Ludwick's blast lifts Cards over Dodgers
Baseball Betting Lines
08/06/2008 -
St. Louis, MO (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Ryan Ludwick smacked a one-out, two-run
homer in the bottom of the 11th inning to give the St. Louis Cardinals a much-
needed 6-4 victory over the Los Angeles Dodgers in a rain-soaked opener of a
three-game series.
Albert Pujols also smacked a two-run homer, while Adam Kennedy was 3-for-6
with an RBI and two runs scored. Jaime Garcia (1-1) was credited with the win
for tossing a scoreless inning of relief for St. Louis, which had lost three
of its previous four games.
Manny Ramirez was 2-for-3 with a pair of walks, Jeff Kent was 2-for-5 with an
RBI, and Andruw Jones hit a pinch-hit solo homer for the Dodgers, who had won
seven of their previous 10 games. Jason Johnson (1-1) surrendered Ludwick's
homer and took the loss after recording one out in the 11th.
Two rain delays shortened each starter's outing to just five innings apiece.
St. Louis' Chris Carpenter, in his first home start since Opening Day 2007,
allowed just three hits, while Chad Billingsley allowed a run on six hits with
six strikeouts for LA.
The game switched to extra innings after the Cardinals blew a 4-0 lead in the
ninth inning. Both teams came up empty with runners in scoring position in the
10th, but Kennedy opened the home 11th with a single and Ludwick smacked a 2-1
fastball to dead-center to make the ninth-inning meltdown a distant memory.
After 4 1/2 scoreless innings, the Cards finally got to Billingsley in the
home half of the fifth. Consecutive singles put runners on the corners before
a rain-delay paused things for 22 minutes.
Upon the game's return, Kennedy blooped a single in front of a diving Matt
Kemp in center, and the home team led, 1-0.
The game was again put on hold due to rain in the top of the sixth, this time
for 43 minutes.
The Cards looked to expand the lead by loading the bases with one out in the
home sixth, but only managed to plate a run when pinch-hitter Rick Ankiel was
hit by a pitch.
Kennedy singled to open the seventh for St. Louis, and the Dodgers brought in
Chan Ho Park to face Albert Pujols, who crushed the second pitch he saw about
10 rows deep into the left field seats.
The St. Louis bullpen kept the Dodgers off the board until the ninth, but the
Achilles heel for the club reared its ugly head again. Jones hit his first
home run since May 15 to begin the frame, and Ron Villone was pulled for Jason
Isringhausen.
After getting Kemp to ground out, back-to-back singles by Andre Ethier and
Russell Martin, plus a walk to Ramirez loaded the bases. James Loney dribbled
a ball down the first-base line, and Isringhausen fielded the ball but failed
to tag the runner or throw to first.
Kent followed with an RBI single, and Casey Blake hit a fly ball deep enough
to left to bring in the game's trying run off Ryan Franklin.
Game Notes
Each team used seven pitchers in the contest...Carpenter came into the game
3-0 with a 3.00 earned run average in three career starts against the Dodgers,
while holding them to a .222 batting average. He was making his second start
of the season after spending the past year-plus recovering from ligament
replacement surgery on his right elbow...Billingsley was coming off his first
career complete-game shutout in his previous start...Franklin was credited
with his seventh blown save of the season.
<< Waters' excellent debut sends O's past Halos
Anaheim, CA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Chris Waters made his major-league debut a
memorable one, as the 27-year-old threw eight innings of one-hit scoreless
ball in Baltimore's 3-0 win over the LA Angels of Anaheim in the second
meeting
<< Bay, BoSox crown Royals
Kansas City, MO (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Jason Bay finished 4-for-5 with two RBI and
two runs scored as Boston crushed Kansas City, 8-2, in the middle contest of a
three-game set from Kauffman Stadium.
"I'm sure the hits help," said Bay on his
<< Rockies swat Nats behind Stewart and Hawpe
Denver, CO (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Ian Stewart and Brad Hawpe knocked in two runs
each as Colorado rallied past Washington, 8-2, in the second test of a four-
game set from Coors Field.
Matt Holliday added two hits, an RBI and a run score
<< Byrd stars again as Rangers hold off Yankees
Arlington, TX (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Marlon Byrd went 3-for-4 and scored three
times while Chris Davis drove in four runs, as the Texas Rangers staved off a
late comeback to edge the New York Yankees, 8-6, in the second installment of
a four-
<< Rays use long ball to top Indians
St. Petersburg, FL (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Dioner Navarro hit a home run and
drove in three runs, as the Tampa Bay Rays doubled up the Cleveland Indians,
8-4, in the middle contest of a three-game set from Tropicana Field.
Evan Longoria
Rays recall SS Zobrist, option OF Gomes >>
St. Petersburg, FL (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Tampa Bay Rays recalled shortstop
Ben Zobrist from Triple-A Durham on Tuesday and optioned outfielder Jonny
Gomes to Durham.
Zobrist started at shortstop in Tuesday's 8-4 win over the Cleve
Cardinals pick up INF Lopez >>
St. Louis, MO (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The St. Louis Cardinals signed free-agent
infielder Felipe Lopez to a major-league contract Tuesday.
Lopez was released by the Washington Nationals last week in a roster upheaval.
The 28-year-old was hit
Coleman replaces Yeley at Hall of Fame Racing >>
Charlotte, NC (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Hall of Fame Racing announced Wednesday J.J.
Yeley has been released from his driving duties of the No.96 Toyota in the
NASCAR Sprint Cup Series.
Nationwide Series driver Brad Coleman will drive the
Angels score early and often to topple O's >>
Anaheim, CA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Ervin Santana was solid on the hill to record
his 13th win on the season and Vladimir Guerrero hit a home run and finished
with four runs driven in, as the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim crushed the
Baltimo
Clips acquire F Novak from Rockets >>
Los Angeles, CA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Los Angeles Clippers acquired
forward Steve Novak from the Houston Rockets Wednesday.
In return, Houston will have the option to exchange second round picks with
the Clippers in 2011.
No
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 SPORTS TRASH TALK
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 mysportsbook.com.
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