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07/04/2010 - Minneapolis, MN (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Evan Longoria went 3-for-5 with three runs batted in and finished a home run shy of the cycle, as the Tampa Bay Rays downed the Minnesota Twins, 7-4, in the finale of a four-game set at Target Field.
Sean Rodriguez turned in a three-hit game with a solo homer and Gabe Kapler added a two-run pinch-hit double for Tampa Bay, which took three games in the series and have won four of five overall.
James Shields (7-8) earned the win after allowing four runs on eight hits and one walk with two strikeouts. The right-hander had dropped seven of his previous eight starts coming in.
Jim Thome had a two-run single and Justin Morneau went 2-for-4 with an RBI double and a run scored for the Twins, who have split their last six contests.
Nick Blackburn (7-6) was tagged with the loss for surrendering nine hits and seven runs -- four earned -- while walking two and fanning three over 6 1/3 innings.
Longoria's triple to right in the first scored Rodriguez, who led off the inning with a single, to give the Rays the early lead.
Minnesota answered with a run in the home half as Joe Mauer reached with a two-out single and came around to score on Morneau's double to tie things.
Rodriguez then put the Rays back in front with a leadoff homer to right in the third and they would tack on five more in the seventh to go ahead 7-1.
The first two batters singled to put runners on first and second before Blackburn's throwing error on Jason Bartlett's sacrifice bunt allowed a run to score. After Rodriguez grounded out, Carl Crawford was walked intentionally to load the bases. Longoria's single to center brought in two more and signaled the end of the afternoon for Blackburn.
Brian Duensing took over and struck out Willy Aybar then gave up a two-run double to Kapler.
The Twins were able to get back three in the home seventh to cut the deficit to 7-4. Minnesota quickly loaded the bases on a pair of singles and a walk before Thome singled off the right-field wall that plated two. Grant Balfour replaced Shields and served up a run-scoring single to Delmon Young, but settled down to retire the next three hitters to limit the damage.
Randy Choate pitched a perfect eighth and Soriano closed the game out after giving up one hit in the ninth.
Game Notes
Both clubs will be well represented at this year's All-Star Game in Anaheim as Twins catcher Mauer was the top vote-getter overall and Morneau was selected as the starting first baseman...Rays outfielder Crawford and third baseman Longoria were voted in to start in the Midsummer Classic and they'll be joined by pitcher David Price...Shields improved to 3-1 in seven career starts against the Twins...Blackburn dropped to 5-1 in eight starts at Target Field this season.
<< Posada leaves Sunday's game
Bronx, NY (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - New York Yankees catcher Jorge Posada left
Sunday's 7-6 victory in 10 innings over Toronto due to a sprained right ring
finger.
Posada apparently suffered the setback when he was hit in the hand by a pitch
<< Former Masters champ Mize wins in Montreal
Montreal, QC (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Former Masters champion Larry Mize fired an
eight-under 64 on Sunday to win the Montreal Championship for his first title
on the Champions Tour.
Mize, 51, is best known for holing a 140-foot chip shot to win t
<< Yankees top Blue Jays in extras
Bronx, NY (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Marcus Thames' RBI single in the bottom of the
10th inning lifted New York past Toronto, 7-6, in the finale of a three-game
set from Yankee Stadium.
Mark Teixeira finished with three hits and drove in two r
<< Hapless O's take one from BoSox thanks to Matusz, Markakis
Boston, MA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Brian Matusz tossed seven strong innings and
Nick Markakis collected hits and drove in a run, as the Baltimore Orioles
stymied the Boston Red Sox, 6-1, to salvage the finale of a three-game series
at Fenw
Choi beats 3 Kims in playoff to win Jamie Farr >>
Sylvania, OH (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Na Yeon Choi made a short birdie putt Sunday
to win a four-way playoff at the Jamie Farr Owens Corning Classic, picking up
her third career LPGA Tour victory.
Her opponents in the playoff? Three players with t
Big Red Mike captures 151st Queen's Plate >>
Toronto, ON (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Big Red Mike, ridden by Eurico Rosa da Silva,
went wire-to-wire to claim victory in Sunday's $1 million Queen's Plate at
Woodbine Race Course. The 1 1/4-mile race is the beginning of the Canadian
Triple
Rose hangs on to win AT&T National >>
Newtown Square, PA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - A week after coughing up the final-round
lead, Justin Rose made sure it didn't happen again.
Rose parred his final seven holes Sunday to post an even-par 70 and win the
AT&T National at Aronimink Gol
Tizdejavu wires Firecracker, Mine That Bird an also-ran >>
Louisville, KY (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Tizdejavu, ridden by Jesus Castanon, led
every step of the way to win Sunday's $205,625 Firecracker Handicap at
Churchill Downs. The race featured 2009 Kentucky Derby winner Mine That Bird
making
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
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.
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