Crosby's single sends A's past Tigers

Baseball Betting Lines

06/03/2008 - Oakland, CA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Bobby Crosby went 3-for-5 with a pair of doubles, but it was his RBI single in the bottom of the ninth that lifted the Oakland Athletics over the Detroit Tigers, 3-2, in the opener of a three-game series.

After Huston Street kept the Tigers scoreless in the top of the ninth, Francisco Cruceta was greeted by a Kurt Suzuki single in the bottom half, and Suzuki moved to second when Jack Hannahan put down a sacrifice bunt. Crosby then ripped a 1-1 fastball that reached the gap in right-center, allowing Suzuki to cross the plate with the deciding run.

"I thought he might try to throw a fastball on the first pitch byut he threw a split and I looked pretty foolish," Crosby said. "Once it was 1-1, I figured here comes the fastball."

Daric Barton went 2-for-4 with a solo homer for the A's, winners in two straight after a four-game losing skid. Suzuki went 2-for-4 in drove in a run as the A's won despite going 1-for-8 with runners in scoring position and stranding 10 men on base.

Street (1-1) picked up the win in relief of Rich Harden, who held the Tigers to two runs on five hits over 6 2/3 innings, striking out eight and walking three.

Curtis Granderson homered and Jeff Larish had an RBI single for the Tigers, who have lost two of three. Cruceta (0-3) took the loss in relief of Kenny Rogers, who allowed two runs on six hits in seven-plus frames, fanning three and walking four.

"That was quite a contrast in style," said Tigers manager Jim Leyland. "One young pitcher with great stuff and a masterful game from an old pro."

Hannahan led off the home first with a single, then moved to third when Crosby slapped a double to right. After Jack Cust struck out, Rogers plunked Emil Brown to load the bases and Mark Ellis lofted a fly ball to center that scored Hannahan. But the A's couldn't inflict any more damage in the frame.

Harden cruised through five innings, allowing just one hit, until Granderson tied the game in the top of the sixth with a leadoff homer to right. One out later, Carlos Guillen lined a double to right, and after Magglio Ordonez struck out, Harden intentionally walked Miguel Cabrera. Larish then made Harden pay by lining an RBI single to left to give Detroit the lead. But Cabrera was thrown out trying to reach third as the Tigers were denied the chance to tack on insurance runs.

Rogers, however, couldn't hold the lead, as Barton tied the game in the bottom of the seventh with a leadoff homer to right.

Cust walked to start the bottom of the seventh, ending Rogers' night. Freddy Dolsi came out of the bullpen and got Brown to ground into a force out, but Ellis lined a single to left and Dolsi was lifted for Bobby Seay. Carlos Gonzalez grounded into a force out that sent Brown to third, then Travis Buck walked to load the bases. Seay fell behind Barton, 3-0, but recovered to induce an inning-ending fly out and preserve the tie.

Game Notes

It was Crosby's third career walk-off hit...Cruceta lasted just one-third of an inning, and has allowed five runs in his last four innings ...Granderson's homer was his seventh of the year... Detroit sends Dontrelle Willis (0-0), who hasn't started since April 11, to the mound on Tuesday against Dana Eveland (4-4).

Sktbook Baseball Betting News

<< Horwitz, Giants pounce on Perez in rout of Mets
San Francisco, CA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Brian Horwitz hit a two-run home run and drove in three as the San Francisco Giants crushed the New York Mets, 10-2, in the opener of a three-game set. Ray Durham went 3-for-4 with a walk and two runs

<< Sykora's tally lifts Penguins over Red Wings, keeps series alive
Detroit, MI (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Petr Sykora's power play goal at the 9:57 mark of the third overtime helped Pittsburgh avoid elimination with a 4-3 win over Detroit in Game 5 of the Stanley Cup Finals at Joe Louis Arena. In the third sessio

<< Lowe dazzles as Dodgers down struggling Rockies
Los Angeles, CA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Derek Lowe allowed one run over eight solid innings, and Matt Kemp went 3-for-5 with a home run for Los Angeles, which pounded the struggling Colorado Rockies, 8-2, to open a three-game set. Lowe (3-5)

<< Mathis, Santana propel Angels past Mariners
Seattle, WA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Jeff Mathis hit a two-run home run and Ervin Santana was solid over 7 2/3 innings as the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim topped the Seattle Mariners, 4-2, in the opener of a three-game series at Safeco

<< Indians' Westbrook headed back to DL
Arlington, TX (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Cleveland Indians announced that pitcher Jake Westbrook has been scratched from his scheduled start Tuesday and will likely return to the disabled list. Westbrook was just activated from the 15-day

Zambrano helps Cubs on the mound, at the plate in win over Padres >>
San Diego, CA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Carlos Zambrano worked his way through five innings on the mound, but he did his most damage at the plate with three hits and an RBI, as Chicago held on to beat San Diego, 7-6, for its eighth straight victory

Florida State, CS-Fullerton, Georgia advance to Super Regionals >>
Fullerton, CA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Florida State, Cal State Fullerton and Georgia all advanced to the Super Regionals with victories on Monday. Also advancing were Stanford, Texas A&M and Fresno State. Cal State Fullerton, the nat

Blake has seven RBIs in Indians' 13-9 win at Texas >>
Casey Blake had a week's worth of production in just three at-bats.Blake homered twice and matched a career high with seven RBIs Monday night to help lead the Cleveland Indians to a 13-9 victory over the Texas Rangers.Although Blake's power surge he

2008 Playoff Overtime Goals >>
June 2 - Pittsburgh 4, Detroit 3, 3OT; Petr Sykora, 9:57.Conference SemifinalsMay 4 - Dallas 2, San Jose 1, 4OT; Brenden Morrow, 9:03.May 4 - Pittsburgh 3, N.Y. Rangers 2, OT; Marian Hossa, 7:10.May 2 - San Jose 3, Dallas 2; OT; Joe Pavelski, 1:05.A

NHL's Longest Stanley Cup Finals >>
Longest Stanley Cup finals that have gone past two overtimes, with date, score, round, time of overtime and game-winning goal:May 15, 1990 - Edmonton 3, Boston 2, final, 55:13, Petr Klima.June 19, 1999 - Dallas 2, Buffalo 1, Stanley Cup winner, 54:5

2007 NFL Football Betting Preview


“You play to win the game!”

Those are the words of notoriously intense head coach Herman Edwards. Unfortunately, from a bettors’ perspective, most coaches don’t feel that way about the NFL preseason. August is a time to evaluate young players, finalize the depth chart and pray your star players stay healthy.

The trick to making money during the exhibition schedule is identifying coaches – like Edwards – who can’t stand losing even when there's nothing on the line.

The New York Jets betting won 15 of 21 preseason games and went 14-7 against the spread (ATS) during Edwards’s five-year tenure with the club. In his first season as the Kansas City Chiefs field boss, the team improved from 0-4 to 2-2.

Identifying win-a-holics like Edwards is a good start if you plan betting the preseason – even though most say you shouldn’t ... but what the hell do they know anyway?

Here’s a brief rundown of two teams that have a habit of winning during the second-stringers’ season, and another club that has a good chance of exceeding this year.

New York Giants betting lines

Playing in the media hub of North America can be stressful but the press can’t write anything negative about the way Tom Coughlin’s boys play in the preseason. The Giants won and covered all four games last summer, improving their record to 7-1 both straight up (SU) and against the spread over the last two years.

Coughlin has shown he’s not afraid to give his starters more time in the second preseason game than most of his colleagues, no doubt one of the reasons his team has been so dominant.

Dallas Cowboys betting lines

Bettors can count on America’s team early on. The Cowboys are 14-6 both SU and ATS since 2002 in warm-up contests. Former coach Bill Parcells, the coach of the team the last four years, has an intimidating, in-your-face presence – surely a reason Dallas has had so much early success.

The Big Tuna won’t be strolling the sidelines with looks of disgust, but new coach Wade Phillips will be anxious to make a good first impression for owner Jerry Jones.

Dallas plays the Indianapolis Colts and the Denver Broncos before things get serious. They then face the Houston Texans in their third contest (the game starters see most game time) and finish off with the Minnesota Vikings.

Expect a Dallas team able to walk away with another 3-1 preseason record.

Oakland Raiders betting lines

This team scored a league-worst 12 offensive touchdowns last season, so the rookies and veterans each have something to prove. There’s a bounty of first-unit jobs up for grabs and plenty of bodies competing for those slots.

First-time head coach Lane Kiffin will be eager to impress an owner who employs the philosophy, “Just win, baby!”

The 32-year-old Kiffin has to command respect from a locker room full of players older than him. All of these factors should lead to purpose in preseason. 

Don’t forget: before playing like a team that belonged in NFL Europe, Oakland went 4-1 (both SU and ATS) in exhibition games.

To visit this online sportsbook got to MySportsbook.com for all your football wagering needs. Mysportsbook.com online sportsbook accepts Visa and Mastercard credit cards.