08/27/2008 - St. Louis, MO (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Ryan Braun and Bill Hall each clubbed two-run homers, and Ben Sheets tossed six solid innings, as the Milwaukee Brewers pounded the St. Louis Cardinals, 12-0, in the opener of a quick two-game set at Busch Stadium with huge playoff implications.
Prince Fielder finished 3-for-6 with two RBI and a run scored for Milwaukee, which has reeled off five straight wins. Jason Kendall also drove in three runs in the victory.
Milwaukee, though, still trails the front-running Cubs by five games in the NL Central.
Sheets (12-7), who matched his career-high for wins in a season, scattered five hits, walked two and struck out four. The right-hander had struggled of late, going 2-6 over his last 10 starts coming into play.
Aaron Miles had two hits for the Cardinals, who have dropped a franchise-high seven straight to Milwaukee and find themselves 4 1/2 games behind the Brewers in the Wild Card.
Todd Wellemeyer (11-5) gave up five runs -- four earned -- on eight hits in six-plus innings to take the loss. He had been unbeaten in his last eight trips to the mound, posting a 4-0 record.
The Brewers posted a run in the opening frame on singles by Ray Durham, Braun and Fielder, and tacked on another run in the third when J.J. Hardy led off with a triple and later scored on a Fielder groundout.
Sheets worked out of tough situations in the third and fourth innings to preserve the 2-0 lead. Skip Schumaker had a one-out triple in the third and Ryan Ludwick drew a walk, but the right-hander retired the next two batters to emerge unscathed. In the next frame, Yadier Molina singled with one out, advanced to second on a wild pitch and moved to third on a Miles base hit. Sheets, though, settled down and fanned Wellemeyer and got Adam Kennedy to fly out to end the threat.
Durham drew a lead off walk in the fifth, stole second and later scored on Albert Pujols' throwing error. Milwaukee then extended its lead further in the seventh. Hardy led off with a single and Braun hammered a 3-2 offering from Wellemeyer over the left-field wall for a 5-0 Brewers advantage.
Milwaukee put the game out of reach with seven runs in the ninth. Braun and Fielder singled before Corey Hart ripped an RBI double. After Mike Cameron singled in a run, Brad Thompson was lifted for Jaime Garcia, who issued a walk to Craig Counsell to load the bases for Kendall, who cleared the bases with a double. One out later, pinch-hitter Hall capped the assault with a blast over the wall in center.
Game Notes
Wellemeyer lost for the first time since July 6 against the Cubs...Hardy extended his hitting streak to 11 games...Milwaukee left 10 men on base, while the Cardinals stranded eight...Durham left in the seventh inning with a right shoulder strain. He is listed as day-to-day...Sheets won 12 games in 2004 and 2007.
<< Bay, Red Sox take opener from Yankees
Bronx, NY (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Jeff Bailey and Jason Bay drove in two runs
apiece to lead the Boston Red Sox past the New York Yankees, 7-3, in the
opener of a three-game series that will serve as the final meeting
between
<< Ivanovic, Serena, Venus reach round two at the Open
Flushing Meadows, NY (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - World No. 1 Ana Ivanovic, former
top-ranked star Serena Williams and Venus Williams were among Tuesday's first-
round winners at the U.S. Open.
The Serbian Ivanovic, who's battled a thumb injury
<< Cubs use late rally to top Pirates
Pittsburgh, PA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Geovany Soto drove in seven runs and the
Chicago Cubs used a seven-run eighth inning to rally past the Pittsburgh
Pirates, 14-9, in the middle test of a three-game series at PNC Park.
Soto finishe
<< Federer advances at U.S. Open
Flushing Meadows, NY (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Roger Federer was among the first-
round winners Tuesday at the U.S. Open.
Switzerland's Federer, the second seed, had no problems in his first round
matchup as he dispatched Argentina's Max
Brewers' Durham leaves game >>
St. Louis, MO (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Milwaukee Brewers second baseman Ray Durham
left Tuesday's 12-0 victory over the St. Louis Cardinals in the seventh inning
with a right shoulder strain.
He is listed as day-to-day.
Durham, who was acqu
Phils Coste into first place >>
Philadelphia, PA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Chris Coste was 4-for-4 off the bench and
drove in the game-winning run with an RBI single in the bottom of the 13th
inning to lift the Philadelphia Phillies over the New York Mets, 8-7, in the
opener
M's shock Twins >>
Seattle, WA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Ryan Rowland-Smith threw seven strong innings
to help the Seattle Mariners to a 3-2 win in the second of three games at
Safeco Field against the Minnesota Twins.
Adrian Beltre went 3-for-4 with a run
Pads don't get sucked into Webb of lies, crush D'Backs >>
San Diego, CA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Brian Giles hit a three-run homer and Kevin
Kouzmanoff drove in three runs, as the San Diego Padres spoiled Brandon Webb's
bid for his 20th win with a 9-2 victory over the Arizona Diamondbacks in the
continu
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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 football betting.
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