White Sox rally, beat Dodgers in 13 innings
Baseball Betting Lines
06/25/2009 - Chicago, IL (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Scott Podsednik drove in the game-winning run with a single in the 13th inning as the Chicago White Sox took a 6-5 win over the Los Angeles Dodgers in the conclusion of a three-game set.
In the 13th, Paul Konerko led off with a single and A.J. Pierzynski followed with a double. Chris Getz was then intentionally walked to load the bases and the Dodgers brought their defense in.
Josh Fields had the first chance to win the game, but he lined out to center. Dewayne Wise then popped out to center for the second out of the inning, but Podsednik punched a line drive to center that hopped just in front of a diving Matt Kemp and Konerko scored to win the game.
Pierzynski hit a three-run home run while Konerko had a solo homer for the White Sox, who have won four of their last five games.
Clayton Richard lasted just 4 1/3 innings in the start for Chicago and was charged with four runs on six hits with a walk and a strikeout. Aaron Poreda (1-0) got his first career win for throwing a perfect 13th inning.
Orlando Hudson went 3-for-6 with two RBI and a run scored, and Mark Loretta had two doubles and drove in a pair for the Dodgers, who dropped the last two games of the series.
Chad Billingsley started for Los Angeles and over six innings was charged with five runs on four hits with four walks and three strikeouts. Jeff Weaver (4-2) was charged with the loss.
The game was scoreless until the fourth when the Dodgers surged ahead. Juan Pierre was hit by a pitch to start the frame, moved to second on a Russell Martin fly out and then stole third. Hudson then singled to left to score Pierre for the game's first run. Casey Blake then singled and, after Kemp flied out which moved Hudson to third, he stole second base. Loretta brought home both runners with a double to left for a 3-0 lead.
Los Angeles tacked on another run in the fifth as Hudson's RBI single plated Juan Castro for a 4-0 advantage.
Chicago, though, cut its deficit in half in the fifth. Konerko led off the frame with a shot over the left field wall. With two outs, Fields kept the inning alive with a walk and Wise followed with a triple to chase home Fields and make it a 4-2 game.
The White Sox then took the lead in the sixth as, with two outs and two men on base, Pierzynski worked a full count before launching a ball into the bullpen in left field for a 5-4 lead.
Los Angeles, though, tied the game in the seventh thanks to a sloppy play. With one out, Martin slapped an easy grounder to short that Alexei Ramirez fielded cleanly. However, he sent a soft toss to first that drew Konerko off the bag and Martin was safe. Hudson then hit a grounder to right that put Martin on third and a groundout from Blake allowed Martin to cross the plate and tie the game.
Game Notes
The Dodgers return home to face Seattle for three games starting on Friday...The White Sox host the Cubs for three games starting on Friday...Chicago has won nine of the last 11 games against the Dodgers...Chicago is 1-2 in extra innings this season while Los Angeles is 6-2...Chicago stranded 11 men on base while Los Angeles left nine.
Atlanta, GA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Atlanta Braves placed pitcher Jeff Bennett on the 15-day disabled list Thursday with a broken left hand and recalled pitcher Boone Logan from Triple-A Gwinnett. Bennett sustained the injury after
<< Johnson secures Birmingham switch
Birmingham, England (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Birmingham City has wrapped up the
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The 26-year-old former Wycombe Wanderers man has penned a three-year contract
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through.
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Portsmouth, England (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Portsmouth has denied reports suggesting
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<< Falkirk's May promises to entertain
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Former Amateur champ Kim moves on at PubLinx >>
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round match at the U.S. Women's Amateur Public Links Championship.
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Fedorov returning home to Russia >>
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Super Bowl 2009 Betting
Super Bowl 2009 Betting propositionsUnderdog bettors love the Super Bowl and, history suggests, the underdogs love them back. And the big dogs bite harder.
Even so, there is a warning in store for Super Bowl gamblers who must love dogs: The Arizona Cardinals Super Bowl betting lines might not be enough of a Cinderella to make it worth your while.
Although the Cardinals were widely panned as one of the worst division winners and least playoff-worthy teams in recent memory, their trip to Super Bowl XLIII Jan. 31 in Tampa against the Pittsburgh Steelers Super Bowl betting lines comes with a little more respect from the oddsmakers than you might imagine. They are a 7-point underdog at most sports books.
If you count yourself among those who covet the big dog in the big game, this isn’t exactly great news. You should have been hoping for more points. This is because the facts show that the bigger the dog, the better the bet in the Super Bowl.
Case in point: Over the past 13 seasons, double-figure underdogs in the Super Bowl are 4-0-1 ATS and have won the past three outright. In fact, the last double-digit chalk to do the deed for bettors was the 1995 San Francisco 49ers, who managed to beat the astounding 19-point spot afforded backers of the San Diego Chargers in the 49-26 romp in Super Bowl XXIX.
By contrast, 7-point favorites are 2-1-1 ATS in the same span, the last such contest resulting a cover grinded out by the Colts in their 29-17 win over the Bears two seasons ago in Super Bowl XLI.
In 2004, the Patriots failed to cover the number in their 32-29 triumph over the Carolina Panthers in Super Bowl props while the Rams and Titans gave everyone a refund in 2000 after the Rams posted a 23-16 win as a seven-point favorite.
So while Arizona’s run has included impressive upsets as a 10-point road underdog to the Carolina Panthers and Sunday’s 32-25 win in the NFC championship game to the 4-point favored Philadelphia Eagles, their long-shot story lacks a bit of the David vs. Goliath storyline of past Super Bowl underdogs.
While the seven-point spread represents a significant gap in the perception of strength between the two teams, it is far from monumental. For example, last season the Giants were the wild-card afterthought turned road-warrior buzzsaw, with stunning wins over the Buccaneers, Cowboys and Packers to earn their place in the Super Bowl.
There, they played spoiler to New England’s bid to become the first 19-0 team in NFL history and cemented their place in sports betting lore with a 17-14 win as a 12.5-point underdog.
In other words, the Cardinals appear to have their work cut out for them as a mid-range underdog. But in homage to the spread beaters who have come before them, here is a brief look back at recent colossal upsets in the Super Bowl:
SB XLII -- 2008 -- New York Giants 17, New England Patriots 14 (Giants +12.5) – Eli Manning’s 13-yard touchdown pass to Plaxico Burress in the final minute clinched the historic upset for the Giants, who used a masterful defensive plan to slow down Tom Brady and the previously undefeated New England Patriots.
XXXVI -- 2002 -- Patriots 20, Rams 17 (Patriots +14) – This was the coming out party for the aforementioned Brady, who went from obscure sixth-round draft pick to Super Bowl hero in one fell swoop. He led the game-winning drive in the final minute – eschewing analyst John Madden’s advice to take a knee and play for overtime – leading to Adam Vinatieri’s memorable 48-yard field goal that split the uprights as time expired.
XXXII 1998 Broncos 31, Packers 24 (Denver +12) – The first of John Elway’s two consecutive Super Bowl titles to put an end to his Hall of Fame career was an upset for the ages. The Broncos used the determination of Elway and a 157-yard, three-touchdown performance from Terrell Davis to turn back Brett Favre and the heavily favored Packers.
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Problem with Bears?
Chicago, IL - New Chicago Bears quarterback Jay Cutler and star linebacker Brian Urlacher shot down reports of a rift, saying they're simply not true.
"There's nothing between us," Cutler said Thursday, when he reported to training camp. "I just want to put that to rest. There never has been anything between us."
Urlacher added: "I never said what I was quoted as saying and that's it. I have a lot of respect for Jay. I think Jay knows that."
Former Bears receiver Bobby Wade caused a stir when he told Minneapolis radio station KFAN-AM that Urlacher used a profanity while questioning Cutler's manhood during a conversation in Las Vegas last weekend. Wade, who now plays for the Vikings, said Urlacher used a profane version of the word "wimp" during the interview that had to be edited out.
go radio station WSCR-AM also reported that Urlacher had to be restrained from confronting Cutler during organized team activities.
"I wouldn't go face-to-face with Brian, anyway," Cutler said. "No, that's never happened. I've hung out with Brian away from the facility numerous times and we've always gotten along."
Urlacher, noting he was limited by a groin injury, denied the reports in an interview with the Chicago Tribune and did it again when he reported to camp.
"I didn't practice this summer, so I don't know how I would fight the guy if I didn't practice," Urlacher said. "We have no problems. I'm excited about football starting. I'm excited to have him as our quarterback."
Why would Wade say that?
"I don't know," Urlacher said. "Maybe he's jealous because we have a good quarterback now."
Cutler said the first he heard of any friction was when he got a call from Urlacher to clear the air. Urlacher, however, said he had already taken several calls from teammates wondering if the reports were true when Cutler phoned.
"He called me and I said, What's up (expletive), what are you doing?'" a grinning Urlacher said, uttering the same word he allegedly used with Wade. "It's so dumb to me that this even got to this point, but it did and then here we are."
better place after going 9-7 and missing the playoffs for the second straight year. They have a franchise quarterback for the first time in decades after acquiring Cutler in an offseason trade with Denver. But there are questions about his attitude following a fallout with Broncos management and new coach Josh McDaniels.
His critics include former Bears coach Mike Ditka and former Indianapolis and Tampa Bay coach Tony Dungy, one of Smith's mentors. Smith, however, said Cutler has been a model teammate so far while denying any animosity with Urlacher.
"There's no issue with Jay and Brian, except Brian and Jay are both excited about being teammates for our club this year," coach Lovie Smith said. "No more than that. We can't spend a whole lot of time on something that isn't true. I have talked to the players. Whenever something comes out, you have to address it, but it's a non-issue."
In some ways, Cutler is getting a second chance in Chicago, an opportunity to repair his reputation.
Smith said another quarterback - Michael Vick - deserves one, although he doesn't see it happening with the Bears, who lack an experienced backup. The former Atlanta Falcons star, who served a 23-month sentence for running a dogfighting ring, said Thursday he is getting close to signing with a pro football team.
"A second chance, like everyone in society who has paid their debt to society," Smith said. "He deserves a second chance. As far as we're concerned, we like this team that we have right now."
Particularly the new quarterback.
"Me and Brian have been on a good relationship since I've been here, and I expect it to continue that way," Cutler said.
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