Feldman, bullpen help Rangers complete sweep of Rays

Baseball Betting Lines

07/05/2009 - Arlington, TX (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - David Murphy went 3-for-3 with a run batted in, as the Texas Rangers completed a three-game sweep of Tampa Bay with a 5-2 victory over the Rays.

The Rangers also extended their overall winning streak to five games, despite going 2-for-11 with runners in scoring position and stranding nine runners. Murphy, Elvis Andrus and Marlon Byrd each had a sacrifice fly.

Texas starter Scott Feldman (7-2) got the win after giving up two runs -- one earned -- on three hits and four walks over six innings. Jason Jennings, C.J. Wilson and Frank Francisco each threw a perfect inning of relief, with Francisco notching his 14th save this season.

Rays starter Matt Garza (6-6) gave up five runs on seven hits and two walks in five frames, and took the loss. Garza also struck out seven for the Rays, who have lost four in a row.

Carl Crawford had one of Tampa's three hits to extend his hitting streak to 13 games, walked, and scored a run in the loss.

The Rangers got on the scoreboard in the first inning. Leadoff hitter Ian Kinsler was hit by a pitch, and Murphy's base hit two batters later put runners on the corners. Byrd then reached on a soft hit to third, plating Kinsler. Jarrod Saltalamacchia scored on Andrus' sac fly in the second inning to make it a 2-0 game.

Tampa, though, tied the contest in the third thanks to an error. B.J. Upton was hit to lead off and went to second after Crawford worked a walk. The speedy pair then executed a double steal before Evan Longoria lofted a fly to right field.

Upton tagged up on the play, beating an errant throw to the plate. Saltalamacchia then tossed the ball into left field trying to catch Crawford going to third, allowing him to score.

But Texas quickly re-assumed the lead. Michael Young began the home third with a double, and Murphy's single again put runners on the corners. Byrd walked to load the bases before Hank Blalock struck out.

The Rangers got a run when Nelson Cruz batted a ball to the right side, and Rays shortstop Jason Bartlett couldn't hang on to the ball for the force out. Young scored on the play, but Garza got the next two batters to keep it a one- run game.

However, Texas tacked on two more runs in the fourth, when the Rangers loaded the bases with no outs. Sac flies from Murphy and Byrd pushed the Rangers' lead to 5-2.

The Texas pitching staff sealed the win from there, though it got some help from a pair of double plays. Crawford and Carlos Pena were each doubled off first base to end the fifth and sixth innings, respectively.

Jennings worked a flawless seventh, Wilson got three fly outs in the eighth, and Francisco set the Rays down in order in the ninth to finish off the victory.

Game Notes

On Sunday, Major League Baseball announced the rosters for this season's All- Star Game, scheduled for July 14 in St. Louis. Rays third baseman Longoria and Rangers outfielder Josh Hamilton were named starters by fan vote. Rays shortstop Bartlett and outfielders Crawford and Ben Zobrist, as well as Rangers third baseman Young were named reserves for the American League...Blalock finished 0-for-4 with three strikeouts and left eight runners on base...Rays catcher Dioner Navarro went 0-for-3, striking out twice, and left four runners on...Francisco improved to 14-for-16 in save chances this season...Garza had won his last two starts, in which he gave up two runs in 15 innings...Texas next visits LA for a three-game series against the Angels, beginning Monday...The Rays start a three-game home set against Toronto on Tuesday.

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Big East Conference odds

Work left to do: Villanova, Syracuse, DePaul, West Virginia, Providence

Notre Dame and Louisville appear to have done enough to make the move, so we'll make them locks. The Cardinals, despite a modest RPI, are trending way up and have clinched at least a tie for third in the Big East, which should be more than enough with their pair of big road wins. Villanova got back to .500 and gets back to more solid footing. Syracuse got a very important road win and crippled a fellow contender in the process. West Virginia's fate could be in its hands Tuesday at Pitt.

Work left to do:

Villanova [18-9 (7-7), RPI: 21, SOS: 5] Pounded Rutgers to get back to .500. If Cats can get their last two (at UConn, vs. Syracuse), that should be enough with strong computer numbers and a host of wins away from The Pavilion. The Cats have beaten Texas and swept the Big 5 (never easy in Philly), but have a couple of losses to bubble teams (Xavier, Drexel), too. I still think they'll be OK, possibly even at 8-8.

Syracuse [20-8 (9-5), RPI: 53, SOS: 62] History says 10 wins will be plenty, but it might be hard for the Orange to get that last one with a final two vs. G'town, which is trying to win the league title, and at Villanova, which will be desperate for a W. The relative lack of nonconference heft and the weak computer numbers are still concerns, but the Orange have won four in a row and got a very, very big win at Providence on Saturday.

DePaul [16-12 (8-7), RPI: 54, SOS: 18] Beat Cincy and should get past South Florida to get to 9-7, but then what? They have beaten Kansas and Cal (right after the DeVon Hardin injury) earlier this season, but also have lost to Bradley and Purdue, among others. They'll likely need a couple of BE tourney wins, too, but we'll see ...

West Virginia [19-7 (8-6), RPI: 58, SOS: 125] The game at Pitt on Tuesday night could decide the Mountaineers' fate (barring a deep tournament run). They can still get to 9-7 in the Big East without it by beating Cincinnati, but the nine wins would be against UConn, Villanova, St. John's, South Florida, DePaul, Rutgers, Seton Hall twice and the Bearcats. Beating bubble foes is fine, but where's the beef? Outside of beating PG-less UCLA in nonconference play (still a top quality win), there's not a lot to fall back on (besides maybe NC State). WVU vs. Syracuse would be an interesting debate, as the teams don't play in the Big East regular season. WVU has the best win, but Cuse has played the much better schedule.

Providence [17-10 (7-7), RPI: 70, SOS: 33] The Friars likely saw their at-large hopes die at home in the four-point loss to Syracuse, barring an unexpected run to the Big East semis or more. The RPI, bad already, won't be helped by playing St. John's and South Florida in the final two league games.

For more March Madness odds go to MySportsbook.com

For more College Basketball betting lines go to BettingExpress.com

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MySportsbook.com Posts Heisman Trophy Odds

With 3,919 passing yards, 32 touchdowns and a mere seven interceptions last season, combined with a powerful South Bend Heisman legacy, odds makers at MySportsbook.com have given Notre Dame senior quarterback Brady Quinn the best Heisman Trophy odds at 5-2.

Quinn isn’t the only big man on campus this season.  Oklahoma junior running back and 2004 Heisman runner-up Adrian Peterson, listed at 7-2, rushed for a combined 3,033 yards in his first two years as a college player and will give Quinn a run for his money. 

This online sportsbook has also listed Troy Smith, Ohio State senior quarterback, as another strong favorite to win the 72nd Heisman Trophy.  A 7-1 bet, Smith threw for 2,282 yards last season and also led the Buckeyes to a convincing 34-20 victory over Quinn and the Fighting Irish in last season’s Fiesta Bowl.

Current betting odds Heisman trophy are:

Brady Quinn (QB, Notre Dame)
Adrian Peterson (RB, Oklahoma)
Troy Smith (QB, Ohio State)
Michael Bush (RB, Louisville)
Steve Slaton (RB, West Virginia)
Brian Brohm (QB, Louisville)
Chris Leak (QB, Florida)
Mike Hart (RB, Michigan)
Ted Ginn (WR, Ohio State)
Darius Walker (RB, Notre Dame)
Drew Tate (QB, Iowa)
Marshawn Lynch (RB, Cal)
Kenny Irons (RB, Auburn)
Chad Henne (QB, Michigan)
Kyle Wright (QB, Miami)
Drew Stanton (QB, Michigan State)
Kenneth Darby (RB, Alabama)
JaMarcus Russell (QB, LSU)
Drew Weatherford (QB, Florida State)
Blake Mitchell (QB, South Carolina)
Reggie Ball (QB, Georgia Tech)		 5-2
7-2
7-1
10-1
10-1
12-1
12-1
18-1
18-1
20-1
30-1
35-1
35-1
40-1
50-1
50-1
60-1
60-1
60-1
60-1
60-1

For complete NCAA Football odds visit MySportsbook.com.