Berkman clubs two homers to help Astros crown Royals
Baseball Betting Lines
06/25/2009 - Houston, TX (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Lance Berkman hit a pair of two-run homers and reached the 1,000 RBI plateau as the Houston Astros edged the Kansas City Royals, 5-4, in the finale of a three-game interleague set at Minute Maid Park.
Kaz Matsui had a sacrifice fly, while Carlos Lee doubled, walked twice and scored three times for the Astros, who managed to avoid being swept in the series. Houston has split its last six games overall.
Brian Moehler worked five innings, but earned a no-decision. The veteran right-hander allowed four runs -- one earned -- on five hits, struck out three and walked a pair. Wesley Wright (2-1) was credited with the win after tossing 1 1/3 innings of shutout baseball and recording four strike outs. Jose Valverde picked up his sixth save of the season with a perfect ninth inning.
Mark Teahen finished 2-for-4 with two RBI for Kansas City, which has dropped six of eight.
Brian Bannister (5-5) was tagged with the loss after allowing five runs on six hits in six innings of work. He fanned three and walked two.
With Kansas City leading 4-3, the Astros went ahead in the sixth when Lee drew a leadoff walk and Berkman cracked his second homer of the game, a shot that just cleared the left-field wall to push Houston in front 5-4.
The Astros bullpen shut down the Royals in the seventh and eighth innings and Valverde came on for the ninth and retired the side in order.
Teahen's RBI single in the top of the second scored Jose Guillen, who led off with a double and took third on a fly ball to give the Royals the early lead. Then in the home half, Lee got the inning started with a two-bagger and crossed the plate on Berkman's blast into the left-field seats.
The Royals plated a pair of runs in the top of the fourth to grab a brief 3-2 lead. With runners on first and second and nobody out, Mike Jacobs grounded to first. Berkman attempted to get the lead runner at second, but Miguel Tejada was unable to handle the throw and Alberto Callaspo came in to score. Teahen's RBI double brought in another. Matsui's sac fly in the bottom of the frame tied things at 3-3.
A throwing error on Astros catcher Humberto Quintero in the fifth allowed David DeJesus to come in, putting KC back on top.
Game Notes
Kansas City will continue its six-game interleague road trip against Pittsburgh on Friday, while the Astros welcome Detroit to Minute Maid Park for the start of a three-game set...Berkman became the third Astros player to reach the 1,000 RBI mark, joining Craig Biggio and Jeff Bagwell.
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Football Sports Lines: Offensive Rookie of the Year Awards
The 2009 AP NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year odds have been released and Denver Broncos' running back Knowshon Moreno has been made the opening favorite.
Moreno was selected in the first round of April's NFL draft and is expected to carry the rushing load for the Broncos this season. And with Jay Cutler now in Chicago, Moreno might be expected to be Denver's entire offense.
Betting Lines from sports betting lines have made Moreno a 5/2 favorite to win this year's Offensive Rookie of the Year Award. Fellow running back Chris “Beanie” Wells (Arizona Cardinals) is right behind Moreno at 7/2, while Donald Brown (Indianapolis Colts) and receiver Michael Crabtree (San Francisco 49ers) are 5/1 to win. Quarterbacks Mark Sanchez (New York Jets) and Matthew Stafford (Detroit Lions) are 7/1 and 8/1, respectively.
A couple of players who present some value are Josh Freeman, Shonn Green and Darrius Heyward-Bey.
Freeman needs to beat out Byron Leftwich to become the starting quarterback of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers but if he does, he has a lot or raw talent and could use the weapons around him (i.e. Kellen Winslow Jr. and Antonio Bryant) to be very successful in his first season.
Green enters a crowded backfield in New York, but considering both Thomas Jones and Leon Washington are unhappy about their contract situations and might holdout, the former Iowa product could become the Jets' primary back.
Everyone was shocked when Al Davis took Heyward-Bey with the eighth overall pick in April's draft, but the kid has a tremendous amount of talent and if quarterback JaMarcus Russell takes the next step this year, the former Maryland product could blossom. Plus, Heyward-Bey will be looking to prove the people wrong who said Oakland should have taken Michael Crabtree with the No. 8 pick.
And if you're looking for a deep sleeper, check out Pat White at 30/1. He enters the Miami Dolphins vaunted “Wild Cat” offense and could be a big time playmaker.
For complete odds on the 2009 AP NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year odds, see below.
2009 AP NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year Odds to Win
Ramses Barden (NYG) 40/1
Andre Brown (NYG) 20/1
Donald Brown (IND) 5/1
Kenny Britt (TEN) 20/1
Glenn Coffee (SFO) 30/1
Chase Coffman (CIN) 50/1
Michael Crabtree (SFO) 5/1
Josh Freeman (TB) 14/1
Shonn Green (NYJ) 14/1
Percy Harvin (MIN) 10/1
Darrius Heyward-Bay (OAK) 18/1
Juaquan Iglesias (CHI) 30/1
Cornelius Ingram (PHI) 50/1
Rashad Jennings (JAC) 30/1
Johnny Knox (CHI) 40/1
Jeremy Maclin (PHI) 18/1
Mohamed Massaquoi (CLE) 30/1
LeSean McCoy (PHI) 12/1
Knowshon Moreno (DEN) 5/2
Hakeem Nicks (NYG) 18/1
Brandon Pettigrew (DET) 30/1
Brian Robiskie (CLE) 20/1
Mark Sanchez (NYJ) 7/1
Matthew Stafford (DET) 8/1
Jason Smith (STL) 40/1
Mike Thomas (JAC) 25/1
Patrick Turner (MIA) 50/1
Mike Wallace (PIT) 50/1
Chris Wells (ARI) 7/2
Pat White (MIA) 30/1
Field (Any Other Player) 9/1
To visit this sports betting site go to BettingExpress.com for all your football betting lines needs.
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