Blalock's HR in ninth lifts Rangers over Angels
Baseball Betting Lines
07/02/2009 - Arlington, TX (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Hank Blalock went 3-for-5 with a pair of home runs, including a two-run blast in the bottom of the ninth inning, to lift the Rangers past the Angels, 9-7, in the rubber match of a three-game series.
After the Angels scored three runs in the top of the ninth to tie the game, Los Angeles sent Justin Speier (3-2) to the mound in the bottom half. Michael Young stroked a single to center to begin the inning, but David Murphy and Marlon Byrd recorded two quick outs. Blalock then stepped to the plate and belted a first-pitch fastball over the center-field wall to give Texas the improbable win.
Young went 3-for-5 with an RBI for the Rangers, who have won two straight after a three-game skid. Chris Davis drove in a pair of runs, while Murphy and Julio Borbon each knocked in a run.
Frank Francisco (2-1) picked up the win despite giving up three runs on two hits in the ninth. Francisco blew his second save of the season. Starter Kevin Millwood went 6 1/3 frames, allowing four runs on eight hits with four strikeouts and three walks.
Juan Rivera went 2-for-5 with a three-run homer in the ninth for the Angels, who have dropped two in a row after a six-game winning streak. Torii Hunter stroked a two-run double, while Maicer Izturis and Chone Figgins each drove in a run.
Jered Weaver went 5 1/3 frames, allowing seven runs on eight hits with three strikeouts for LA.
The Rangers thought they had the game all wrapped up when they sent Francisco to the mound in the top of the ninth with a three-run cushion. In fact, Francisco was down to the last out of the game despite walking Bobby Abreu and Hunter. But Rivera stepped to the plate and drove a 2-0 fastball just over the wall in right-center field to deadlock the contest.
The Rangers scored a pair of runs in the fourth inning to break a scoreless contest. Blalock got things started with a one-out, solo home run over the wall in right-center field. Nelson Cruz then singled, stole second, and scored on Davis' single to right.
Los Angeles plated a run in the top of the sixth to cut the deficit to one. Vladimir Guerrero and Rivera singled to put men on the corners with one out. Izturis stepped to the plate and lined into a sacrifice double play.
Texas responded with five runs in the home half of the frame to extend its margin to 7-1. Byrd walked and Blalock doubled to put men on second and third with nobody out. Pinch-hitter Borbon then stroked an RBI single, before Blalock scored on a wild pitch. Davis added an RBI groundout, while Young and Murphy hit RBI singles later in the frame.
The Angels put a three-spot on the board in the seventh. Erick Aybar hit a one-out single, advanced to second on Borbon's fielding error, and scored on Figgins' triple to center. After Abreu walked, Hunter stroked a two-run double to right. Darren O'Day got the Rangers out of a jam after taking over for Millwood on the hill.
Game Notes
LA finished a six-game road trip with a 4-2 record...Cruz left the game in the bottom of the sixth with a stiff back...The Rangers have now won six of their last eight matchups with LA and swept a three-game set from the Angels in Arlington from May 15-17...Texas will welcome the Tampa Bay Rays to town for a three-game set, starting Friday. LA will begin a 10-game homestand with a four-game set with the Baltimore Orioles, starting Thursday.
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American Idol Betting Odds: Season 6
The online gambling websites are in the process of deciphering each American Idol contestant and his or her chances of winning Season 6 to come up with the early American Idol betting lines.
Tim Dalton of MySportsbook.com has been locked away in a soundproof room coming up with all the latest tallies, we are told. "American Idol has become one of the most significant betting events of the year," claims Jack Black of MySportsbook.com. "Last year, millions were bet during the season across the globe, not just in America.It's tough early on since we really do not have a glimpse as to how well each of these individuals will perform solo on a week-to-week basis. It's like Week 1 of the NFL. Pre-season means nada!
We do know the 24 finalists however.
Sanjaya Malakar is the young man whose sister failed to make it into the Top 24. He's very low key but - unless he totally flubs - will probably win over the young girlie vote for a few weeks anyway. He's too young to go all the way, according to Payton O'Brien.
Brandon Rogers - Who?
Phil Stacy is the military guy who missed his daughter's birth because of the Memphis audition. He should go a good distance.
Chris Sligh - He's got the humor and in many ways he's the Anti-American Idol much like last year's winner Taylor Hicks was. And this is why he'll probably get pretty far in this competition. He's chubby, white with a big curly afro....but more importantly, a great voice! People love "real", not "real cute" to go all the way.
"Blake Lewis should go far because of his uniqueness and looks. He's the boy next store with a twist - he beat boxes. But on top of this, he's a great singer, and I adore him," Payton O'Brien relayed.
A talented beat-boxer Blake Lewis was a hit during the group sing in Hollywood but Simon explained that this is a singing contest just before he told him he was “in.”
Paul Kim has caught our own roving reporter, Jenny Woo's eyes.
"I love the fact that there is a Korean American on the show and he is bound to get more Asians tuning into the show," Woo said from her Miami Beach estate. "There has never been a major presence of Asian-Americans on American Idol in the past. He's a hottie with a nice voice so that should help to take him far. Expect heavy betting action from the Asian community."
Sundance Head - He's not perfect, but he's got the personality that will take him through a few weeks, plus he's got the lineage (son of Roy Head - whose 1965 single, "Treat Her Right," hit No. 5 in the charts)
And the others:
Rudy Cardinas
AJ Tabaldo - the 5th time is the charm
Nicolas Pedro
Chris Richardson
Jared Cotter
The girls
"Melinda Doolittle has one of the best voices," says MySportsbook.com Reporter and an acclaimed dancer in her own right, Destiney Lewis. "It is great to see a back up singer step out like she has. The girl needs to gain more confidence but that can also be a positive. I think she will go far."
Alena Alexander - Those tears (she never seems to stop bawling) should get her far.
"Single mom Lakisha Jones I suspect will be a pretty big favorite entering Week 1 of the competition," says Destiny Williams. Jones is an excellent singer and down to earth. "She'll have a wide appeal," echoed O'Brien.
Nicole Trellis - Seems to exert confidence.
Amy Krebs - a powerful singer.
Antonella Barba
Gina Glocksen
Hailey Scanardo
Jordan Sparks
Stephanie Edwards
Leslie Hunt
Sabrina Sloan
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