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05/27/2010 - Boston, MA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - David DeJesus went 2-for-4 with a pair of RBI, including the eventual game-winner in the sixth, as the Royals slowed down the surging Red Sox, 4-3, in the opener of a four-game set.
Boston came into the game winners in eight of its last nine and fresh off a three-game sweep of division-leader Tampa Bay, but Brian Bannister (4-3) held the Sox to three runs on nine hits over six frames to earn the win, the Royals' second in a row after three straight losses.
Robinson Tejeda and Blake Wood both hurled a perfect inning of relief to maintain a one-run lead in front of Joakim Soria, who retired the side in order in the ninth for his 12th save of the season.
Daisuke Matsuzaka (3-2) allowed just two hits but tied a career-high with eight walks while being charged with three earned runs in the loss. The subpar start came five days after the right-hander had a no-hitter spoiled with four outs remaining against the Phillies.
Bill Hall hit a solo shot and J.D. Drew went 3-for-4 with a run scored in defeat.
Matsuzaka worked out of a bases-loaded, no-out jam in the fourth to keep it a scoreless game, and Boston scored in the bottom half thanks to a lucky break.
After Kevin Youkilis' one-out single, Drew hit a one-hopper up the middle that hit umpire Paul Schrieber, who was stationed in front of second base. The possible inning-ending double-play ball turned into a single, and Adrian Beltre followed with a base hit to left to score Youkilis.
Kansas City went ahead in the fifth despite recording only one hit. A pair of walks left runners on first and second with one out for DeJesus, who singled to center to tie the game.
Matsuzaka walked Billy Butler and Jose Guillen to force in a run, and after a fielder's choice, a wild pitch got far enough away from Jason Varitek to plate Butler for a 3-1 game.
Joe Nelson relieved Matsuzaka after another bases on balls and got Jason Kendall to fly out with the bases loaded.
Hall's leadoff homer in Boston's next at-bat cut the deficit to 3-2, and DeJesus and Varitek traded run-scoring doubles off the Green Monster in the sixth to keep it a one-run contest.
Game Notes
Red Sox outfielder Jacoby Ellsbury was out of the lineup for a third straight game because of soreness in his left side...Bannister came into the game 0-4 with a 5.87 earned-run average in four career starts against Boston...Kansas City had lost seven of eight at Fenway Park coming into the game. and J.D. Drew went 3-for-4 with a run scored in defeat.
<< Battle of unbeatens as Crew host Galaxy
Columbus, OH (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Columbus Crew host the Los Angeles Galaxy
on Saturday night in Major League Soccer action in what very well could be a
preview of MLS Cup 2010.
Both teams are unbeaten just under a third of the way i
<< Houston hopes to start streak vs. expansion Union
Houston, TX (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Houston Dynamo host the expansion
Philadelphia Union on Saturday night in Major League Soccer action at
Robertson Stadium.
The Dynamo (5-4-1) will be gunning for their first winning
<< Wizards searching for elusive win at RSL
Sandy, UT (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Real Salt Lake puts its perfect May record on the
line vs. the visiting Kansas City Wizards on Saturday night in Major League
Soccer action at Rio Tinto Stadium.
RSL (5-3-1) has won its previous four games
<< 'Quakes put streak on line vs. TFC
Santa Clara, CA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The San Jose Earthquakes put a four-game
unbeaten run on the line when they host Toronto FC in Major League Soccer
action at Buck Shaw Stadium on Saturday night.
The 'Quakes are coming off a 1-0 at
Artest beats buzzer with put back, Lakers steal Game 5 >>
Los Angeles, CA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Ron Artest caught Kobe Bryant's air ball
and put in the winning shot at the buzzer, lifting the Los Angeles Lakers to a
dramatic 103-101 win over Phoenix in the pivotal Game 5 of the Western
Confere
Kubel's two homers power Twins over Yankees >>
Minneapolis, MN (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Jason Kubel slugged a pair of home runs and
drove in five while Nick Blackburn worked effectively over seven innings, as
the Twins avoided a three-game sweep at the hands of the Yankees with an 8-2
win at
Mets whitewash Phillies again, complete rare shutout sweep >>
Flushing, NY (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Mike Pelfrey gave up just three hits in seven
innings and the New York Mets blanked the Philadelphia Phillies again, 3-0, to
complete a rare three-game whitewash of the NL East leaders at Citi Field.
The Met
Braves outlast Marlins, rain in Florida >>
Miami, FL (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Martin Prado went 3-for-6 with two runs batted in
and David Ross knocked in a pair, as the Atlanta Braves handled the Florida
Marlins, 8-3, in the rubber match of a three-game series at Sun Life Stadium.
Yunel
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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