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04/28/2010 - Anaheim, CA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Torii Hunter belted a three-run homer and scored the game-winning run on a perfect bunt single by Howie Kendrick in the ninth, and the Los Angeles Angels rallied from a three-run deficit to beat the Cleveland Indians, 4-3, at Angel Stadium.
Hunter finished with three hits for the Angels, who have won three of four overall and are 6-0-1 in their last seven series against the Indians after taking two of three in this set.
Ervin Santana, who came into the game 0-6 in his career against Cleveland, allowed three runs, six hits and three walks while fanning eight in six frames. Brian Fuentes (1-1) earned the win for pitching a scoreless ninth.
Lou Marson went 2-for-4 with a run scored for the Indians, who have lost three of four. Shin-Soo Choo and Luis Valbuena added two hits apiece in a losing effort.
Jake Westbrook allowed three runs on four hits in six frames but had the win elude him again. The righty, who missed all of last season after Tommy John surgery, is still in search of his first victory since April 8, 2008, which came at Angel Stadium.
The Angels produced the game-winning run in the bottom of the ninth.
With Joe Smith (0-1) on the hill for Cleveland, Hunter lined a double down the right field line, and Hideki Matsui was intentionally walked. Rafael Perez came on and got Kendry Morales to bounce into a 6-4-3 double play, leaving Hunter on third, and Juan Rivera was intentionally walked.
Chris Perez relieved Rafael Perez, and Kendrick pushed a perfect bunt in between first and second base, allowing Hunter to easily score the game- winning run.
Cleveland opened the scoring in the second. Austin Kearns continued his torrid play with a leadoff double and moved to third on a groundout. After Russell Branyan drew a walk, Jhonny Peralta lofted a sacrifice fly to right.
Meanwhile, Westbrook cruised. The righty set down the first 11 batters he faced until Hunter hit a two-out single. Matsui, though, struck out swinging to end the fourth inning.
The Angels nearly got to Westbrook in the fifth, putting runners on the corners with one out after shortstop Asdrubal Cabrera allowed a soft grounder to roll through his legs. Westbrook recovered, getting Brandon Wood to ground out into an inning-ending 4-6-3 double play.
The Indians then increased their lead in the sixth. Marson doubled off the top of the wall in right-center and moved to third on a sacrifice. Grady Sizemore lofted a bloop single to right, scoring Marson, and stole second on a pitchout.
Choo followed with a slow roller to second, beating out the ground ball after Kendrick's throw was late. Kearns worked a walk to load the bases, and a Santana pitch bounced and hit Travis Hafner's leg to force in a run for a 3-0 contest.
Westbrook couldn't get through the home half, however, as Hunter followed an Erick Aybar single and Booby Abreu walk with a three-run blast to left-center, tying the game at 3-3.
The Indians had a chance in the ninth off Brian Fuentes, putting runners at the corners with two outs, but Sizemore grounded out to first to end the threat.
Game Notes
Kendrick notched his second career game-winning hit...Instant replay was used on Marson's double in the sixth...The Indians are 2-11 when scoring three or fewer runs this season...The Angels finished a 10-game homestand with a 6-4 mark and will begin a 10-game road trip on Friday against Detroit, Boston and Seattle...Angels manager Mike Scioscia was ejected in the second after arguing a Matsui check swing while he was attempting to dodge a pitch.
<< Stanley Cup Comebacks
1975 - Quarterfinal, N.Y. Islanders def. Pittsburgh1942 - Stanley Cup Final, Toronto def. Detroit---3-1 Comebacks2010 - Eastern Conference Quarterfinal, Montreal def. Washington2009 - Eastern Conference Quarterfinal, Washington def. N.Y. Rangers2004
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Charlotte, NC (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Driver Brad Keselowski has been fined and
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Keselowski
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Alameda, CA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Oakland Raiders signed running back Rock
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Cartwright, 30, had spent the first eight seasons of his career in Washington,
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The Kansa
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Houston, TX (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Scott Rolen drove in two runs and Mike Leake
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Drew Stubbs adde
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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