White Sox rally, beat Dodgers in 13 innings
Baseball Betting Lines
06/25/2009 - Chicago, IL (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Scott Podsednik drove in the game-winning run with a single in the 13th inning as the Chicago White Sox took a 6-5 win over the Los Angeles Dodgers in the conclusion of a three-game set.
In the 13th, Paul Konerko led off with a single and A.J. Pierzynski followed with a double. Chris Getz was then intentionally walked to load the bases and the Dodgers brought their defense in.
Josh Fields had the first chance to win the game, but he lined out to center. Dewayne Wise then popped out to center for the second out of the inning, but Podsednik punched a line drive to center that hopped just in front of a diving Matt Kemp and Konerko scored to win the game.
Pierzynski hit a three-run home run while Konerko had a solo homer for the White Sox, who have won four of their last five games.
Clayton Richard lasted just 4 1/3 innings in the start for Chicago and was charged with four runs on six hits with a walk and a strikeout. Aaron Poreda (1-0) got his first career win for throwing a perfect 13th inning.
Orlando Hudson went 3-for-6 with two RBI and a run scored, and Mark Loretta had two doubles and drove in a pair for the Dodgers, who dropped the last two games of the series.
Chad Billingsley started for Los Angeles and over six innings was charged with five runs on four hits with four walks and three strikeouts. Jeff Weaver (4-2) was charged with the loss.
The game was scoreless until the fourth when the Dodgers surged ahead. Juan Pierre was hit by a pitch to start the frame, moved to second on a Russell Martin fly out and then stole third. Hudson then singled to left to score Pierre for the game's first run. Casey Blake then singled and, after Kemp flied out which moved Hudson to third, he stole second base. Loretta brought home both runners with a double to left for a 3-0 lead.
Los Angeles tacked on another run in the fifth as Hudson's RBI single plated Juan Castro for a 4-0 advantage.
Chicago, though, cut its deficit in half in the fifth. Konerko led off the frame with a shot over the left field wall. With two outs, Fields kept the inning alive with a walk and Wise followed with a triple to chase home Fields and make it a 4-2 game.
The White Sox then took the lead in the sixth as, with two outs and two men on base, Pierzynski worked a full count before launching a ball into the bullpen in left field for a 5-4 lead.
Los Angeles, though, tied the game in the seventh thanks to a sloppy play. With one out, Martin slapped an easy grounder to short that Alexei Ramirez fielded cleanly. However, he sent a soft toss to first that drew Konerko off the bag and Martin was safe. Hudson then hit a grounder to right that put Martin on third and a groundout from Blake allowed Martin to cross the plate and tie the game.
Game Notes
The Dodgers return home to face Seattle for three games starting on Friday...The White Sox host the Cubs for three games starting on Friday...Chicago has won nine of the last 11 games against the Dodgers...Chicago is 1-2 in extra innings this season while Los Angeles is 6-2...Chicago stranded 11 men on base while Los Angeles left nine.
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NFL Football Betting
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
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PATRIOTS (-3) vs. Chargers
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.