05/13/2008 - Cleveland, OH (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Paul Byrd baffled the Oakland offense for 7 1/3 innings of scoreless ball, as the Cleveland Indians blanked the Athletics, 4-0 in a pitching duel at Progressive Field.
Byrd (2-3) tossed just 92 pitches -- 64 for strikes -- while allowing just five hits with no walks and seven strikeouts in Cleveland's fourth win in its last five games.
The Indians starters have been terrific in the past four games. Against Toronto, Fausto Carmona and Cliff Lee each pitched nine scoreless innings in a doubleheader split on Monday, and Aaron Laffey silenced the Blue Jays for seven frames on Saturday. Cleveland starters have not allowed a run in 37 consecutive innings.
Ryan Garko hit a three-run homer, while Travis Hafner was 2-for-4 with a run scored and an RBI for the Indians, who took the opener of this three-game set.
Justin Duchscherer (3-2) was saddled with the hard-fought loss after holding the Indians to just one run on four hits and two walks while fanning six in 6 2/3 innings for Oakland, which had won five of its last seven.
Ryan Sweeney accounted for two of the A's six singles.
Cleveland struck in the first when Duchscherer fell behind David Dellucci in the count and walked the left fielder with two outs. Victor Martinez then ripped a single to right and Hafner came through with a shot up the middle to plate Dellucci for the game's only run until the eighth.
It appeared as if Oakland would tie it an inning later as Sweeney blooped a single to center with Frank Thomas on second. Thomas was running on contact, but Grady Sizemore threw a frozen rope to the plate and Martinez executed a perfect block of home to deny Thomas from producing the tying run.
The Indians' defense was solid behind Byrd as well. Sizemore made a terrific diving catch on Kurt Suzuki's fly to center in the sixth, and Asdrubal Cabrera sprinted back to short center for another diving stop to steal a hit away from Bobby Crosby in the eighth.
With two outs and runners on the corners in the eighth, Garko added much- needed insurance runs by taking reliever Andrew Brown to straightaway center field for his third home run of the season.
Masahide Kobayashi earned his first save of the season tossing 1 1/3 innings of one-hit, no-run relief for Cleveland to close it out.
Game Notes
Garko's home run was the lone extra-base hit in the game...Hafner broke Andre Thornton's franchise record for RBI by a designated hitter (460) with his run- scoring single in the first...On Wednesday, the Indians' C.C. Sabathia (2-5) hopes to continue the scoreless streak when the left-hander squares off against Oakland's Joe Blanton (2-5).
<< New indictment against Bonds unsealed
San Francisco, CA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Federal prosecutors have filed a new
indictment against Barry Bonds, baseball's all-time home run king.
According to documents released Tuesday in U.S. District Court in San
Francisco, Bond
<< Orioles scratch Mora
Baltimore, MD (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Baltimore Orioles were without the
services of third baseman Melvin Mora for Tuesday's series opener against
Boston after he took a ball off his shoulder during warmups.
He was replaced at thi
<< Cards LHP Johnson to undergo shoulder surgery
St. Louis, MO (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The St. Louis Cardinals announced Tuesday
that relief pitcher Tyler Johnson is scheduled to undergo arthroscopic surgery
on his left shoulder on Wednesday in Los Angeles.
Johnson was diagnosed with ten
<< Raiders sign DE Spires
Alameda, CA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Oakland Raiders signed veteran free agent
defensive end Greg Spires on Tuesday.
Spires has started in 94 of the 147 games he's played in over his career,
which began in 1998. He has 39.5 career sacks
Reds SS Keppinger breaks kneecap >>
Cincinnati, OH (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Cincinnati Reds shortstop Jeff Keppinger
left Tuesday's game against the Florida Marlins after fouling a ball off his
left knee, an injury later revealed to be a broken kneecap in the leg.
Keppinger, f
Phils rally from early hole, edge Braves >>
Philadelphia, PA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Jayson Werth finished 3-for-4 with four
runs batted in, as the Philadelphia Phillies downed National League East rival
Atlanta, 5-4, in the initial contest of a three-game set at Citizens Bank
Park.
Pens on verge of sweeping Flyers >>
Philadelphia, PA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Marian Hossa scored twice, including the
game-winner, as the Pittsburgh Penguins topped the Philadelphia Flyers, 4-1,
in Game 3 of the Eastern Conference finals at Wachovia Center.
Ryan Whitney and Ry
Volquez strong again; Reds down Marlins >>
Cincinnati, OH (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Edinson Volquez continued his strong rookie
year, holding the Marlins to one run in six innings, but Cincinnati's 5-3 win
over Florida came coupled with the loss of shortstop Jeff Keppinger, who left
with a
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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
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Last two contestants will be?
1 Male/1 Female +100 (a $10 bet pays $10 plus your initial $10)
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