Pierzynski's late HR lifts ChiSox over Tribe

Baseball Betting Lines

08/31/2010 - Cleveland, OH (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - A.J. Pierzynski's three-run blast in the ninth provided the difference, as the White Sox beat the Cleveland Indians, 4-3, in Manny Ramirez's first game in a Chicago uniform.

Pierzynski's seventh home run of the season helped the White Sox win for the fourth time in six games. Chicago now stands 3 1/2 games behind Minnesota in the AL Central, and the Twins are currently taking on Detroit.

Ramirez, who was acquired in a waiver claim from the Dodgers on Monday, suited up, but did not play. He was standing in the on-deck circle when Pierzynski went deep, but was pulled back to the dugout after the White Sox took the lead.

Edwin Jackson (3-0), meanwhile, continued to star with Chicago, throwing his third consecutive 10-plus strikeout performance in 8 2/3 innings. He allowed three runs on seven hits and a walk while fanning 11. He's allowed just six earned runs in 36 2/3 innings with his new club since a trade with Arizona and has struck out 10 or more in three straight games for the first time in his career.

Shelley Duncan homered for Cleveland, as the Indians lost their third straight. Justin Masterson was solid in 7 2/3 innings, allowing just one run, four hits and two walks while fanning seven, but Joe Smith (1-2) was saddled with the loss.

After tying the game with a run in the eighth, the White Sox went ahead with a big blast in the ninth.

Smith began the inning and walked both Alex Rios and Carlos Quentin, preceding Frank Herrmann's entrance out of the bullpen. Pierzynski was the first batter to face Herrmann and launched a three-run homer into the right-field bleachers for a 4-1 advantage.

The Indians brought the tying run to the plate after two singles in the ninth, and Jason Donald scored them both with a two-out single to center. That chased Jackson in favor of Bobby Jenks, who allowed a base hit to pinch-hitter Matt LaPorta, sending Donald to second.

Michael Brantley, though, grounded out to Jenks to end the rally and the game. Jenks earned his 25th save.

Neither offense was unable to push any runs across in the first six innings.

The White Sox had a chance in the third, when Alexei Ramirez reached on an error and advanced to third with one out. Masterson was able to get Juan Pierre to foul out and Omar Vizquel to ground out to end the threat.

The Indians squandered a leadoff double from Lou Marson in the home half, and Jayson Nix flied out with two runners on in the sixth.

Duncan, though, finally ended the stalemate in the seventh, leading off the inning with a blast over the wall in left for a 1-0 Cleveland lead.

The White Sox rallied to tie it in the eighth. Mark Kotsay worked a walk leading off and was replaced by Brent Lillibridge on the base path. He was bunted to second and scored on Mark Teahen's base hit to center.

Game Notes

Jackson is the first White Sox pitcher to record three straight 10-strikeout performances since Floyd Bannister -- the father of Royals pitcher Brian Bannister -- did it in 1985...Chicago first baseman Paul Konerko surpassed manager Ozzie Guillen for fifth all-time games played with the franchise with his 1,744th appearance...The Indians still lead the season series, 8-6.

Vagescasinoonline Baseball Betting News

<< Soul name Mike Hohensee head coach
Philadelphia, PA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Philadelphia Soul named Mike Hohensee as the team's head coach for when they return to the Arena Football League in 2011. The Soul, who won the ArenaBowl in 2008 before the AFL folded, will return t

<< Arena Football League commissioner Kurz to return in 2011
Tulsa, OK (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Arena Football League commissioner Jerry B. Kurz had his contract extended Tuesday and will return for the 2011 season. "I couldn't be more pleased to continue to lead the resurgence of the Arena Football Le

<< Lomg-time Stamps physician Murphy passes away
Calgary, AB (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Calgary Stampeders physician Dr. Vince Murphy has passed away at the age of 87, the team announced Tuesday. Dr. Murphy was associated with the Stampeders since 1957. A release from the team said Murphy pass

<< BYU officially announces football independence, will join WCC
Provo, UT (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Brigham Young University officially announced its resignation from the Mountain West Conference, effective June 30, 2011, in its quest to become a football independent next season. The Cougars will re-join the We

<< Cowboys release Watkins
Irving, TX (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Dallas Cowboys on Tuesday released veteran safety Patrick Watkins. A fifth-round pick by the Cowboys in the 2006 draft, Watkins recorded 122 tackles and four interceptions over 49 games. Dallas al

Ross' grand slam caps Braves' big inning in win over Mets >>
Atlanta, GA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - David Ross' first career grand slam capped a seven-run fifth inning as the Atlanta Braves clobbered the New York Mets, 9-2, in the second of a four-game set. Derrek Lee went 3-for-3 with an RBI and a run sco

Orioles top BoSox in Baltimore >>
Baltimore, MD (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Luke Scott and Felix Pie each hit solo homers to back Brian Matusz's solid performance on the mound, as the Baltimore Orioles held off the Boston Red Sox, 5-2, in the opener of a three-game series at Camd

Rangers acquire OF Francoeur from Mets >>
Kansas City, MO (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Just prior to the waiver trade deadline, the Texas Rangers bolstered their outfield depth with the acquisition of Jeff Francoeur from the New York Mets. Francoeur confirmed to reporters after Tuesday

Marlins beat Nationals, 1-0, in extras >>
Miami, FL (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Chad Tracy's game-winning RBI single in the bottom of the 10th inning produced the only run of the game, as the Florida Marlins edged the Washington Nationals in the middle installment of a three- game se

Votto, Reds increase NL Central lead with win over Brewers >>
Cincinnati, OH (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Joey Votto doubled twice and drove in three runs, as the National League Central-leading Cincinnati Reds handled the Milwaukee Brewers, 8-4, in the second of a three-game set at Great American Ball Pa

Football Betting

NFL Football Betting Online

The San Francisco 49ers (5-11 SU, 5-10-1 ATS in 2007; 1-1 SU & ATS in pre-season) found some offensive life last week, and they will try to build some momentum on Thursday night as they travel to the Windy City to take on the Chicago Bears (7-9 SU & ATS in 2007; 0-2 SU, 0-1-1 ATS in pre-season) in an NFL matchup that is set to get underway at 8 PM ET at Soldier Field (natural turf) in Chicago.

Thursday, August 21

NFL betting odds: CHICAGO -3 (-120), Total 37

NOTABLE STAT: San Francisco was last in points, last in total offense in 2007
KEY NFL BETTING TREND: SF has lost its last seven SU on pre-season road

In the BetUS NFL pre-season football betting odds, the Bears are listed as a three-point favorite (laying -120), with the total posted at 37 points.

Here are some NFL football betting trends as they relate to this matchup (reflecting numbers going into the 2008 season):

* SF has lost 11 of its last 14 games SU
* SF has covered three of its last 11 games
* SF has lost six of its last seven road games SU
* SF has covered one of its last seven road games
* CHI has covered five of its last eight games
* CHI has played five of its last seven games OVER the total
* CHI has covered four of its last 13 home games
* SF has lost its last seven pre-season road games SU
* CHI has covered two of its last seven home pre-season games

Well, I guess we should congratulate the Bears on making their quarterback choice for the season's opening game, as they have designated Kyle Orton the starter against Indianapolis. The Bears obviously have lost patience with Rex Grossman, and what they do with him at this point is anybody's guess. But suffice it to say that there isn't a quarterback competition anymore, at least in training camp.

Meanwhile, the quarterback competition may also be settled in San Francisco, where the Niners bounced back from a lackluster 18-6 loss to the Raiders, in which they turned the ball over four times, to execute a 34-6 rout of the Packers last Saturday. However, coach Mike Nolan has stopped short of saying that, insisting that the job is still open. But J.T. O'Sullivan, the longshot of the trio of Niner signal-callers who opened camp, will start his third straight pre-season game here. Against Green Bay, O'Sullivan was only 8-for-17, and was intercepted, but he also threw for 9.1 yards an attempt, which included a 59-yard TD pass to Josh Morgan. The others struggled.

Some offensive cohesion is badly needed, in light of the Niners' dismal 2007 campaign, in which they were dead last in the NFL in scoring, with just 13.7 points a game. And O'Sullivan is the guy who is most familiar with offensive coordinator Mike Martz's exacting system, because he learned it last year in Detroit. O'Sullivan will go at least the entire first half and may even last longer. He'll be relieved by Alex Smith, with Shawn Hill doing the mop-up work. Three receivers who were out last week - Bryant Johnson, Ashley Lelie and Arnaz Battle - will miss this game too.

That may hurt a little here, especially since the Bears will be using a lot of their defensive starters. And it's the defense that has been keeping the Bears in games thus far. In fact, the defense and special teams were responsible for the first 19 points Chicago scored against Seattle last time out, as the offense really struggled with Grossman at the controls. But maybe the first-team offense has a chance to settle a little bit as it works more with Orton at the helm.

Certainly we have concerns about the Bears' offensive line, but we like the scenario for them here, especially if O'Sullivan doesn't make some bis plays. The Niners may have nowhere else to turn right now, and they have lost seven straight road games in the pre-season. Let's take Chicago, the three-point favorite in the NFL football betting odds.

CHICAGO -3 (-120) **
(Graded on a scale of 1-4 stars)

The 2008 NFL betting lines season is almost upon us! If you like to bet on the NFL, you are in the best possible place for online betting. The sportsbook has NFL odds up on a ton of futures, and you will also find NFL lines up for early games as well. Join sportbook today and we'll help guide you right through to Super Bowl XLIII and beyond!

Note: Monday night game will be picked Monday. Lines used are from football betting odds .