07/04/2008 - (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Ace Ben Sheets tries to regain his winning ways today when the Milwaukee Brewers host the Pittsburgh Pirates in the opener of a three- game series at Miller Park.
Sheets, who's 7-8 in 21 career starts against Pittsburgh, had won five straight decisions between May 21 and June 23 before falling, 5-0, at Minnesota in his last outing on June 29.
In that game, the former first-round draft pick (10th overall, 1999) allowed nine hits and five runs over seven innings while walking two and striking out seven. During the aforementioned seven-start streak, Sheets had allowed more than two runs just twice.
He kicked off the win streak with a 4-1 defeat of the Pirates, going the full nine innings while scattering 11 hits, walking none and striking out six.
Pittsburgh goes with left-hander Tom Gorzelanny, who defeated the Brewers one day after Sheets' May 21 victory and is unbeaten in seven career games against them.
He allowed eight hits and two runs in five innings of the Pirates' May 22 victory, running his lifetime mark to 3-0 against Milwaukee and evening his 2008 slate at 4-4.
He's 2-2 in seven starts since, including a 12-5 victory over the New York Yankees on June 24.
Gorzelanny got a no-decision in his most recent outing on June 29, allowing eight hits and two runs in six innings - striking out a season-high eight - in Pittsburgh's 4-3 home loss to Tampa Bay.
On Thursday in Arizona, Conor Jackson's two-run single capped a six-run ninth, as the Diamondbacks took advantage of a meltdown by the Brewers' bullpen to steal a 6-5 Arizona win in the finale of a four-game set.
Trailing 5-0 entering the ninth, the Diamondbacks sent seven batters to the plate. Milwaukee relievers Guillermo Mota, Brian Shouse, and Salomon Torres all failed to get an out in the ninth as Arizona stole the game and earned a split in the series.
Torres (4-2) took the blown save and the loss, ruining a stellar effort by Manny Parra, who tossed six shutout innings, allowing just four hits and three walks with four strikeouts. J.J. Hardy went 4-for-5 with a homer, and Mike Cameron also homered for the Brewers, who have dropped five of eight.
On Wednesday in Cincinnati, Xavier Nady belted a pair of home runs and finished with three hits and three RBI to lift the Pirates over the Reds, 9-5, in the rubber match of three-game set at Great American Ball Park.
Jose Bautista also homered for the Pirates, who won their second straight game and earned their sixth victory in nine encounters with the Reds this season.
The game was tied at five, but the Pirates scored two runs in the fifth on a two-run homer by Nady and led the rest of the way. Ryan Doumit came around on Nady's 12th home run of the year after reaching on a one-out single.
In the longest relief outing of his career, Denny Bautista (1-0) earned the win after tossing 3 1/3 scoreless innings in which he only yielded one hit and one walk while striking out three. Bautista has not allowed a run in three appearances since coming over from Detroit.
Milwaukee took two of three from the Pirates earlier in the season after taking 10 of the 16 in the season-series a year ago.
<< Men's doubles final set at Wimbledon
Wimbledon, England (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Canada's Daniel Nestor and
Serbian Nenad Zimonjic reached Saturday's men's doubles final at Wimbledon.
The second-seeded tandem of Nestor-Zimonjic outlasted a ninth-seeded pairing
of Cze
<< Rockies host Marlins shooting for fourth straight win
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Colorado Rockies try to match their longest winning
streak of the season this evening when they play the second of four games
against the Florida Marlins at Coors Field.
Colorado won its third straight game in the open
<< Edmonds returns to St. Louis, as Cubs take on Cardinals
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Carlos Zambrano returns from the disabled list this evening
when the Chicago Cubs open a key three-game series with the St. Louis
Cardinals at Busch Stadium.
Zambrano's return, though, will likely be overshadowed by Jim Ed
<< Red-hot Twins hope to keep rolling versus Indians
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Minnesota Twins hope to keep their recent hot streak
going tonight, when the resurgent club begins a three-game home series against
a Cleveland Indians squad desperate to end a five-game slide.
Minnesota has amassed an
Hudson goes for Braves against Astros >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Atlanta right-hander Tim Hudson makes his fourth career
start against Houston today when the host Braves open a three-game series
against the Astros at Turner Field.
The Georgia native, who'll turn 33 in 10 days, is 1-0 i
Diamondbacks welcome Padres to Chase Field >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The NL West-leading Arizona Diamondbacks are finally back
at the .500 mark and will try to maintain their division lead tonight, when
they open a three-game series versus the San Diego Padres at Chase Field.
Arizona sits j
Dodgers should get reinforcements for latest battle with Giants >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Los Angeles Dodgers have had problems scoring runs for
Derek Lowe this season. However, with two big-name players set to return from
the disabled list today, that may not be a problem.
Los Angeles is expected to get
Mariners try again to tame surging Tigers >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Detroit Tigers try to continue their recent dominance
of the Seattle Mariners when the two teams continue their four-game series
this afternoon at Safeco Field.
Detroit has won six of seven from the Mariners th
American Idol odds : Blake Lewis the Early Standout
An important American Idol betting lines recap from February 20 Guys episode. The 12 men came out flat overall with Blake Lewis appearing to have the early edge after the first hour and a half.
Rudy - was quite good singing "Free Ride" to start off. Randy was not impressed though. Paula thought he started off fantastic. "Never had anyone stop off so lively" said Paula but Simon (who does not like Rudy) does not feel he has a distinct voice and was not impressed either.
Brandon was a little pitchy according to Randy and Paula agreed. Simon said he was a good singer but the song was "too safe" and he needs to make an impact. He was listed at +1200 odds or $1200 paid out on a $100 bet should he win the competition.
Big favorite Sundance came in with a flat version of "Knights in White Satin" and the judges let him have it, including Paula. Randy claimed the song was out of pitch throughout.
Korean American - and a Jenny Woo favorite - Paul Kim was up next. Another pitchy flat one but Randy said he still liked his potential. Kim at +3000 odds was said to have sung a "third rate version of that (George Michael) song" according to Simon Cowell. He sang "Careless Whisper".
22 year old Chris Richardson was up next. He was listed with +1100 odds coming in. He got the best response from the judges though Simon did not believe the vocal was that great.
Nick was boring and pitchy. Simon didn't think he was that bad though and predicted he would be back next week. Nick Pedro was a big +3000 dog coming into this competition.
Beat boxer Blake Lewis was listed with early +1000 odds or $1000 payout on a $100 bet if he were to become the next American Idol winner odds . These of course were the early odds. He was considered original for picking an "odd song". He did not beat box and the judges felt it was the best vocal of the night.
Sanjaya came in as the second biggest favorite after Chris Sligh but his performance Tuesday night was not very good.
Chris Sleigh was the early favorite at +450 odds. Great voice and a great sense of humor. He's a real standout. Randy felt it was on point but maybe ahead of the chorus a little bit. Simon Cowell said he felt like he was in some "sort of weird student gig".
Jared Cotter followed. He was listed with +2000 odds early on to win the competition. The judges felt he needs to take more risks but looked good.
22-year old AJ Talbado, who has tried out for American Idol five times, was up next. "Kind of a theme park performance" said Simon. Though the judges felt he performed okay. Simon did feel AJ might be better than he originally thought.
Phil - this season's military favorite - came into this competition with +1200 odds to win the competition. He was the last to perform. He was certainly strong enough to get through this stage of the competition and perhaps the best one after a shaky start.
Tomorrow night, the ladies perform and I sure hope they do a better job than the boys. Check out all the American Idol betting odds here.
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