08/21/2008 - San Francisco, CA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Bengie Molina had the game-winning sacrifice fly in the bottom of the ninth inning, as the San Francisco Giants held off a late rally by the Florida Marlins to win 6-5 in the middle installment of a three-game set.
Randy Winn went 3-for-5, including a solo homer, for the Giants, who have won four of their last six games. Rich Aurilia, Fred Lewis and Emmanuel Burriss each drove in a run in the win.
Matt Cain did not factor in the decision despite yielding only two runs on five hits over 7 2/3 frames. Instead, Brian Wilson (1-2) got the win after he gave up three runs on three hits in the top of the ninth. Wilson had been 24- for-24 in his last save opportunities prior to Wednesday's meltdown.
"I feel pretty terrible about not being able to hold it for Cainy, but the bottom line is we won," Wilson said. "Giving up a three-run homer in the ninth is not a lot of fun to do."
John Baker tied the game with a pinch-hit, three-run homer in the ninth for the Marlins, who are 2-5 over their last seven contests. Jeremy Hermida added a two-run blast in defeat.
Marlins' shortstop Hanley Ramirez left in the bottom of the fourth after sustaining a thumb injury stealing second in the third.
Florida starter Scott Olsen lasted six innings and was touched for four runs on nine hits. Matt Lindstrom (1-2) was saddled with the loss after he gave up Molina's run in the ninth.
In the top of the ninth, Wilson was charged with protecting a 5-2 lead and gave up a leadoff double to Cody Ross. Two outs later, Alfredo Amezaga slapped a single to shallow left and pinch-hitter Baker tied the game as he belted a three-run shot over the left-field fence.
San Francisco quickly countered in the home half. Pinch-hitter Dave Roberts walked and Winn hit a single off Lindstrom to start the frame. Ivan Ochoa sacrificed both runners into scoring position before Aaron Rowand was intentionally walked to load the bases. Molina then crushed a sac fly to deep center to plate the winning run.
"I thought I made some good pitches but walking the leadoff guy, it's not good," Lindstrom said. "These guys fight so hard for the win and it unravels in five minutes. It's frustrating all the way around."
The Giants took an early lead as Winn opened the first with a homer to left field.
Florida took the lead, 2-1, in the fourth inning. Hermida pulled the first pitch he saw to deep right and off the top of the scoreboard for a two-run homer. The blast also scored Ross, who reached after he grounded into a fielder's choice.
San Francisco grabbed the lead back in the sixth inning. Rowand opened the frame with a single and crossed home two batters later as Aurilia doubled to left field. Lewis kept it going with an RBI single and took second as Paul Lo Duca botched a pick-off attempt. Pablo Sandoval was then intentionally walked and Burriss came through with an RBI single to make it 4-2.
Joe Nelson was on the hill for Florida in the seventh and gave up a leadoff single to Winn. Ochoa then went down swinging on a pitch-out, but his swing struck Lo Duca's glove, granting the hitter first base on catcher's interference.
Rowand grounded it into a double play which moved Winn to third. Molina then laced an RBI single to right for a 5-2 Giants lead.
Game Notes
It was the first pinch-hit homer for Baker...Cain gave up his first home run since June 4 (94 innings)...Florida hasn't won back-to-back games since July 30-31. The team has struggled for much of August, having compiled a 7-11 record so far this month...Olsen hasn't won in six starts since beating the Phillies on July 19...Florida won two of three tests from the Giants in Miami earlier this season. However, San Francisco is 11-5 over its last 16 encounters with the Marlins...Florida catcher Matt Treanor's wife, Misty May- Treanor, and Kerri Walsh completed their undefeated run through the women's beach volleyball tournament Thursday morning with a straight-set win in the gold medal match.
<< Marlins SS Ramirez leaves game vs. Giants with thumb injury
San Francisco, CA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Florida Marlins lost shortstop
Hanley Ramirez to a thumb injury in Wednesday's 6-5 loss to the San Francisco
Giants.
Ramirez singled in the top of the third inning and stole second base. As
<< Cardinals P Wainwright to return
St. Louis, MO (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - St. Louis Cardinals pitcher Adam
Wainwright is expected to return from the disabled list and start Friday
against the Atlanta Braves.
Wainwright has been on the DL since June 8 with a
<< Dunn, D-Backs overcome early deficit to clip Padres
Phoenix, AZ (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Adam Dunn hit a three-run homer and walked
twice, as the Arizona Diamondbacks held on for an 8-6 win over San Diego, in
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The game was expected to be a pitcher
<< Top-notch field of 11 set for Pacific Classic
Del Mar, CA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Eleven of the best older thoroughbreds in
training make up the field for Sunday's $1 million Pacific Classic at Del Mar.
The winner of the 1 1/4 mile race gains an automatic spot in the 2008
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Gene Upshaw dead at 63 >>
New York, NY (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Gene Upshaw, longtime head of the NFL player's
union and Pro Football Hall of Famer, has reportedly died at the age of 63.
NFL.com reported Thursday morning that Upshaw had succumbed to pancreatic
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Zambrano tries to dominate Reds again in finale >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Right-hander Carlos Zambrano can replicate a July
masterpiece in August when the Chicago Cubs host the Cincinnati Reds in the
finale of a three-game series today at Wrigley Field.
A 13-time winner in his career against the
Dodgers end homestand aiming to get on track versus Rockies >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Los Angeles Dodgers are slipping fast in the NL West
race and will try to close out a lengthy homestand on a positive note this
afternoon in the finale of a three-game set versus the Colorado Rockies at
Dodger Stadium.
Mets go for sweep of rival Braves >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The National League East-leading New York Mets shoot for
their second sweep in less than two weeks this evening, when they close out a
three-game series versus the Atlanta Braves at Shea Stadium.
The Mets swept the Washing
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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 football betting.
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