07/24/2008 - (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Oliver Perez tries to continue his mastery of the Philadelphia Phillies this afternoon, when the New York Mets play the pivotal rubber match of their three-game series with their National League East rivals at Shea Stadium.
Perez has been inconsistent all season but terrific in his three starts versus the Phillies, going 1-0 while not allowing a run in 18 1/3 innings of those outings. For his career he is 2-3 against Philadelphia with a 3.39 earned run average in 11 starts.
The 26-year-old left-hander was charged with the loss in his last start on Saturday against the Cincinnati Reds, surrendering three runs (2 earned) and six hits in six innings to drop to 6-6 on the year to go along with a 4.36 ERA.
Jose Reyes atoned for a critical fielding mistake in Tuesday's crushing loss to Philadelphia by hitting the go-ahead three-run home run in the sixth inning last night, helping New York to a 6-3 win.
Carlos Beltran and Marlon Anderson each chipped in an RBI in the win, while Damion Easley went 3-for-5 with an RBI for the Mets, who are just 2-3 over their last five games but moved back into a tie with Philadelphia atop the NL East.
John Maine (9-7) got the win after he went seven frames and yielded just three runs on six hits, while fanning five and walking two batters.
Brett Myers, who made his first start since being sent to the minors in late June to work on his mechanics, stamina and overall mental psyche, lasted five innings for the Phillies and was touched for three runs on three hits. He struck out two and walked a career-high five batters in a no-decision.
Ryan Madson (2-1) took over for Myers in the sixth and gave up back-to-back singles to Easley and Brian Schneider before Maine struck out on a foul bunt. Reyes then deposited a first-pitch changeup over the fence in right-center, giving the Mets a 6-3 lead they would not relinquish.
Billy Wagner, who was not available to close when the Mets blew a three-run ninth-inning lead in Tuesday's series opener, set down the Phillies in order in the ninth for his 25th save.
Shane Victorino and Geoff Jenkins hit solo home runs for the Phillies, who have dropped three of their last four. Jimmy Rollins had the other RBI for Philadelphia, which extended his hit streak to 10 games.
Getting the call for the Phillies this afternoon will be 45-year-old lefty Jamie Moyer, who has won his last two starts. Moyer defeated Florida on Friday, as he gave up two runs and four hits in six innings to improve to 9-6 on the season and lower his ERA to 3.90.
Moyer has faced the Mets 14 times over the course of his lengthy career and is 6-4 with a 2.77 ERA against them.
New York is 8-4 against the Phillies this season, including wins in four of the last five meetings in the series.
<< Report: NFL investigating Vikings for tampering with Favre
Minneapolis, MN (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - NFL security interviewed a number of
Minnesota Vikings officials on Tuesday regarding tampering charges levied by
the Green Bay Packers over Brett Favre.
The Minneapolis Star Tribune, citing peop
<< CFL Previews - Week 4 (July 24-27)
Toronto, Ontario (Sportsbook Betting Lines) -
CALGARY STAMPEDERS (3-1) AT WINNIPEG BLUE BOMBERS (0-4)
DATE & TIME: Thursday, July 24, 8 p.m. (et).
GAME NOTES: The Winnipeg Blue Bombers will have a new quarterback under
center.
Backu
<< Jankovic advances, Mattek stuns Vaidisova in L.A.
Carson, CA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Top-seeded Jelena Jankovic of Serbia topped
Vania King of the Unites States, while another American, Bethanie Mattek,
stunned 11th-seeded Nicole Vaidisova of the Czech Republic in the second round
of the
<< Johnson powers Cubs over D'Backs
Phoenix, AZ (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Reed Johnson hit a grand slam and Ted Lilly
was solid on the mound, as the Chicago Cubs avoided being swept with a 10-6
victory over the Arizona Diamondbacks.
Lilly (10-6) tossed six frames and was al
Halladay hopes to stay hot in Baltimore >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Toronto right-hander Roy Halladay can continue a
remarkable run of success against Baltimore today when the Blue Jays visit the
Orioles for the finale-and-a-half of a four-game series at Camden Yards.
Wednesday's contest
Rays visit Royals for four games >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Tampa Bay Rays will attempt to maintain their hold on
first place in the American League East when the up-and-coming club begins a
four-game series with the Kansas City Royals tonight at Kauffman Stadium.
Tampa Bay st
Padres, Pirates start series at PNC >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Right-hander Clay Hensley gets his first post-trade
opportunity in the San Diego starting rotation tonight when the Padres visit
the Pittsburgh Pirates in the first of four weekend games at PNC Park.
Hensley, who's not s
Cubs return home to face Marlins >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Chicago Cubs, co-owners of baseball's best home record
this season, open up a key four-game series with the playoff-hopeful Florida
Marlins tonight at Wrigley Field.
A return to the Windy City couldn't have come at a
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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