Burrell's homer helps Phils edge Reds; Griffey stuck at 599 HRs

Baseball Betting Lines

06/03/2008 - Philadelphia, PA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Pat Burrell's two-run homer in the sixth inning provided the difference, as the Philadelphia Phillies edged the Cincinnati Reds, 3-2, in the second of a four-game set at Citizens Bank Park.

Adam Eaton (2-3) limited the Reds to three hits and one run in 6 2/3 innings for Philadelphia, which improved to 7-1 on its 10-game homestand and has won eight of nine overall. Eaton also struck out five and walked none to pick up his second straight win.

Jimmy Rollins finished 3-for-4 with a double and scored once, while Chase Utley was 2-for-3 with an RBI and a run scored. Utley had homered in five straight contests, tying a franchise record.

Aaron Harang (2-8) allowed three runs on nine hits in six-plus innings for Cincinnati, which has dropped two in a row following a three-game sweep of Atlanta.

Edwin Encarnacion clubbed a solo homer, tripled and scored both runs for the Reds, who were limited to five hits.

On the cusp of a major milestone, Cincinnati outfielder Ken Griffey Jr. was not in the starting lineup for a second consecutive night with what the club is calling "general soreness." He pinch hit with one out in the eighth inning and was walked on four pitches by Tom Gordon. Griffey was then immediately lifted for a pinch runner. Griffey is one home run shy of becoming the sixth player to reach the 600-homer club, which is currently occupied by Barry Bonds, Hank Aaron, Babe Ruth, Willie Mays and Sammy Sosa.

The Phillies broke a 1-1 tie in the sixth on Burrell's 14th home run of the season. Utley stroked a leadoff double into the left-center field gap and, after Ryan Howard struck out swinging, Harang hung a 2-2 breaking ball middle- in and Burrell launched it into the seats in left.

Philadelphia squandered an opportunity with the bases loaded in the seventh. Pinch-hitter Greg Dobbs singled to begin the inning and Rollins followed with a double to right.

Danny Herrera, brought up from Louisville of the International League earlier in the day to take the place of pitcher Kent Mercker, who was placed on the 15-day disabled list, relieved Harang. After Shane Victorino grounded out to short, Utley was intentionally walked to load the bases. Herrera then retired Howard and Burrell on strikes to end the threat.

The Reds got a run in the eighth, as Encarnacion led off with a triple and came around to score on pinch-hitter Javier Valentin's sacrifice fly.

In the ninth, Brad Lidge issued a leadoff walk to Jay Bruce, but got Brandon Phillips to ground into a 5-4-3 double play. After Adam Dunn worked a walk, Joey Votto singled back up through the middle to put runners on first and second, but Lidge got Encarnacion to pop up to notch his 15th save of the season.

"I think any time we can get in close ball games and we can win them, I think that's a good sign that our pitching is getting more consistent," Phillies manager Charlie Manuel said.

Encarnacion's line drive smash into the first row of seats in left field to open the third gave the Reds the lead, but the Phillies evened the score in the bottom half.

Jimmy Rollins reached on a fielder's choice, swiped second, advanced to third when Victorino flied out and trotted home on Utley's broken-bat blooper to center.

The Phillies looked to take the lead in the fifth with Rollins on third, but Victorino's sinking liner was nabbed by a diving Ryan Freel to thwart the rally.

Game Notes

Utley has hit safely in nine straight games...Victorino went 0-for-3, snapping his hitting streak at a career-high 14 games...Encarnacion's home run was his 10th of the season...Freel went down with a hamstring injury running out a grounder in the top of the sixth inning. Shortstop Jerry Hairston Jr. moved to center in the bottom of the sixth, with Paul Janish taking over at short...Herrera made his major league debut...Cincinnati will send rookie sensation Edinson Volquez (7-2) to the mound Wednesday against Philadelphia's Brett Myers (3-6).

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MySportsbook.com Posts Heisman Trophy Odds

With 3,919 passing yards, 32 touchdowns and a mere seven interceptions last season, combined with a powerful South Bend Heisman legacy, odds makers at MySportsbook.com have given Notre Dame senior quarterback Brady Quinn the best Heisman Trophy odds at 5-2.

Quinn isn’t the only big man on campus this season.  Oklahoma junior running back and 2004 Heisman runner-up Adrian Peterson, listed at 7-2, rushed for a combined 3,033 yards in his first two years as a college player and will give Quinn a run for his money. 

This online sportsbook has also listed Troy Smith, Ohio State senior quarterback, as another strong favorite to win the 72nd Heisman Trophy.  A 7-1 bet, Smith threw for 2,282 yards last season and also led the Buckeyes to a convincing 34-20 victory over Quinn and the Fighting Irish in last season’s Fiesta Bowl.

Current betting odds Heisman trophy are:

Brady Quinn (QB, Notre Dame)
Adrian Peterson (RB, Oklahoma)
Troy Smith (QB, Ohio State)
Michael Bush (RB, Louisville)
Steve Slaton (RB, West Virginia)
Brian Brohm (QB, Louisville)
Chris Leak (QB, Florida)
Mike Hart (RB, Michigan)
Ted Ginn (WR, Ohio State)
Darius Walker (RB, Notre Dame)
Drew Tate (QB, Iowa)
Marshawn Lynch (RB, Cal)
Kenny Irons (RB, Auburn)
Chad Henne (QB, Michigan)
Kyle Wright (QB, Miami)
Drew Stanton (QB, Michigan State)
Kenneth Darby (RB, Alabama)
JaMarcus Russell (QB, LSU)
Drew Weatherford (QB, Florida State)
Blake Mitchell (QB, South Carolina)
Reggie Ball (QB, Georgia Tech)		 5-2
7-2
7-1
10-1
10-1
12-1
12-1
18-1
18-1
20-1
30-1
35-1
35-1
40-1
50-1
50-1
60-1
60-1
60-1
60-1
60-1

For complete NCAA Football odds visit MySportsbook.com.

NFL Football Betting : Odds on NFL Division to Win the Super Bowl

NFL Super Bowl Betting

The AFC South and the NFC East are the favorite divisions to have the next Super Bowl champ among them in the NFL betting odds. But more down to the point, these football odds are in favor of the Indianapolis Colts, by far the strongest team in the AFC South, and the Dallas Cowboys of the NFC East.

Most sports fans would agree that these two teams top the list to win it all before the season even begins. In the BetUS Sportsbook football futures, the Colts are +800 in the odds to win the Super Bowl, while the Cowboys are sitting at +1000 and the Super Bowl XLIV champions New Orleans Saints at +900. In the AFC South, the Colts won the division for five straight years after the 2002 realignment, before the Tennessee Titans won it in 2008. But the Colts came back strong in 2009 to win the division again en route to the Super Bowl. The Cowboys are the favorite to win the NFC East, as well as to advance far into the post season. The Cowboys won the division last season before their horrendous loss in the NFC Divisional playoff to Brett Favre and the Minnesota Vikings. But the ‘Boys will take that loss humbly and be ready for the playoffs this time around.

The NFC South is also very strong, at +600 in the NFL futures, considering that it is home to the defending Super Bowl champions. However, some predictions have the Atlanta Falcons with possibilities of claiming the divisional title this season in place of the Saints, as no team has won back-to-back division championships since the division realignment took place. Let’s not overlook the AFC North at +500. As TO goes to Cincinnati to join Chad OchoCinco and Adam “Pac-Man” Jones, this team looks to claim the division title again. And it is likely they will do so. The Bengals lost in the AFC Wild Card spot in a hard-fought battle against the New York Jets last season. Lest not forget the Pittsburgh Steelers, the XLII Super Bowl Champions… All these teams present interesting odds and matchups for the upcoming season, but the safest and surest bet seems to be with the Colts in the AFC South and the Cowboys in the NFC East. Play this weekly NFL Football Contestto see if you can win.

To visit this sportsbook go to MySportsbook.com for all your NFL football betting needs.