings of work. The right-hander had a streak of six straight starts in which he gave up two runs or fewer snapped.

"Other than this outing, I've been fairly pleased with how I've pitched for the last five or six outings," Bush said. "Sometimes these games just happen. Nothing was sharp for me tonight."

Jim Edmonds had a three-run homer for Milwaukee, which fell to 3-3 on an eight-game road trip.

Leadoff man Andrew McCutchen missed his second straight game for the Pirates due to a shoulder injury and is day-to-day. Pittsburgh could use his presence tonight, given that Duke hasn't won since May 18 and is just 3-7 with a 6.33 earned run average in 15 career starts versus the Brewers. That includes losses in both starts against them this year, with Duke giving up 14 earned runs over nine total innings for a 14.00 ERA.

Duke missed a month of action due to a left elbow injury and made his return to the rotation on Friday versus Houston. The left-hander saw his winless stretch extended even though he gave up just two runs on five hits over five innings of a 5-2 setback.

"[The Astros] didn't hit the ball hard off him, that's a good sign," Pirates manager John Russell said of the 27-year-old Duke, who is 3-9 with a 5.38 ERA this season. "They found some holes. For his first time back I thought he threw the ball pretty well."

While Duke has struggled versus the Brewers, Milwaukee starter Randy Wolf hasn't had similar issues against his opponent. Wolf is 8-2 with a 3.57 ERA in 16 career starts versus the Pirates and gone 1-1 with a 4.10 ERA in four starts versus them this year. He faced Pittsburgh in his final start before the All-Star break, allowing four runs on seven hits over six innings while serving up home-run balls to Lastings Milledge and Alvarez.

The 33-year-old lefty opened his second half with a victory versus Atlanta on Friday, allowing three runs on three hits and three walks over six innings of a 9-3 triumph. That victory moved Wolf to 7-8 with a 4.56 ERA on the season.

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MySportsbook.com and Kentucky Derby Offer Bonuses
The 2008 Kentucky Derby has announced a $1-million bonus for this weekend’s 134th ‘Run for the Roses’ and MySportsbook.com is doing the same.

Well, not quite $1 million, but MySportsbook.com is offering a 75% rebate for Kentucky Derby lines. Check out the exclusive horse racing bonus for all the details.

According to MySportsbook.com, the favorites for Saturday’s Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky are: Curlin (+250); Street Sense (+500); Scat Daddy (+700); Circular Quay (+750); and Nobiz Like Shobiz (+800).

Derby organizers announced this week that there will be a $1-million bonus at the 2007 Kentucky Derby odds if the first-place horse wins by more than 6 1/2 lengths – the margin of Barbaro's victory last year. The bonus would be divided Saturday among the winning trainer, jockey, owner and a charity, with each receiving 25 percent. The designated charity is the Barbaro Memorial Fund.

''It's certainly creative, it's certainly fun and it has something for the horsemen, which we always want to embrace,'' Churchill Downs president and chief executive Robert Evans said at a news conference. ''What's really cool is it will force us to remember Barbaro.''
    
Meanwhile, the Derby favorite – Curlin – is going against the odds this year. It's been 125 years since Apollo won after skipping his 2-year-old season, and not since Regret in 1915 has such a lightly seasoned horse worn the blanket of red roses.

Arkansas Derby winner Curlin – unbeaten in three career races – tries to overcome both those obstacles in Saturday's 133rd Derby.

''We're not running against history,'' trainer Steve Asmussen said Monday. ''We're running against who they load up.''

Six other horses have run in the Derby without benefit of 2-year-old races and with three or fewer starts. The best any of them managed was a sixth-place finish by Showing Up last year.
   
Asmussen dismissed suggestions that Curlin's lack of racing experience could keep him from the winner's circle.

”He exudes confidence and he's got a great presence about him,'' the trainer said. ''I feel great about the position we're in. He's not worried about anything, why should you be?''
   
The Kentucky Derby is at 4:04 p.m., ET Saturday.

For complete odds on the Kentucky Derby, visit MySportsbook.com. Mysportsbook.com online sportsbook accepts Visa and Mastercard credit cards.


2007 NFL Football Betting Preview


“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.