Hawpe's late hit helps Rockies edge error-prone Dodgers

Baseball Betting Lines

08/21/2008 - Los Angeles, CA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Brad Hawpe knocked in the go-ahead run in top of the ninth inning, as the Colorado Rockies rallied past the Los Angeles Dodgers, 4-3, in the middle test of a three-game series from Chavez Ravine.

Hawpe finished 2-for-4 with a walk and drove in three runs for Colorado, which has won five games in a row to match its season-high. Troy Tulowitzki clubbed his fifth home run of the season.

"Hits have been falling in for men," Hawpe said. "That's the key, hit them where they ain't."

Jeff Francis allowed three runs -- one earned -- on nine hits and fanned four over six innings, but did not factor into the decision. The comeback made a winner out of Taylor Buchholz (6-3), who tossed a scoreless eighth.

Russell Martin and Jeff Kent each had two hits for the Dodgers, who have lost three of their last four games to fall two games behind Arizona for first place in the NL West. The Diamondbacks posted an 8-6 win over San Diego on Wednesday.

The Dodgers were done in by a season-high four errors.

Chad Billingsley got a no-decision after he was tagged for two runs on five hits with six strikeouts and four walks over six frames. Chan Ho Park pitched two innings and gave up an unearned run, while Jonathan Broxton (3-5) surrendered a run in the ninth to take the loss.

"We gave away too much tonight," Los Angeles manager Joe Torre said. "Billingsley pitched his butt off, but we gave them too many outs."

Broxton took over on the mound in the ninth and promptly drilled Matt Holliday on the left shoulder with a 97-mph fastball. Holliday then stole second, advanced to third when Danny Ardoin's throw skipped into the outfield and scored the go-ahead run on a single by Hawpe.

In the home half, Brian Fuentes got Martin to fly out and fanned Ardoin and James Loney to notch his 24th save.

Los Angeles got a run in the first. Juan Pierre led off the frame with a single, swiped second and Matt Kemp singled him home for a 1-0 advantage. Colorado looked to even the score in the second, but Kemp gunned down the potential tying run at the plate.

Ian Stewart doubled to begin the inning and Francis slapped a two-out single to right field, but Kemp came up with a perfect throw to Ardoin, who applied the tag and maintained possession following the collision.

The Dodgers picked up two more runs in their half of the second. Nomar Garciaparra had a leadoff single and Martin doubled down the left-field line with one away. Ardoin then hit a bouncer that Tulowitzki knocked down, but was unable to control as the ball rolled onto the outfield grass. The carom allowed the two runners to score for a 3-0 Dodgers lead.

Tulowitzki's two-out blast in the fourth put Colorado on the board. The visitors then loaded the bases with no outs in the fifth on a double by Francis, a walk to Omar Quintanilla and a bunt single by Willy Taveras. After Holliday grounded into a fielder's choice, Hawpe reached first on Casey Blake's fielding error, plating Quintanilla. The Rockies were bidding for more, but Garrett Atkins grounded into a 5-2-3 double play to spoil the rally.

With one gone in the seventh, Taveras reached base on Martin's throwing miscue and later scored on a Hawpe single for a 3-3 tie.

Game Notes

The Dodgers committed four errors in a game for the first time since August 2005...Colorado has won six straight road contests...The Rockies left 11 men on base, while the Dodgers stranded six...The Rockies placed pitcher Matt Herges on the 15-day disabled list with lower back stiffness Wednesday and recalled pitcher Ryan Speier from Triple-A Colorado Springs...Colorado's Jorge De La Rosa (6-6) and Los Angeles' Derek Lowe (9-10) are scheduled to start the series finale on Thursday.

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MySportsbook.com week 1 NFL lines


Now that the 2008 NFL schedule is finally out, it is only matter-of-course for lines on “Week 1” to follow.  Of course MySportsbook.com is the first to churn out odds for the NFL’s inaugural week for the upcoming season.   Expect a lot of fireworks the first Thursday night of the season as the defending champion Indianapolis Colts face off against the surprise of the 2008 season, the New Orleans Saints.  These teams were ranked #1 and #3 in the NFL respectively a season ago so a high scoring affair could be in order.  As of now, the Colts will be giving 6 points to the Saints; keep in mind the Saints were one of the better road teams last season going 6-3 SU and 7-2 ATS.  The first Monday night of the season will again provide a “double feature”. Coming off a disappointing season, the Cincinnati Bengals will look to get back to playoffs and improve their public image as they take on the AFC North favorite Baltimore Ravens.  The second game features a couple of teams that haven’t had too much success recently but each could make some noise if the NFC is as weak as it was last year as the San Francisco 49ers host the Arizona Cardinals. The most interesting game of the opening week will feature the NFC champion Bears as they hit the road to take on the NFL’s top team during last year’s regular season, the San Diego Chargers.

MySportsbook.com Week 1 odds:

Saints +6 @ Colts -6

Falcons @ Vikings (pick ‘em)

Panthers @ Rams (pick ‘em)

Broncos -3.5 @ Bills +3.5

Chiefs -1 @ Texans +1

Dolphins +3 @ Redskins -3

Patriots -5 @ Jets +5

Eagles -3.5 @ Packers +3.5

Steelers -4 @ Browns +4

Titans +6 @ Jaguars -6

Bears +6 @ Chargers -6

Lions +3 @ Raiders -3

Bucs +6.5 @ Seahawks -6.5

Giants +4 @ Cowboys -4

Ravens +3 @ Bengals -3

Cardinals +3 @ 49ers -3

 Super Bowl line (2008)

NFC +6.5 vs. AFC -6.5

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Pacific-10 Conference odds

Teams that should be in: Stanford

Oregon and USC get their tickets punched after taking care of business this weekend. Yes, the Trojans' computer numbers aren't great, but there's no way the third-place team in this league is getting nixed. Grudgingly, I added Arizona after consultation with our Bracketologist. I don't know that Arizona will lose its last three (including a Pac-10 quarterfinal game), and even if the Cats do, I still can't see how they'd be left out, given the overall profile. That said, it bears watching, as three more L's would leave them at 18-12 (9-9) and on a 6-11 skid entering the Dance. It would be nice to see the Wildcats get at least one W in the Bay Area next week, as Cincinnati (albeit without Armein Kirkland and with a worse profile) was axed after a similar slide last season. I just couldn't rationalize having some of the other teams as locks and not having Arizona in that category -- there just aren't enough good teams behind the Cats to threaten their spot, it seems. Stanford has its fate in its own hands with the Arizona schools coming to the Farm to close out the regular season next weekend.

Should be in:

Stanford [17-10 (9-7), RPI: 40, SOS: 21] No shame in not getting a win in L.A., but that makes the home game against Arizona State a must-win ahead of what could be an intriguing meeting with Arizona should the Cats lose at Cal. Getting to 11 Pac-10 wins would make Selection Sunday much more comfortable, but 10's probably more than enough this season. The Cardinal have nonconference wins over Texas Tech and at Virginia to lean on, although they also lost badly to Air Force and Santa Clara at home.

Southeastern Conference odds
Work left to do: Alabama, Georgia, Mississippi, Mississippi State

It looks more and more possible that no one from the SEC West will make the NCAAs. How weird is that? Tennessee and Vandy move into the locks category after more good work this weekend. Kentucky stays there, although it would be smart for the Cats to handle Georgia at home Wednesday ahead of a trip to the Swamp. Could a disaster scenario (two more L's and a first-round SEC tourney exit) somehow dislodge the Cats despite their incredible computer numbers? Still unlikely, but not worth chancing it.

Work left to do:

Alabama [19-9 (6-8), RPI: 43, SOS: 47] The tough L at Tennessee was understandable, and even created some hope. Unfortunately, that hope was dashed by a home loss to Auburn, which leaves the Tide in some real trouble. There's still no signature win on the profile (no, Kentucky doesn't count), and the computer profile is weakening rapidly. The Tide conceivably could beat Ole Miss and win at Miss. State to get to 8-8 and clinch at least a share of the West crown, but that's probably not enough right now. The Tide will need to do some work in the SEC tourney.

Georgia [16-10 (8-6), RPI: 52, SOS: 23] This is the team with the best chance to make it from this section right now. The Bulldogs rebounded from a terrible performance at Ole Miss to beat down Miss. State. Now they are at Kentucky (king of the RPI 51-100 win) and home to Tennessee. That would be worth a lot of computer points to get both (which is doable), as both teams are in the top 11 in RPI. Finishing at least 9-7 is an absolute must, and I would feel much better about the Dawgs' chances if they got both to get to 10 SEC wins. They also beat Gonzaga, but lost to ACC bubblers Georgia Tech and Clemson.

Mississippi [18-10 (7-7), RPI: 63, SOS: 79] Like everyone else in this division, Ole Miss gacked up a chance to stake a claim, losing by double figures at South Carolina. Even 9-7 likely is not nearly enough with a nonconference profile devoid of anything notable.

Mississippi State [16-11 (7-7), RPI: 66, SOS: 37] With a chance to get in the mix, these Bulldogs were leashed by their Georgia counterparts. Could they get to 9-7? I guess -- although winning at Arkansas, then beating Alabama is no lock -- but would that mean all that much for a team with this overall profile? Probably not. There's nothing of note (on the good side) in the nonconference profile.

For more College Basketball betting lines go to MySportsbook.com

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