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07/04/2009 - (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Tim Lincecum hopes for the same type of run support San Francisco provided Ryan Sadowski in the opener of this set when the Giants play the middle test of their three-game series with the Houston Astros at AT&T Park.
Although, considering the way Lincecum has been pitching of late, he may not need it.
The NL's reigning Cy Young Award winner, who was just named the NL's Pitcher of the Month for June, won for the fourth time in his last five starts and for the eighth time in his last nine decisions on Monday in St. Louis, as he tossed a two-hit shutout to improve to 8-2, while lowering his earned run average to 2.37. He also struck out eight and has fanned at least that many in his last four starts, while leading the league in that category with 132.
"It was one of his best games. His fastball was moving, he had command of all his pitches. He was just locked in out there," Giants manager Bruce Bochy said of his ace.
It was his second consecutive complete game and his third in four starts, two of which have been shutouts.
"He wants to be the guy to complete a game," Bochy added. "That's the mentality you want your starters to have."
Lincecum, who has allowed two runs or less in seven of his last eight outings, is 1-0 in four starts against the Astros with a 2.13 ERA.
San Francisco's offense exploded early on Friday, as it scored a season-high 13 runs over the first three innings in a 13-0 win.
Sadowski (2-0) followed up six shutout innings in his big league debut on Sunday with seven more scoreless innings and allowed just three hits and a walk while fanning four for San Francisco, which was coming off a 5-5 road trip.
Nate Schierholtz and Edgar Renteria each contributed three hits to the onslaught, Pablo Sandoval added two more, including a homer and three RBI, and Travis Ishikawa belted a three-run homer for the victors.
"We don't do that very often, but the offense was there," said Bochy. "(Sadowski) was good. He was outstanding. We had it all going tonight: offense, pitching. It was good to see the guys bounce back."
Houston starter Felipe Paulino (2-5) lasted just two innings, getting tattooed for nine runs -- eight earned -- on nine hits for the Astros, who lost the opener of this three-game set after taking three of four from San Diego.
"He just didn't have good location," Astros manager Cecil Cooper said of his starter. "[His] curveball wasn't as good as it was before. Probably got too many pitches in the zone. He didn't hit his spots very well and seemed like they knew what was coming the way they were swinging."
Houston will turn to veteran righty Russ Ortiz, who is 3-3 with a 3.36 ERA. Ortiz, who started his career with the Giants, did not get a decision on Sunday against Detroit, despite giving up just two runs and six hits in 7 1/3 innings of a 4-3 loss.
Ortiz has faced his former team seven times and is 0-3 in those outings with a 7.46 ERA.
Drafted by San Francisco in 1995, Ortiz went 67-44 from 1998 through 2002 with the Giants before leaving via trade in 2002. After stops in Arizona and Baltimore, Ortiz returned to San Francisco in 2007 and appeared in 12 games before undergoing an operation on his throwing elbow that cost him the 2008 season.
Houston and San Francisco are meeting for the first time since the Astros took seven of the eight meetings a year ago. Houston went 3-1 at AT&T Park in 2008.
<< Giants option INF Downs; activate INF Aurilia
San Francisco, CA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Following the Giants' 13-0 win over the
Astros, the team optioned infielder Matt Downs to Triple-A Fresno to make room
for infielder Rich Aurilia, who was activated from the bereavement list.
The 25-ye
<< Twins place Slowey on DL; recall Swarzak
Minneapolis, MN (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Following the Twins' 16-inning 11-9 loss to
the Tigers, Minnesota placed pitcher Kevin Slowey on the 15-day disabled list
with a strained right wrist.
Slowey started on the mound for the Twins Friday bu
<< Raburn, Tigers use three-run 16th to edge Twins
Minneapolis, MN (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Ryan Raburn's RBI single in the 16th
proved to be the game-winner as the Detroit Tigers took an 11-9 win over the
Minnesota Twins in a 16-inning contest to open a three-get set at the
Metrodo
<< Huff leads O's past Angels
Anaheim, CA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Aubrey Huff went 2-for-4 with a three-run home
run, as the Baltimore Orioles hung on to edge the Los Angeles Angels of
Anaheim, 6-4, in the second test of a four-game series.
Luke Scott stroked a two-ru
Rays hope the Price is right in Arlington >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Still trying to work out some kinks, the Tampa Bay's
phenom lefty David Price will take the hill this evening against the hard-
hitting Texas Rangers in the second contest of a three-game stint.
Price, a playoff hero for
Last place teams continue set in Cleveland >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The cellar dwellers from the AL Central and AL West will
collide once again this evening when the Cleveland Indians host the Oakland
Athletics at Progressive Field.
Toeing the rubber this evening for Oakland will be Vin Ma
Halladay, Wang square off in Bronx >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - In his second start since coming off the disabled list, Roy
Halladay will take the mound for the Blue Jays when Toronto takes on the New
York Yankees in the second matchup of a four-game stint at Yankee Stadium.
The strong
Moyer shoots for third straight win in middle tilt with Mets >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Philadelphia Phillies hope Jamie Moyer can give them
the same type of effort that Rodrigo Lopez did on Friday, when they continue
their three-game series against the New York Mets at Citizens Bank Park.
Lopez (1-0), w
The Indianapolis Colts know that winning the Super Bowl last season put a huge target on their backs, and they expect opponents to go all-out to knock them from the top of the mountain.
They’ll get their first test from the New Orleans Saints this Thursday night. The defending champs had nothing but good things to say about the New Orleans defense this past week, praising their opponents’ pass rush and run-stopping abilities.
"They play very aggressively," head coach Tony Dungy told the New Orleans Times-Picayune. "They play a lot of man-to-man coverage, and they come after you. They have good pass rushers, and they're going to try to pressure us, I'm sure."
Both center Jeff Saturday and quarterback Peyton Manning gave New Orleans’ front four props, admitting keeping guys like Will Smithand Charles Grant contained would be a tall task for the offensive line.
New Orleans ranked second in total defense during the preseason at a sportsbook, allowing just under 233 yards per game. Last season, the defense finished 11th in the league after giving up 307.3 yards and 20.1 points per contest.
Not so sound on the ground
If Indianapolis' efficient offense has a weakness it has to be its running attack. The Colts one-two-punch of Dominic Rhodes and Joseph Addai is no longer, leaving the bulk of the carries to Addai, the second-year back out of LSU.
Former Saskatchewan Roughrider Kenton Keith was named Addai’s backup this week after beating out DeDe Dorsey for the second-string position. Indy has only three backs on the roster right now, including fullback Luke Lawton, and coach Dungy is aware of the thinness of his ground game. Sports Betting lines on the game can be found at BettingExpress.com
“We’ll continue to look. Luke Lawton’s done a good job for us too. So probably getting a third true tailback is something that we’d like to do,” Dungy told the Indiana Tribune-Star.
Last season, Addai rushed for over 1,000 yards in his rookie campaign and scored seven touchdowns on the ground.
Brees says bring it on
Opening the season on the road against the defending Super Bowl champions is not the way most teams would like to kick off their year – unless you’re the New Orleans Saints or their quarterback Drew Brees. This internet Sportsbooks had the Saints as the favorites.
Brees told the New Orleans Times-Picayune that he is excited to get the regular season started and the Colts are a great challenge for him and his teammates. The 28-year-old QB, entering his second season with the Saints, is expecting a wild environment in the RCA Dome this Thursday when the franchise celebrates its 2007-2007 championship.
Brees said he sees the opening game scheduling as an honor and a testament to how well New Orleans did last season. The Saints missed facing the Colts in the Super Bowl by one game, losing to the Chicago Bearsin the NFC Championship game.
"I mean, people think we can hang with these guys," Brees told reporters. "Even if they didn't, it wouldn't matter what they thought because as a team we're very confident. We know what we can do. We're not satisfied where we finished the season last year. And we've been looking forward to this opportunity for a long time."
SportsBooks ready for a shootout
Oddsmakers are preparing for some fireworks this Thursday when the NFL season kicks off. online Sportsbooks have Thursday’s total set at a whopping 52 points, accounting for two of the league’s most explosive offenses.
“This is like must-see TV,” Saints cornerback and former Colt Jason David told the Baton Rouge Advocate. “It’s two exciting offenses with great players. You’ve got a lot of star power on offense. At any given time a big play can happen. If I was a fan, I wouldn’t miss a snap.”
New Orleans, who ranked No.1 in total offense last season, can go blow-for-blow with the Colts’ attack. Head coach Sean Payton’s offensive schemes will get even better production out of Drew Brees, Reggie Bush and receiver Marques Colston now that they’ve each had a season of playing together under their belts.
The Saints and Colts were the top two passing teams in the NFL last year, but while Indianapolis managed to put up almost 27 points per game, New Orleans struggled to capitalize on their efforts. The Saints ranked fifth in points per game.
“Yards are great,” running backDeuce McAllister told reporters, “but to be able to score more touchdowns would be important for us.”
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