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04/22/2009 - Anaheim, CA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Gary Matthews Jr. doubled in the winning run in the eighth inning and added a sacrifice fly, as Los Angeles held on to defeat the Detroit Tigers, 4-3, in the opener of a three-game series at Angel Stadium.
Torii Hunter clubbed a solo homer and Erick Aybar also drove in a run for the Angels, who snapped a three-game losing streak. Bobby Abreu had two hits and scored a run.
Jered Weaver tossed seven solid innings for the Halos, allowing three runs on seven hits and recording six strikeouts, but came away with a no-decision. Jose Arredondo (1-0) got the win after hurling a scoreless eighth. Brian Fuentes overcame some wildness in the ninth to notch his third save.
Curtis Granderson belted two homers and Carlos Guillen collected three hits for the Tigers, who lost for just the third time in their last nine outings.
Brandon Lyon (1-2) was saddled with the loss after giving up a run on two hits in two innings of work. Armando Galarraga started for Detroit and allowed three runs on seven hits with four strikeouts and three walks over five full frames.
"Armando wasn't in sync for most of the game," Tigers manager Jim Leyland said. "We just didn't do much with Weaver. We had a chance to win the game, but we didn't get it done."
The home team pulled ahead in the eighth. Hunter drew a walk to begin the inning and took second on a fly out by Kendry Morales. After Mike Napoli grounded out, Matthews delivered with an RBI double that bounced off the wall in center.
Fuentes was called on to protect the 4-3 lead and gave up a single to Guillen to lead off the ninth. However, pinch-runner Josh Anderson was picked off and pinch-hitter Adam Everett went down swinging. The southpaw then hit Gerald Laird with a pitch and walked Brandon Inge before he caught Ramon Santiago staring at strike three.
"It always feels good to get big hits," Matthews said. "I never faced him before. It was a fastball in the middle of the plate and I just try to keep it as simple as possible. My emotions spilled out tonight. It was great to get this win."
Granderson led off the game by launching Weaver's third pitch over the center field wall. It was his 18th career leadoff home run. Detroit scratched out another run in the second inning when Inge singled in Guillen.
The Angels got a run back in the home half and were threatening for more. Morales singled and Napoli walked to open the frame, and a fly ball off the bat of Matthews advanced Morales to third. Aybar then drove in a run with a base hit and Chone Figgins lined a single to load the bases for Howie Kendrick, who grounded into a force out at home. Galarraga then retired Maicer Izturis on a grounder to avoid further damage.
Granderson homered leading off the third and Matthews hit a sacrifice fly in the bottom half.
Hunter went deep with two gone in the fifth inning to tie the game at three.
Game Notes
Angels manager Mike Scioscia was ejected in the sixth by home plate umpire Tim Timmons...The Angels were 6-3 versus Detroit last season...Los Angeles left eight men on base, while the Tigers stranded six.
<< Sharks avoid 3-0 hole, top Ducks in Game 3
Anaheim, CA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Patrick Marleau's power-play goal in the third
period provided the difference, as the San Jose Sharks saved their Western
Conference quarterfinal series with a 4-3 win over Anaheim in Game 3.
The top-seed
<< Seattle, Washburn continue strong start against Rays
Seattle, WA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Jarrod Washburn tossed seven strong innings to
earn his third win in as many starts to open the season, as the Seattle
Mariners opened a three-game series against the Tampa Bay Rays with a 4-2 win
at Safe
<< Roy scores 42 as Blazers even series with Rockets
Portland, OR (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Brandon Roy put the Trail Blazers on his
back, netting 42 points, to carry Portland to a 107-103 victory over Houston
in Game 2 of their Western Conference quarterfinal series at the Rose Garden.
Roy,
<< Astros end Dodgers' winning streak at eight games
Houston, TX (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Miguel Tejada batted 2-for-5 with a double and
three runs batted in, as the Houston Astros topped Los Angeles, 8-5, snapping
the Dodgers' eight-game winning streak.
Carlos Lee hit a two-run homer as part of
Helton, Rockies edge D-Backs >>
Phoenix, AZ (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Todd Helton went 3-for-5 with a two-run homer,
as the Colorado Rockies hung on to beat the Arizona Diamondbacks, 9-6, in the
second game of a three-game set at Chase Field.
Helton had three RBI and three r
Mutombo says his career is over >>
Portland, OR (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Houston Rockets center Dikembe Mutombo told
Houston media outlets his career his over after suffering a knee injury in the
team's playoff game against the Trail Blazers on Tuesday.
In the first quarter of
Report: Rose to be named season's top rookie >>
Chicago, IL (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Chicago Bulls have called a news conference
for this afternoon, when it's expected guard Derrick Rose will be named the
NBA's Rookie of the Year.
A Chicago native, Rose was drafted first overall by th
Hawks aim for 2-0 edge in series with Heat >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Miami Heat hope to bounce back from an awful
performance in Game 1 of their Eastern Conference quarterfinals series with
the Atlanta Hawks when the two teams resume the set at Philips Arena tonight.
Josh
BILLS (+10) at Steelers SPORTSBOOK LINES
It's impossible to gauge how a team will react after something like the Steve Everett situation, and it probably doesn't matter. That being said, the Bills are going to lose several games this year where they keep things close but fall short in the end to superior teams. Ben Roethlisberger and company could have a field day against Buffalo's decimated defense, but I like the Bills to cover.
BENGALS (-7) at Browns SPORTSBOOK LINES
All you can ask out of your NFL team is that it has a plan. You may not always agree with it as a fan, but as long as it appears the organization is going in some sort of direction, you have to go with it. Which brings us to the Cleveland Browns. You flip a coin to determine whether Chuck Frye or Derek Anderson should start the preseason opener. You start Frye in Week 1, but pull him in the first half. And then you deal him to the Seahawks for a sixth-round pick? Hmm... the Bengals could get six turnovers again this week.
COLTS (-7) at Titans SPORTSBOOK LINES
Tennessee signed ex-Colts cornerback Nick Harper in the offseason so that should help slow down Peyton Manning. Just ask Jason David and the Saints. Oh wait... One of these weeks, I'm going to learn to not pick against Tennessee, which has won seven of its last eight games. But it's not happening against Indy.
TEXANS (+6.5) at Panthers SPORTSBOOK LINES
Houston's Mario Williams, the first pick in the '06 draft, has more touchdowns than Reggie Bush after one week. Somehow I don't see that lasting. Meanwhile, Carolina bottled up what was expected to be a pretty high-octane offense in St. Louis in Week 1. Could this be the Panthers' defense everyone expected last year? Maybe. This feels like a 20-16 Carolina win.
RAMS (-3) vs. 49ers SPORTSBOOKS LINES
Absolutely love this game. Everyone's favorite pick for this year's surprise team -- the 49ers -- laid an egg on Monday night (not that anyone was watching with the game ending in the middle of the night for those of us on the East Coast). St. Louis wasn't much better, delivering a lackluster effort against the Panthers that included two Steven Jackson fumbles and panic from his fantasy owners. Jackson rebounds this week, and the Rams get their first win.
PACKERS (+1.5) at Giants SPORTSBOOKS LINES
Do you really trust this guy to win an NFL game if Eli Manning can't go? I say no. I'd feel alot better about this Packers team if it had any semblance of a running game, but I still think Green Bay's defense is good enough to give it a 2-0 start.
JAGUARS (-10) vs. Falcons SPORTSBOOKS LINES
Does it scare me to pick Jacksonville to cover a double-digit spread after it scored just 10 points last week against the Titans? Absolutely. But can I bring myself to pick Atlanta under any circumstances? No. Check out this poll on ajc.com. It asks what Atlanta's most urgent deficiency is: offense, defense, specials teams or all of the above. "All of the above" has 57 percent of the votes. Ouch.
SAINTS (-3) at Buccaneers SPORTSBOOKS LINES
I'm picking way too many road teams this week. Oh well. New Orleans has had some time to reflect on its lackluster showing in the opener, and the Buccanneers just aren't a very good football team. Anyone else surprised Tampa Bay hasn't made a move to sign Byron Leftwich? I thought that's what they do.
VIKINGS (+3) at Lions SPORTS BETTING LINES
Run the ball and stop the run. Minnesota can do both, and that will keep them in a lot of games this season. Even though it was only one week, Adrian Peterson looks like he was a steal at No. 7 in last year's draft. Not only will he produce, but Peterson delivers excitement to what otherwise would be one of the league's most boring teams.
DOLPHINS (+3.5) vs. Cowboys SPORTS BETTING LINES
Lost in the Tony Romo lovefest is just how bad the Cowboys' defense was last week. I know they're banged up, but Dallas' 'D' allowed 438 yards to the Giants' offense, and backup running back Derrick Ward averaged 6.8 yards per carry. Meanwhile, Cam Cameron's decision to split carries between Ronnie Brown and Jesse Chatman sounds about as can't-miss as Larry David's plan to show up to Marty Funkhouser's party a night late. Still, gotta go with Miami to cover at home.
SEAHAWKS (-2.5) at Cardinals SPORTS BETTING LINES
I'm probably missing something, but this game seems too easy. Arizona blew Monday night's game against the 49ers in typical Cardinals fashion, and the Seahawks beat Tampa Bay by two touchdowns. Love Seattle in this one.
BRONCOS (-9.5) vs. Raiders SPORTS BETTING LINES
Special teams was a major story line in Week 1. Take a look at the Broncos. They had to rush on to the field to get a Jason Elam field goal as time expired against the Bills. Denver drove into Buffalo territory on eight of 10 drives but came away with just a pair of field goals and a touchdown. Look for more scoring from the Broncos this week against an Oakland defense that gave up 36 points to Detroit in Week 1.
BEARS (-12) vs. Chiefs SPORTS BETTING LINES
Everyone talks about Rex Grossman when dissecting the Bears' offense, but Chicago's quarterback got no help in last week's loss to the Chargers. Meanwhile, Kansas City confirmed what we all thought while watching Hard Knocks: The Chiefs are going to stink this year. It could be a rough first month for Larry Johnson fantasy owners. Kansas City's RB was limited to 43 yards on 10 carries in Week 1, and the Chiefs face the Bears, Vikings and Chargers the next three weeks, all formidable run defenses.
RAVENS (-10) vs. Jets SPORTS BETTING LINES
A big dose of Willis McGahee and a usual sound defensive effort will give the Ravens their first win. According to Football Outsiders, no team in the NFL rushed only three defenders on pass plays last year more than the Jets. And according to my special Jets correspondent Ben Stauber, New York did the same in Week 1. Whoever starts at quarterback for the Ravens should have all day to throw.
PATRIOTS (-3) vs. Chargers
Friends and I were discussing how Bill Belichick goes about paying his $500,000 fine for cheating. Does he just write one check to the NFL? Do you need some sort of clearance to make such a monstrous financial transaction? I guess I shouldn't complain about the security deposit I have to put down on my new apartment. Anyway, two of the league's best teams square off in what should be a good one Sunday night. The Patriots always respond well just when you think they're in trouble. And their offensive attack was the story in Week 1.
Note: Monday night game will be picked Monday. Lines used are from football betting.
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