07/19/2008 - Houston, TX (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Wandy Rodriguez was brilliant through 6 2/3 innings of one-run ball, as the Houston Astros topped the Chicago Cubs, 4-1, in the middle contest of a three-game series at Minute Maid Park.
Rodriguez (5-3) allowed only a solo home run to Carlos Zambrano in stifling the Cubs potent lineup. The southpaw fanned seven and did not walk a batter on nine hits to win his third straight decision.
Miguel Tejada was 2-for-4 with an RBI while Carlos Lee, Darin Erstad and Hunter Pence each had an RBI for Houston, which has won four straight.
Zambrano (10-4) labored through 6 1/3 innings, surrendering four runs on six hits and a season-high six walks. The right-hander had three strikeouts and helped himself with a solo homer but snapped a two-start win streak.
Ryan Theriot was 3-for-4 in a losing cause, the only multi-hit effort for Chicago, which has dropped three straight.
Houston put a run on the board in the second. Lee drew a leadoff walk, Tejada moved him to third with a single to right and Pence chased him home with an RBI ground out to short.
The 'Stros padded their lead in the third. Zambrano allowed a single to his counterpart Rodriguez to start and Lance Berkman drew a two-out walk before Lee and Tejada delivered back-to-back RBI singles.
Rodriguez kept the Cubs off the board until Zambrano helped himself with a solo home run with two gone in the seventh. Theriot followed with a single and Rodriguez was lifted in favor of Chris Sampson, who retired pinch-hitter Daryle Ward on strikes.
Houston erased that run with one of its own in the home half. Pinch-hitter David Newhan tripled to the gap in right-center and scored on an Erstad ground out two batters later.
Jose Valverde entered in the ninth and proceeded to strike out the first two batters before pinch-hitter Mike Fontenot lined out to end the game. Valverde's 25th save of the season tied San Francisco's Brian Wilson for the NL-lead.
Game Notes
The Cubs are just 3-7 over their last 10 games at Minute Maid Park and have dropped two of three tests to the Astros in Houston back in May. The Astros lead the season series 4-3...Sunday's series finale will feature Chicago's Ryan Dempster (10-4) and Houston's Brandon Backe (6-9)...Zambrano became the Cubs all-time home run leader for a pitcher with his career 14th home run, a solo shot in the seventh, severing a tie with Hall-of-Famer Ferguson Jenkins. It was also Zambrano's fourth career home run at Minute Maid Park, marking the most from any pitcher home or visiting...Theriot extended his hitting streak to a career-high 12 games and also recorded his 38th multi-hit game of the season, good for first in that category in the NL.
<< Garza dominates, and Rays hang on in ninth to down Jays
St. Petersburg, FL (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Matt Garza was nearly unhittable over 7
2/3 shutout innings, Evan Longoria hit the first grand slam of his career and
the Tampa Bay Rays barely avoided a collapse in the ninth inning to
hold o
<< D'Backs place Slaten on DL, recall Buckner
Phoenix, AZ (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Arizona Diamondbacks placed lefty Doug
Slaten on the 15-day disabled list on Saturday, a day after he strained his
right knee in a game against the Dodgers.
Slaten suffered the injury in the 11t
<< Donovan's late goal gives L.A. draw at New York
East Rutherford, NJ (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Landon Donovan scored his league-leading
12th goal in extra time as the Los Angeles Galaxy tied Red Bull New York, 2-2,
on Saturday night in front of 46,754 fans at Giants Stadium.
Former MLS MVP Carlo
<< Walton keeps lead at Canadian Tour Players Cup
Winnipeg, MB (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Michael Walton shot a one-under 70 on Saturday
to remain in the lead after three rounds of the Canadian Tour Players Cup.
Walton, who shot a course-record 62 on Friday to take the second-round lead,
stood at
KC pounds ChiSox behind Meche gem >>
Chicago, IL (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - John Buck and Billy Butler each homered and
knocked in three runs as Kansas City routed Chicago, 9-1, in the second of a
three-game series from U.S. Cellular Field.
Mike Aviles contributed a three-run double fo
Eaks grabs lead at 3M Championship >>
Blaine, MN (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - R.W. Eaks fired a nine-under 63 on Saturday to
grab a three-shot lead heading into the final round of the 3M Championship.
Eaks, who claimed both of his Champions Tour wins last season, stood at 16-
under 1
Nationals' Young goes to DL; Zimmerman to be recalled >>
Atlanta, GA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Washington Nationals placed first
baseman Dmitri Young on the 15-day disabled list following Saturday's 8-2 win
over the Braves.
Young, a diabetic, missed his second straight start on Saturday.
Lannan, Nats crush Braves >>
Atlanta, GA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Willie Harris went 3-for-5 with a triple and
two runs batted in, John Lannan threw six solid innings, and Washington
dominated Atlanta, 8-2, in the second of three games with the Braves.
Lannan (6-9)
Kurt Warner to start, Matt Leinart to watch
Despite the debate that's swirling , Kurt Warner will remain the starting quarterback for the Arizona Cardinals, coach Dennis Green said today. The Arizona Cardinals are the +7 point underdog at online sportsbook MySportsbook.com for this Sunday's game.
Green's comment came in a statement released by the team following an ESPN report that Green decided that rookie Matt Leinart would replace Warner as starter for Sunday's game at Atlanta.
"Generally talking about the starting lineup is not something we do," Green told the AP. "However, given the speculation that was out there we want to make it clear. We're disappointed after last week, but we still expect to be a playoff football team and we fully expect Kurt Warner to be the quarterback that leads us. That has not changed."
To visit this online sportsbook got to MySportsbook.com for all your bet on football needs.
American Idol Betting Odds: Season 6
The online gambling websites are in the process of deciphering each American Idol contestant and his or her chances of winning Season 6 to come up with the early American Idol betting lines.
Tim Dalton of MySportsbook.com has been locked away in a soundproof room coming up with all the latest tallies, we are told. "American Idol has become one of the most significant betting events of the year," claims Jack Black of MySportsbook.com. "Last year, millions were bet during the season across the globe, not just in America.It's tough early on since we really do not have a glimpse as to how well each of these individuals will perform solo on a week-to-week basis. It's like Week 1 of the NFL. Pre-season means nada!
We do know the 24 finalists however.
Sanjaya Malakar is the young man whose sister failed to make it into the Top 24. He's very low key but - unless he totally flubs - will probably win over the young girlie vote for a few weeks anyway. He's too young to go all the way, according to Payton O'Brien.
Brandon Rogers - Who?
Phil Stacy is the military guy who missed his daughter's birth because of the Memphis audition. He should go a good distance.
Chris Sligh - He's got the humor and in many ways he's the Anti-American Idol much like last year's winner Taylor Hicks was. And this is why he'll probably get pretty far in this competition. He's chubby, white with a big curly afro....but more importantly, a great voice! People love "real", not "real cute" to go all the way.
"Blake Lewis should go far because of his uniqueness and looks. He's the boy next store with a twist - he beat boxes. But on top of this, he's a great singer, and I adore him," Payton O'Brien relayed.
A talented beat-boxer Blake Lewis was a hit during the group sing in Hollywood but Simon explained that this is a singing contest just before he told him he was “in.”
Paul Kim has caught our own roving reporter, Jenny Woo's eyes.
"I love the fact that there is a Korean American on the show and he is bound to get more Asians tuning into the show," Woo said from her Miami Beach estate. "There has never been a major presence of Asian-Americans on American Idol in the past. He's a hottie with a nice voice so that should help to take him far. Expect heavy betting action from the Asian community."
Sundance Head - He's not perfect, but he's got the personality that will take him through a few weeks, plus he's got the lineage (son of Roy Head - whose 1965 single, "Treat Her Right," hit No. 5 in the charts)
And the others:
Rudy Cardinas
AJ Tabaldo - the 5th time is the charm
Nicolas Pedro
Chris Richardson
Jared Cotter
The girls
"Melinda Doolittle has one of the best voices," says MySportsbook.com Reporter and an acclaimed dancer in her own right, Destiney Lewis. "It is great to see a back up singer step out like she has. The girl needs to gain more confidence but that can also be a positive. I think she will go far."
Alena Alexander - Those tears (she never seems to stop bawling) should get her far.
"Single mom Lakisha Jones I suspect will be a pretty big favorite entering Week 1 of the competition," says Destiny Williams. Jones is an excellent singer and down to earth. "She'll have a wide appeal," echoed O'Brien.
Nicole Trellis - Seems to exert confidence.
Amy Krebs - a powerful singer.
Antonella Barba
Gina Glocksen
Hailey Scanardo
Jordan Sparks
Stephanie Edwards
Leslie Hunt
Sabrina Sloan
MySportsbook.com is offering a 20% signup bonus with an initial deposit (i.e. open your American Idol betting account with $300, receive another $60 in which to bet with).
Last two contestants will be?
1 Male/1 Female +100 (a $10 bet pays $10 plus your initial $10)
2 Males +170 (a $10 bet pays $17 plus your initial $17)
2 Females +130 (a $10 bet pays $13 plus your initial $10)
MySportsbook.com is an online sportsbook accepts Visa Credit Cards and online sportsbook accepts Mastercard Credit Cards for easy American Idol betting lines.
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