05/11/2008 - Chicago, IL (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Daryle Ward's two-run pinch-hit double in the bottom of the eighth inning lifted the Chicago Cubs over the Arizona Diamondbacks, 6-4, to complete a three-game sweep at Wrigley Field.
The start of game was delayed for 58 minutes due to rain, and both scheduled starters, Randy Johnson and Carlos Zambrano, were scratched before the game due to the weather. Edgar Gonzalez started for Arizona, while Sean Gallagher got the call for the Cubs.
Reed Johnson hit a two-run home run for the Cubs, winners in four of their last five. Derrek Lee belted a solo shot, while Kosuke Fukudome went 2-for-4 and scored a run.
Carlos Marmol (1-0) earned the win as four Chicago relievers combined for 4 2/3 shutout innings, with Kerry Wood picking up his seventh save. Gallagher lasted 4 1/3 innings, allowing four runs on five hits while striking out six.
Conor Jackson tripled and drove in a pair of runs for the D-Backs, who have dropped six of eight. Miguel Montero and Eric Byrnes each doubled and scored, while Augie Ojeda and Justin Upton drove in a run apiece.
Tony Pena (0-1) took the loss after allowing two runs in 1 2/3 innings of relief. Gonzalez was solid for five innings, holding the Cubs to two runs on five hits.
The Cubs fell into a 4-2 hole through five innings, but rallied against a struggling Arizona bullpen.
With Juan Cruz in his second inning of relief, the Cubs finally reignited their offense in the seventh. Mike Fontenot drew a one-out walk, then Johnson turned on a Cruz fastball and launched it over the wall in left-center to force a 4-4 tie. A walk to Ryan Theriot chased Cruz in favor of Tony Pena, who got Lee to ground into an inning-ending double play.
Ramirez lined a single to left to start the home eighth, and with Fukudome at the plate, Ramirez stole second. Fukudome dropped a perfect bunt that died on the third base line for a single, and moved to second when Geovany Soto was retired on a grounder just in front of the plate.
After pinch-hitter Alfonso Soriano was intentionally walked, Ward then belted a long fly ball that fell in the gap for a two-run double to put the Cubs in front.
Wood hit Jeff Salazar with a pitch in the ninth, but got Ojeda to ground into a game-ending double play to complete the sweep.
Chris Young worked a two-out walk in the first, and scored on Jackson's triple, but Mark DeRosa tied the game in the second inning when he singled and made it to third before dashing home on a wild pitch.
Lee put the Cubs on top in the third, launching a one-out solo homer into the seats in right-center.
Arizona couldn't put another run across until the fifth, when Montero led off with a double to start a three-run inning that including an RBI single from Ojeda and run-scoring walks to Jackson and Upton -- both walks were issued by Chad Fox, who came on in place of Gallagher.
But, the Chicago bullpen settled down and held the D-Backs without a hit over the final 4 2/3 innings.
Game Notes
Jackson's two RBI give him 30 for the season...Fox, Marmol, Wood and Michael Wuertz all threw at least one scoreless inning for Chicago...The Cubs stranded seven runners, while the D-Backs left six men on base...The Cubs continue their 10-game homestand on Monday with the start of a four-game set against the Padres...The D-Backs return home on Tuesday for the opener of a three-game series with the Rockies.
<< Crawford's HR carries Rays to sweep of Angels
St. Petersburg, FL (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Carl Crawford blasted the go-ahead
three-run homer in the sixth inning, and the Tampa Bay Rays used 15 hits to
beat the Angels, 8-5, completing a three-game weekend sweep.
Crawford had three h
<< Braun leads Brew Crew past Cards
Milwaukee, WI (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Ryan Braun's fourth career multi-homer
game helped the Milwaukee Brewers to a 5-3 win over the St. Louis Cardinals in
the third of a four-game set at Miller Park.
Jeff Suppan (2-2) gave up one run
<< Twellman returns to lead New England over Chivas
Carson, CA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Taylor Twellman scored less than 15 minutes into
his season debut Sunday and the New England Revolution defeated Chivas USA 2-1
in Major League Soccer.
Twellman missed New England's first seven matches followi
<< KC's Bannister shuts down O's
Kansas City, MO (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Brian Bannister was virtually
untouchable through eight innings as the Kansas City Royals avoided a four-
game sweep with a 4-0 victory over the Baltimore Orioles.
Bannister (4-4) took th
Atletico Madrid pulls level with Barcelona >>
Madrid, Spain (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Diego Forlan scored as Atletico Madrid edged
Deportivo, 1-0, to pull even in points with third-place Barcelona, which blew
a two-goal lead in a 3-2 loss to Mallorca on Sunday in the Spanish La Liga.
Atletic
Flyers' Coburn struck in face by puck, leaves game >>
PITTSBURGH (AP) -Philadelphia Flyers defenseman Braydon Coburn was struck in the face with a shot by Pittsburgh's Hal Gill early in Game 2 of the Eastern Conference finals Sunday night.Gill took a shot from the left point that apparently deflected o
Holm's first career homer propels Giants past Phillies >>
San Francisco, CA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Steve Holm's first major league home
run in the bottom of the seventh inning drove in the winning run, as the San
Francisco Giants edged the Philadelphia Phillies, 4-3, in the rubber match at
AT&
Flyers D Coburn leaves after getting hit with puck >>
Pittsburgh, PA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Philadelphia Flyers defenseman Braydon
Coburn left in the first period of his team's playoff game against Pittsburgh
after the puck hit him in the face.
Just 1:51 into the second game of the Easte
MySportsbook.com Releases World Series Championship Lines
New York Yankees and Chicago White Sox early favorites to win 2008 World Series
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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 SPORTS TRASH TALK
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.