05/09/2008 - (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The NL East-leading Florida Marlins will try to extend their current winning streak to a season-high five games tonight, when they begin a seven-game road trip with the first of three straight meetings with Washington at Nationals Park.
Florida has won four in a row and completed a three-game sweep of the Milwaukee Brewers at Dolphin Stadium with a 7-2 victory on Thursday. Matt Treanor finished 2-for-3 with a three-run homer and Jorge Cantu added a two- run shot to lead the way.
Luis Gonzalez went 3-for-3 and Hanley Ramirez had two hits and an RBI for the Marlins, who outscored the Brewers 16-4 in the series and sit one game ahead of Philadelphia in the division standings.
Marlins starter Mark Hendrickson gave up one run on seven hits, but lasted just 4 1/3 innings. Logan Kensing then pitched 2 2/3 innings of scoreless relief for the victory.
Florida will also visit Cincinnati for four games at Great American Ball Park on the current trek.
Ricky Nolasco gets the nod for the Marlins tonight and is 1-3 with a 6.10 ERA in seven games (5 starts) this season. Nolasco is 0-3 in his previous four outings, and was pounded for six runs and 10 hits in 4 2/3 innings of work during a 7-2 loss versus San Diego on Saturday.
Nolasco, a right-hander, has enjoyed success against the Nationals in his career, having gone 3-1 with a 4.37 ERA in six games (four starts).
Washington put the brakes on a two-game slide with an 8-3 victory over the Houston Astros on Thursday in the finale of a three-game set at Minute Maid Park. Rob Mackowiak went 2-for-4 with a two-run homer and starter John Lannan tossed six strong innings, giving up just one run on seven hits and one walk with three strikeouts.
Ryan Zimmerman had three hits and Cristian Guzman scored three times as the Nats won for the seventh time in 10 tries.
Tim Redding will take the mound for Washington on Friday and is 4-2 with a 3.20 ERA in seven starts. The righty last toed the rubber on Sunday versus Pittsburgh and recorded the win with 6 1/3 innings of one-run ball.
Redding is 1-1 in two starts against Florida in 2008, and owns a 4-1 mark with a 2.68 earned run average through seven career appearances versus the Marlins.
Florida is 5-1 so far against the Nationals this season, with a 3-0 record at Nationals Park.
<< A pair of aces to highlight Padres-Rockies opener
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - A solid pitching matchup is on tap tonight at Petco Park,
where Jake Peavy will lead the San Diego Padres against Aaron Cook and the NL
West-rival Colorado Rockies.
Peavy is 4-1 with a 2.22 earned run average in seven
<< Reeling Brewers return home to face Central-leading Cards
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Milwaukee Brewers are back at home after a lengthy road
trip, and they will try to stop a six-game slide tonight in the first of four
straight games versus the St. Louis Cardinals at Miller Park.
Milwaukee went 2-7 o
<< Tribe hopes to solve its struggles at Progressive Field
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Beginning tonight against Toronto, the Cleveland Indians
will play each of their next seven games at home.
While that usually is a blessing for any team, the Indians are just 8-11 at
Progressive Field. Last weekend, they w
<< 2008 All-NBA Teams List
F - Kevin Garnett, Boston (118), 612F - LeBron James, Cleveland (117), 610C - Dwight Howard, Orlando (86), 546G - Kobe Bryant, L.A. Lakers (127), 635G - Chris Paul, New Orleans (124), 629Second TeamF - Dirk Nowitzki, Dallas (1), 189F - Tim Duncan, S
O's try to continue dominance of KC >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Baltimore Orioles will attempt to maintain their
recent dominance of the Kansas City Royals when the two teams continue a four-
game series tonight at Kauffman Stadium.
Baltimore has now won 10 straight encounters wit
Red Sox make trip to Metrodome >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The defending world champion Boston Red Sox make their lone
regular-season visit to the Metrodome this weekend, when the American League
powerhouses start up a four-game series with the Minnesota Twins that begins
this evenin
D'Backs, Cubs start series at Wrigley >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - A pair of playoff hopefuls get together for a three-game
series that begins this afternoon at Wrigley Field, where the Chicago Cubs
host the Arizona Diamondbacks in the first meeting between the teams since
last year's Natio
White Sox start trip at Safeco >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Chicago White Sox start up a 10-game road trip with
tonight's visit to Seattle's Safeco Field, where the club will begin a three-
game series with the badly-struggling Seattle Mariners.
Seattle has dropped eight of it
American Idol odds : Blake Lewis the Early Standout
An important American Idol betting lines recap from February 20 Guys episode. The 12 men came out flat overall with Blake Lewis appearing to have the early edge after the first hour and a half.
Rudy - was quite good singing "Free Ride" to start off. Randy was not impressed though. Paula thought he started off fantastic. "Never had anyone stop off so lively" said Paula but Simon (who does not like Rudy) does not feel he has a distinct voice and was not impressed either.
Brandon was a little pitchy according to Randy and Paula agreed. Simon said he was a good singer but the song was "too safe" and he needs to make an impact. He was listed at +1200 odds or $1200 paid out on a $100 bet should he win the competition.
Big favorite Sundance came in with a flat version of "Knights in White Satin" and the judges let him have it, including Paula. Randy claimed the song was out of pitch throughout.
Korean American - and a Jenny Woo favorite - Paul Kim was up next. Another pitchy flat one but Randy said he still liked his potential. Kim at +3000 odds was said to have sung a "third rate version of that (George Michael) song" according to Simon Cowell. He sang "Careless Whisper".
22 year old Chris Richardson was up next. He was listed with +1100 odds coming in. He got the best response from the judges though Simon did not believe the vocal was that great.
Nick was boring and pitchy. Simon didn't think he was that bad though and predicted he would be back next week. Nick Pedro was a big +3000 dog coming into this competition.
Beat boxer Blake Lewis was listed with early +1000 odds or $1000 payout on a $100 bet if he were to become the next American Idol winner odds . These of course were the early odds. He was considered original for picking an "odd song". He did not beat box and the judges felt it was the best vocal of the night.
Sanjaya came in as the second biggest favorite after Chris Sligh but his performance Tuesday night was not very good.
Chris Sleigh was the early favorite at +450 odds. Great voice and a great sense of humor. He's a real standout. Randy felt it was on point but maybe ahead of the chorus a little bit. Simon Cowell said he felt like he was in some "sort of weird student gig".
Jared Cotter followed. He was listed with +2000 odds early on to win the competition. The judges felt he needs to take more risks but looked good.
22-year old AJ Talbado, who has tried out for American Idol five times, was up next. "Kind of a theme park performance" said Simon. Though the judges felt he performed okay. Simon did feel AJ might be better than he originally thought.
Phil - this season's military favorite - came into this competition with +1200 odds to win the competition. He was the last to perform. He was certainly strong enough to get through this stage of the competition and perhaps the best one after a shaky start.
Tomorrow night, the ladies perform and I sure hope they do a better job than the boys. Check out all the American Idol betting odds here.
To visit this online sportsbook got to MySportsbook.com - this sportsbook accepts credit cards.
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