Ramirez's homer lifts Cubs over Phils
Baseball Betting Lines
07/16/2010 -
Chicago, IL (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Aramis Ramirez continued his hot streak with a
game-winning solo home run in the eighth inning, and the Chicago Cubs edged
the Philadelphia Phillies, 4-3, in the second of four games at Wrigley Field.
Ramirez, who was hitting just .165 following a game on June 25, has raised his
batting average to .220 by going 24-for-64 in his last 16 games, including 3-
for-4 on Friday. Marlon Byrd added a two-run homer for the Cubs, who won
consecutive home games for the first time since June 16-17.
Ted Lilly was solid in the start, yielding three runs, four hits and a walk
while fanning 10 over seven innings. Sean Marshall (6-2) earned the win for
one perfect inning, and Carlos Marmol notched his 17th save.
Ryan Howard hit a two-run homer for the Phillies, who have dropped two
straight following a four-game win streak to end the first half of the season.
Shane Victorino also homered in defeat.
Joe Blanton allowed three runs on five hits and three walks in seven innings.
Ryan Madson (2-1) was dealt the loss for giving up Ramirez's home run.
With Madson on the mound in the eighth, the first two Cubs batters were
retired. Ramirez, however, hammered a 3-2 belt-high pitch into the left-field
bleachers for a 4-3 Chicago advantage.
Marmol came in and struck out Jayson Werth, Howard and Francisco in succession
to end the game.
The first three innings moved rather quickly, with the teams producing just
one baserunner -- a Byrd one-out single for Chicago in the second. He was
erased on a subsequent Alfonso Soriano double play groundout.
The Phillies finally cracked the scoreboard in the fourth on Victorino's one-
out blast into the left-field bleachers, but the Cubs tied the game in the
fifth.
Ramirez led off with a single, and Soriano worked a one-out walk. After both
runners moved up on a groundout, Geovany Soto was intentionally walked to get
to Lilly, who went down in the count 0-2 after a swinging strike. Blanton,
though, issued three straight balls, then Lilly fought off a pitch down the
middle. Blanton's next pitch was just high, walking Lilly and forcing in
Ramirez for a 1-1 score.
Both teams blasted a two-out, two-run homer in the sixth -- Howard for the
Phillies and Byrd for the Cubs -- to keep the game tied, 3-3, heading to the
seventh.
Chicago nearly went ahead in the seventh, as Starlin Castro led off with a
single and moved to second on an errant pickoff throw. Soto's fly ball sent
Castro to third with one out, but pinch-hitter Kosuke Fukudome and Ryan
Theriot both struck out to end the threat.
Game Notes
The Cubs lead the season series, 3-1...Blanton struck out eight...Howard
homered in back-to-back games for the third time this season, and he has 12
RBI in eight games...Victorino hit his 15th home run, setting a new career
high.
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Top seed Pennetta reaches Palermo semis >>
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Blues extend Hensick's contract >>
St. Louis, MO (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The St. Louis Blues have signed forward
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Super Bowl XLIV Odds
Super Bowl XLIII isn't even a week old yet and oddsmakers have already released Super Bowl XLIV odds.
Despite the Pittsburgh Steelers winning Super Bowl 43, the New England Patriots are 8/1 favorites to win Super Bowl 44.
Bet Super Bowl XLIV Future Odds
With their 27-23 victory over the Arizona Cardinals in Super Bowl XLIII, the Steelers became the latest NFL champion. But believe it or not, oddsmakers from online sports book MySportsbook.com don't have the Steelers the favorites to win Super Bowl XLIV next season.
That honor belongs to the New England Patriots, who are 8/1 favorites to win despite not even qualify for the postseason in 2008. The Pats also have a major decision to make regarding what to do with Matt Cassel, who played well in Tom Brady's (knee surgery) absence last year but is also a free agent this offseason.
Ironically, the Steelers aren't even oddsmakers second choice to win Super Bowl 44, as the Dallas Cowboys are listed right behind the Patriots at 9/1 despite not making the playoffs themselves. Clearly oddsmakers think the public will hop back on the Cowboys' bandwagon considering the immense talent they have and the opening of a brand new stadium.
After Dallas, then comes Pittsburgh at 10/1, but they share those odds with the New York Giants, who won Super Bowl XLII. The Indianapolis Colts and San Diego Chargers round out the top six teams at 12/1, while the Baltimore Ravens (14/1), Tennessee Titans (16/1), Carolina Panthers (18/1) and Philadelphia Eagles (18/1) complete the top 10.
The NFC Champion Arizona Cardinals got no love from oddsmakers as they were established as a 30/1 long shot to win next year's Super Bowl. They share those same odds with the Chicago Bears and Tampa Bay Buccaneers – two teams that didn't even qualify for the postseason. Other long shots are the Kansas City Chiefs (100/1), Detroit Lions (100/1), St. Louis Rams (75/1) and Oakland Raiders (75/1).
To see a complete list of all the team's odds to win Super Bowl XLIV, check below.
NFL TEAM FUTURE ODDS TO WIN SUPER BOWL XLIV
New England Patriots 8/1
Dallas Cowboys 9/1
New York Giants 10/1
Pittsburgh Steelers 10/1
Indianapolis Colts 12/1
San Diego Chargers 12/1
Baltimore Ravens 14/1
Tennessee Titans 16/1
Carolina Panthers 18/1
Philadelphia Eagles 18/1
New Orleans Saints 20/1
Atlanta Falcons 25/1
Denver Broncos 25/1
Green Bay Packers 25/1
Jacksonville Jaguars 25/1
Minnesota Vikings 25/1
New York Jets 25/1
Arizona Cardinals 30/1
Chicago BearS 30/1
Tampa Bay Buccaneers 30/1
Buffalo Bills 35/1
Houston TexaNS 35/1
Miami Dolphins 35/1
Washington Redskins 35/1
Seattle SeahawkS 50/1
Cleveland Browns 55/1
Cincinnati Bengals 60/1
San Francisco 49ers 60/1
Oakland Raiders 75/1
St. Louis Rams 75/1
Detroit Lions 100/1
Kansas City Chiefs 100/1
Odds as of: 2/2/09
Bet Super Bowl XLIV Future Odds
To visit this online sportsbook go to MySportsbook.com for all your NFL football betting needs.
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