Rodriguez leads Houston in blanking of Reds
Baseball Betting Lines
07/25/2010 - Houston, TX (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Wandy Rodriguez spun seven innings of one-hit ball and received home run support from Hunter Pence and Chris Johnson, as the Astros shut down Cincinnati, 4-0, to salvage the last of a three-game set.
Rodriguez (8-11) walked two, struck out seven and did not allow a runner past first base in leading Houston to its' first win in six tries against the Reds at Minute Maid Park this season.
Mike Leake (7-2) suffered the loss after yielding all four runs on seven hits while walking three and fanning three over 6 1/3 innings for the Reds, who lead the season series, 7-2.
Pence led off the home second with a home run to left field to get the scoring started.
The Astros put runners at first and second with nobody out in the fourth but could not score after Johnson bounced into a 5-3 double play and Jonny Gomes made a diving catch on a Jason Castro fly ball to shallow left.
Johnson hit his longball with one out in the seventh to make it a 2-0 game. Castro then singled and moved to third base on a pinch-hit double by Jason Michaels before Michael Bourn doubled to left to plate both runners and chase Leake from the game.
Meanwhile, Rodriguez allowed only a walk to the high-powered Reds offense during the second through fourth innings and retired the last nine batters he faced after a leadoff walk to Miguel Cairo in the fifth.
Brandon Lyon and Matt Lindstrom each allowed one hit in a scoreless frame each to finish off the blanking.
Game Notes
Cincinnati third baseman Scott Rolen, who missed his ninth straight game on Sunday, is expected to return during the team's next series in Milwaukee that begins on Monday...The Reds were shutout for a 12th time this season...Joey Votto had two of the Reds hits and Ryan Hanigan had the other...Rodriguez evened his career record against the Reds at 7-7 in 18 starts...Johnson extended his hitting streak to a career-high nine games...Bourn finished with three of Houston's nine hits...Patrick Patterson, taken by the Houston Rockets with the 14th pick in the NBA Draft last month, threw out the ceremonial first pitch before the game.
Owings Mills, MD (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Baltimore Ravens rookie linebacker Sergio Kindle suffered injuries to his head after it is believed he fell down two flights of stairs at a private residence in Austin, Texas. The Ravens released a
<< Kubel's slam powers Twins past O's
Baltimore, MD (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Jason Kubel belted his seventh career grand
slam and Nick Punto had three hits with an RBI as Minnesota blasted Baltimore,
10-4, to conclude a four-game series.
Delmon Young and Jim Thome hit back-to-back
<< Brigman wins in Columbus
Columbus, OH (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - D.J. Brigman fired a seven-under 64 on Sunday
to come from behind and win the Children's Hospital Invitational at The Ohio
State University Scarlet Course.
Brigman finished at 10-under 274 and won by a str
<< Mets' Dickey departs start against Dodgers
Los Angeles, CA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - New York Mets pitcher R.A. Dickey left
Sunday's start against Los Angeles in the sixth inning.
Dickey landed awkwardly while delivering a pitch to Russell Martin but the
veteran right-hander recovered t
<< Pettersson comes from behind for Canadian Open win
Etobicoke, ON (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Sweden's Carl Pettersson posted a three-under
67 on Sunday to come from behind and win the Canadian Open at St. George's
Golf & Country Club.
Pettersson finished at 14-under 266 and won by a singl
Miami, FL (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Wes Helms hit a run-scoring single in the bottom of the 11th inning, as the Florida Marlins edged the Atlanta Braves, 5-4, in the rubber match of a three-game series at Sun Life Stadium. Helms ended with two
Dawson, Herzog take their spots in Hall of Fame >>
Cooperstown, NY (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Andre Dawson became the second member of
the Baseball Hall of Fame with a Montreal Expos cap on his plaque when he was
inducted Sunday afternoon.
Others joining the induction party were former manager White
Rodriguez leaves Sunday's game >>
Bronx, NY (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Alex Rodriguez left Sunday's game in the eighth
inning after being hit in the top of the left hand by a pitch.
Rodriguez, still seeking his 600th career home run, came to the plate with the
bases loaded and one o
Twins put Hudson on DL >>
Baltimore, MD (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Minnesota Twins have placed second
baseman Orlando Hudson on the 15-day disabled list with a right oblique
strain.
The move is retroactive to July 24. The Twins will recall catcher Jose Mora
Brewers sweep Nats >>
Milwaukee, WI (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Casey McGehee hit a three-run homer and
Rickie Weeks clubbed a two-run shot, as the Milwaukee Brewers completed a
three-game sweep of the Washington Nationals with an 8-3 victory at Miller
Park.
American Idol odds : Blake Lewis the Early Standout
An important American Idol betting lines recap from February 20 Guys episode. The 12 men came out flat overall with Blake Lewis appearing to have the early edge after the first hour and a half.
Rudy - was quite good singing "Free Ride" to start off. Randy was not impressed though. Paula thought he started off fantastic. "Never had anyone stop off so lively" said Paula but Simon (who does not like Rudy) does not feel he has a distinct voice and was not impressed either.
Brandon was a little pitchy according to Randy and Paula agreed. Simon said he was a good singer but the song was "too safe" and he needs to make an impact. He was listed at +1200 odds or $1200 paid out on a $100 bet should he win the competition.
Big favorite Sundance came in with a flat version of "Knights in White Satin" and the judges let him have it, including Paula. Randy claimed the song was out of pitch throughout.
Korean American - and a Jenny Woo favorite - Paul Kim was up next. Another pitchy flat one but Randy said he still liked his potential. Kim at +3000 odds was said to have sung a "third rate version of that (George Michael) song" according to Simon Cowell. He sang "Careless Whisper".
22 year old Chris Richardson was up next. He was listed with +1100 odds coming in. He got the best response from the judges though Simon did not believe the vocal was that great.
Nick was boring and pitchy. Simon didn't think he was that bad though and predicted he would be back next week. Nick Pedro was a big +3000 dog coming into this competition.
Beat boxer Blake Lewis was listed with early +1000 odds or $1000 payout on a $100 bet if he were to become the next American Idol winner odds . These of course were the early odds. He was considered original for picking an "odd song". He did not beat box and the judges felt it was the best vocal of the night.
Sanjaya came in as the second biggest favorite after Chris Sligh but his performance Tuesday night was not very good.
Chris Sleigh was the early favorite at +450 odds. Great voice and a great sense of humor. He's a real standout. Randy felt it was on point but maybe ahead of the chorus a little bit. Simon Cowell said he felt like he was in some "sort of weird student gig".
Jared Cotter followed. He was listed with +2000 odds early on to win the competition. The judges felt he needs to take more risks but looked good.
22-year old AJ Talbado, who has tried out for American Idol five times, was up next. "Kind of a theme park performance" said Simon. Though the judges felt he performed okay. Simon did feel AJ might be better than he originally thought.
Phil - this season's military favorite - came into this competition with +1200 odds to win the competition. He was the last to perform. He was certainly strong enough to get through this stage of the competition and perhaps the best one after a shaky start.
Tomorrow night, the ladies perform and I sure hope they do a better job than the boys. Check out all the American Idol betting odds here.
To visit this online sportsbook got to MySportsbook.com - this sportsbook accepts credit cards.