Riggans, Sonnanstine lead Rays over Bucs, into first in AL East
Baseball Betting Lines
06/29/2008 -
Pittsburgh, PA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Shawn Riggans went 3-for-4, homered, drove
in two and scored, and the Tampa Bay Rays edged the Pirates, 4-3, to take
two of three from Pittsburgh, and take first place in the American League
East.
The Red Sox lost to the Astros, 3-2, on Sunday, allowing the Rays to vault
past Boston and into first prior to a three-game set between the clubs.
Boston, which led Tampa by a half-game entering play Sunday, visits the Rays
for three games starting on Monday. This will be the first matchup between the
clubs since Boston's three-game sweep of the Rays at Fenway Park in early
June, a series which included a benches-clearing brawl.
The win put the Rays back at a franchise-record 17 games over .500. Tampa is
49-32 at the season's official halfway point, after going a major league-worst
66-96 last season. The previous best record for the club at the halfway mark
was 40-41 in 2004.
Andy Sonnanstine (9-3) scattered five hits and two runs over seven frames,
fanning four and walking one for the Rays, who have won five of six heading
into another clash with the American League East-leading Red Sox.
"I went in with the mindset, knowing that I'm going in as long as I can. It's
tough with the National League rules,the pitchers bat in the line-up. I feel
real good about what happened," said Sonnanstine.
Jack Wilson went 2-for-4 and scored twice for the Pirates, who have dropped
three of four. Tyler Yates (3-1) took the loss after allowing two runs on
three hits in two innings of relief for Tom Gorzelanny, who gave up two runs
on eight hits with eight strikeouts and two walks in six frames.
"Today was a tough one," said Wilson. "We battled, Gorzo (Gorzelanny) threw
great.The other guy (Sonnanstine) had really good off-speed stuff, keeping us
off-balanced. We had our chances. In the end, we couldn't come though."
The game was tied at 2-2 after seven innings, but an Xavier Nady throwing
error allowed the Rays to go on top in the eighth. Carlos Pena led off with a
single to right, and Willy Aybar followed with another single to right. Nady
tried to throw Pena out at third, but his throw bounced up the line, allowing
Pena to score the go-ahead run.
Riggans singled in Aybar later in the frame for a 4-2 lead.
Ryan Doumit's pinch-hit RBI single in the eighth cut the deficit to one run
for the Pirates, but Troy Percival recovered from a leadoff walk and set down
the next three batters in the ninth to pick up his 19th save.
Riggans' leadoff homer in the fourth put Tampa on top, but Jason Bay's
sacrifice fly in the home half tied it at 1-1.
Aybar led off the sixth with a homer to left, again putting the Rays in front
by a run, but Nate McLouth's RBI groundout in the sixth knotted the game.
Game Notes
Tampa finished its interleague slate 12-6, while the Pirates went 5-9 against
the AL...Following their 4-3, 13-inning win on Saturday, the Pirates
optioned pitcher Ty Taubenheim to Triple-A Indianapolis. On Sunday they
recalled right-handed reliever Romulo Sanchez from their Triple-A
affiliate...The Rays outhit the Bucs, 12-7, but left 11 runners on base,
including failing to score despite loading the bases with one out in the
second.
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BILLS (+10) at Steelers SPORTSBOOK LINES
It's impossible to gauge how a team will react after something like the Steve Everett situation, and it probably doesn't matter. That being said, the Bills are going to lose several games this year where they keep things close but fall short in the end to superior teams. Ben Roethlisberger and company could have a field day against Buffalo's decimated defense, but I like the Bills to cover.
BENGALS (-7) at Browns SPORTSBOOK LINES
All you can ask out of your NFL team is that it has a plan. You may not always agree with it as a fan, but as long as it appears the organization is going in some sort of direction, you have to go with it. Which brings us to the Cleveland Browns. You flip a coin to determine whether Chuck Frye or Derek Anderson should start the preseason opener. You start Frye in Week 1, but pull him in the first half. And then you deal him to the Seahawks for a sixth-round pick? Hmm... the Bengals could get six turnovers again this week.
COLTS (-7) at Titans SPORTSBOOK LINES
Tennessee signed ex-Colts cornerback Nick Harper in the offseason so that should help slow down Peyton Manning. Just ask Jason David and the Saints. Oh wait... One of these weeks, I'm going to learn to not pick against Tennessee, which has won seven of its last eight games. But it's not happening against Indy.
TEXANS (+6.5) at Panthers SPORTSBOOK LINES
Houston's Mario Williams, the first pick in the '06 draft, has more touchdowns than Reggie Bush after one week. Somehow I don't see that lasting. Meanwhile, Carolina bottled up what was expected to be a pretty high-octane offense in St. Louis in Week 1. Could this be the Panthers' defense everyone expected last year? Maybe. This feels like a 20-16 Carolina win.
RAMS (-3) vs. 49ers SPORTSBOOKS LINES
Absolutely love this game. Everyone's favorite pick for this year's surprise team -- the 49ers -- laid an egg on Monday night (not that anyone was watching with the game ending in the middle of the night for those of us on the East Coast). St. Louis wasn't much better, delivering a lackluster effort against the Panthers that included two Steven Jackson fumbles and panic from his fantasy owners. Jackson rebounds this week, and the Rams get their first win.
PACKERS (+1.5) at Giants SPORTSBOOKS LINES
Do you really trust this guy to win an NFL game if Eli Manning can't go? I say no. I'd feel alot better about this Packers team if it had any semblance of a running game, but I still think Green Bay's defense is good enough to give it a 2-0 start.
JAGUARS (-10) vs. Falcons SPORTSBOOKS LINES
Does it scare me to pick Jacksonville to cover a double-digit spread after it scored just 10 points last week against the Titans? Absolutely. But can I bring myself to pick Atlanta under any circumstances? No. Check out this poll on ajc.com. It asks what Atlanta's most urgent deficiency is: offense, defense, specials teams or all of the above. "All of the above" has 57 percent of the votes. Ouch.
SAINTS (-3) at Buccaneers SPORTSBOOKS LINES
I'm picking way too many road teams this week. Oh well. New Orleans has had some time to reflect on its lackluster showing in the opener, and the Buccanneers just aren't a very good football team. Anyone else surprised Tampa Bay hasn't made a move to sign Byron Leftwich? I thought that's what they do.
VIKINGS (+3) at Lions SPORTS BETTING LINES
Run the ball and stop the run. Minnesota can do both, and that will keep them in a lot of games this season. Even though it was only one week, Adrian Peterson looks like he was a steal at No. 7 in last year's draft. Not only will he produce, but Peterson delivers excitement to what otherwise would be one of the league's most boring teams.
DOLPHINS (+3.5) vs. Cowboys SPORTS BETTING LINES
Lost in the Tony Romo lovefest is just how bad the Cowboys' defense was last week. I know they're banged up, but Dallas' 'D' allowed 438 yards to the Giants' offense, and backup running back Derrick Ward averaged 6.8 yards per carry. Meanwhile, Cam Cameron's decision to split carries between Ronnie Brown and Jesse Chatman sounds about as can't-miss as Larry David's plan to show up to Marty Funkhouser's party a night late. Still, gotta go with Miami to cover at home.
SEAHAWKS (-2.5) at Cardinals SPORTS BETTING LINES
I'm probably missing something, but this game seems too easy. Arizona blew Monday night's game against the 49ers in typical Cardinals fashion, and the Seahawks beat Tampa Bay by two touchdowns. Love Seattle in this one.
BRONCOS (-9.5) vs. Raiders SPORTS BETTING LINES
Special teams was a major story line in Week 1. Take a look at the Broncos. They had to rush on to the field to get a Jason Elam field goal as time expired against the Bills. Denver drove into Buffalo territory on eight of 10 drives but came away with just a pair of field goals and a touchdown. Look for more scoring from the Broncos this week against an Oakland defense that gave up 36 points to Detroit in Week 1.
BEARS (-12) vs. Chiefs SPORTS BETTING LINES
Everyone talks about Rex Grossman when dissecting the Bears' offense, but Chicago's quarterback got no help in last week's loss to the Chargers. Meanwhile, Kansas City confirmed what we all thought while watching Hard Knocks: The Chiefs are going to stink this year. It could be a rough first month for Larry Johnson fantasy owners. Kansas City's RB was limited to 43 yards on 10 carries in Week 1, and the Chiefs face the Bears, Vikings and Chargers the next three weeks, all formidable run defenses.
RAVENS (-10) vs. Jets SPORTS BETTING LINES
A big dose of Willis McGahee and a usual sound defensive effort will give the Ravens their first win. According to Football Outsiders, no team in the NFL rushed only three defenders on pass plays last year more than the Jets. And according to my special Jets correspondent Ben Stauber, New York did the same in Week 1. Whoever starts at quarterback for the Ravens should have all day to throw.
PATRIOTS (-3) vs. Chargers SPORTS TRASH TALK
Friends and I were discussing how Bill Belichick goes about paying his $500,000 fine for cheating. Does he just write one check to the NFL? Do you need some sort of clearance to make such a monstrous financial transaction? I guess I shouldn't complain about the security deposit I have to put down on my new apartment. Anyway, two of the league's best teams square off in what should be a good one Sunday night. The Patriots always respond well just when you think they're in trouble. And their offensive attack was the story in Week 1.
Note: Monday night game will be picked Monday. Lines used are from mysportsbook.com.
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