07/23/2008 - Seattle, WA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Mike Lowell drove in the go-ahead runs in the top of the 12th inning and the Boston Red Sox held off a late charge from the Seattle Mariners to win, 6-3, and complete a three-game sweep at Safeco Field.
Boston starter Clay Buchholz allowed three runs on seven hits and struck out seven over 5 1/3 innings, but did not receive a decision. Jonathan Papelbon (4-3) pitched a scoreless 11th to get the win, while Craig Hansen overcame a shaky performance in the 12th to nail down his second save.
Kevin Youkilis was 2-for-6 with a run batted in and two runs scored for Boston, which recovered after dropping three straight to the Angels to start the second half and swept the M's for the first time since a four-game set from August 22-25, 2003 at Fenway Park. Dustin Pedroia went 2-for-5 with a walk and run scored. The all-star second baseman has now hit safely in each of his last 24 road games.
Boston left fielder Manny Ramirez missed the contest due to a sore right knee.
Boston remains a half game behind Tampa Bay for first place in the AL East after the Rays defeated the Oakland Athletics, 4-3, earlier Wednesday.
Jose Vidro finished 3-for-5 with a walk and a two-run homer for Seattle, which has dropped five in a row. Raul Ibanez hit a solo home run, while Jose Lopez went 2-for-6 and scored a run.
Felix Hernandez gave up three runs -- two earned -- on six hits with six strikeouts and five walks in six innings of a no-decision. Sean Green (2-3) was touched for three runs -- two earned -- in 1 1/3 innings to take the loss.
With the game locked at three, the Mariners had a chance to win the game in the bottom of the 11th. Papelbon started the inning for Boston and promptly served up an infield single to Vidro. After Adrian Beltre went down on strikes, Yuniesky Betancourt lined a single to right to put runners on the corners. Papelbon then induced a 5-4-3 inning-ending double play from Kenji Johjima to send the game to the 12th, where Boston erupted for three runs.
Jacoby Ellsbury had a lead-off single and J.D. Drew was intentionally walked with one away. Willie Bloomquist then misplayed a fly ball off the bat of Youkilis to load the bases for Lowell, who delivered with a two-run single that chased Green from the mound. Cesar Jimenez came on from the bullpen and Sean Casey greeted him with a run-scoring single for a 6-3 edge. Jimenez retired Jed Lowrie and Jason Varitek, but the damage had already been done.
With one gone in the home half, Bloomquist reached on an infield single. Lopez then stroked a two-out single and a walk to Ibanez loaded the bases, but Hansen retired Vidro on a dribbler to close out the game.
The Red Sox opened the scoring in the third. After hitting a lead-off single, Coco Crisp advanced to second on a one-out knock by Pedroia. After Ichiro Suzuki made a leaping catch up against the right field wall to rob Drew of a home run, Youkilis sliced an RBI single that got behind Suzuki, which allowed another runner to cross the plate.
Seattle got a run back in the fourth on Ibanez's 14th home run of the season, a lead-off shot to right-center.
The Red Sox loaded the bases with nobody out in the top of the sixth on singles by Youkilis, Lowell and a walk to Casey. Hernandez then fanned Lowrie and Varitek, but walked Crisp on four straight pitches to force in a run. Ellsbury popped out to first baseman Bryan LaHair in foul territory to end the inning.
Lopez singled to open the bottom half and, after Ibanez went down swinging, Vidro launched a 2-0 fastball over the wall in right, tying the game at three.
Game Notes
It was the first time Boston swept the Mariners in Seattle since a three-game series from July 2-4, 1993...Boston's Justin Masterson retired all eight batters he faced...Seattle's J.J. Putz tossed two innings of one-hit ball in relief...Brandon Morrow also hurled two scoreless innings for Seattle...Lopez has hit safely in 11 straight games, matching his career-high set earlier this season (April 19-May 1)...Boston won the season series, 5-4...The Mariners played the 5,000th regular-season game in club history...The Red Sox will open a three-game set at home against the New York Yankees on Friday... Seattle begins a three-game series Friday in Toronto.
<< Braves' Jones leaves with hamstring injury
Miami, FL (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Atlanta Braves third baseman Chipper Jones
left Wednesdays game against the Florida Marlins in the fourth inning with an
apparent left hamstring injury.
The All-Star grounded to third base and grabbed the
<< Medalist McCloskey advances at Girls' Junior
West Hartford, CT (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Medalist Lisa McCloskey easily dispatched
Christine Song on Wednesday to move into Thursday's second round of match play
at the U.S. Girls' Junior Championship.
There were three weather delays on Wednesda
<< Cubs activate Soriano, Eyre; option Hoffpauir, Hart
Phoenix, AZ (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Chicago Cubs activated outfielder Alfonso
Soriano and left-handed pitcher Scott Eyre from the 15-day disabled list on
Wednesday.
The All-Star outfielder returns to action exactly six weeks to the day
<< Jazz acquire G Knight from Clippers
Salt Lake City, UT (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Utah Jazz acquired veteran point
guard Brevin Knight from the Los Angeles Clippers in exchange for guard Jason
Hart, the club announced Wednesday.
Knight appeared in 74 games for the Clippers
Medalist Valdes advances at U.S. Junior >>
Shoal Creek, AL (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Medalist Jorge Fernandez Valdes needed one
extra hole on Wednesday to dispatch Cory McElyea, 1-up, and advance at the
U.S. Junior Amateur Championship.
The first round of match play was suspended due t
Broncos' Smith to retire >>
Denver, CO (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Denver Broncos wide receiver Rod Smith has
scheduled a Thursday afternoon press conference to announce his retirement,
according to the Rocky Mountain News.
Smith joined Denver as an undrafted free
Bruins give Wideman contract extension; place Murray on waivers >>
Boston, MA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Boston Bruins signed defenseman Dennis
Wideman to a multi-year contract extension. Per team policy, terms were not
disclosed.
Wideman posted career-highs with 13 goals, 23 assists and 36 points
Reyes homers, Wagner closes as Mets tie Phils for NL East lead >>
Flushing, NY (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Jose Reyes hit the go-ahead three-run home
run in the sixth inning and John Maine was solid on the hill, as the New York
Mets edged the Philadelphia Phillies, 6-3, as the clubs moved into a tie atop
the NL
Many fans thought it was the best side in the nation by the end of last season. This year, the polls have built on Georgia's momentum and granted it the No. 1 preseason ranking, followed by Ohio State and USC. (The Associated Press has the Buckeyes at No. 2; USA Today took the Trojans.)
"To have people believing we have one of the best teams in the nation going into this thing, it's exciting for us," Bulldogs coach Mark Richt told the AP. "I don't think anything is guaranteed, but we certainly have put ourselves in position where at least the college football world thinks we're pretty good."
Georgia Bulldogs - 9.5 wins
There's no question they're good, but the Bulldogs have one of the toughest 12-game schedules in the nation, mostly because they play in the powerhouse Southeastern Conference. Away games at No. 15 Arizona State, No. 7 LSU and No. 10 Auburn loom large, with contests between the hedges versus No. 24 Alabama and No. 18 Tennessee as well as the World's Largest Cocktail Party in Jacksonville versus No.5 Florida.
Ohio State Buckeyes - 10 wins
Like the Bulldogs, the Buckeyes also have a number of tough road contests in 2008. After two scrimmages dressed up as real games versus Youngstown State and Ohio, it's off to face USC. Other tough away games include No.13 Wisconsin in October and No. 20 Illinois in November. Granted, it should be pretty easy sledding at the Horseshoe. In fact, the only ranked team that travels to Columbus is No. 22 Penn State, in October.
USC Trojans - 10.5 wins
A similarly light schedule awaits the Trojans of Southern California, which is why the oddsmakers' total is one win more and the over is currently commanding -150 odds. Pete Carroll's troops only play three ranked teams in 2008, and all of those games are at home. After what should be an easy trip to Virginia to start things off on Aug. 30, the Trojans get two weeks to prepare for Ohio State in Los Angeles. Their two other ranked opponents, No. 21 Oregon and No. 15 Arizona State, visit in consecutive weeks to start the month of October. After that, the competition eases up. Of course, this is the same highly-touted school that lost to Stanford in 2007 and Oregon State in 2006. And don't discount the fact that USC plays its biggest rivals, Notre Dame and UCLA, back-to-back to close out the regular season. On paper, the Trojans are far superior, but motivation will be high for the Irish and Bruins, especially if their historic foes are in national-title contention.
Odds to Win the Heisman Trophy
Tim Tebow, Florida - 7/2
He won it last year, so it's no surprise he's the favorite to do it again, making him just the second player to go back-to-back. Ohio State's Archie Griffin turned the trick in 1974 and 1975, and Tebow's coach, Urban Meyer, is pretty sure his star quarterback can match the Buckeyes legend.
"There has never been anyone quite like him," Meyer told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. "I am very lucky to be his coach."
Chris Wells, Ohio State - 5/1
The man they call "Beanie" was a star recruit out of high school, so it's not like nobody knew who the star tailback was before he rushed for 576 yards as a freshman in 2006 and 1,609 as a sophomore. But perhaps his finest moment came last year versus Michigan when he rumbled for 222 yards and two touchdowns in the Buckeyes' 14-3 victory over the hated Wolverines.
Knowshon Moreno, Georgia - 8/1
If the Bulldogs are to live up to expectations, they'll need a huge effort from their sophomore running back. This might be the last year of college ball for Moreno, who rushed for 1,334 yards and for 14 touchdowns as a freshman, while adding 253 receiving yards on 20 receptions, so expect big things for the man from Belford, N.J.
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Barry Bonds Watch: Giants Slugger Says He'll Be Back
With only 21 home runs standing between him and Hank Aaron, Barry Bonds is indeed planning on coming back for more in 2007. At least, that's what his agent told the Los Angeles Times.
"Barry's going to play in 2007," Jeff Borris of Beverly Hills Sports Council told the Times on Tuesday. "I've had many discussions with Barry and he's going to play. My intentions are to see to it he's in a big-league uniform next season. Those are my marching orders."
Contract negotiations could get started as early as next week. Let's see which team has the deeper pockets. Will MLB baseball betting lines despite allegations of steroid use? Bet On It at www.MySportsbook.com .
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