08/19/2008 - Milwaukee, WI (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Geoff Blum's sixth-inning three-run home run made the difference, as the Houston Astros beat Milwaukee, 5-2, in the second of three games with the Brewers.
Brian Moehler (9-4) took the win after limiting Milwaukee to two runs -- one earned -- despite giving up nine hits in 5 1/3 innings. He also walked one and struck out four.
Michael Bourn finished with a triple and two runs batted in, while Darin Erstad and Humberto Quintero each collected two hits for Houston, which has won two of three.
Ben Sheets (11-7) continued his struggles after giving up all five runs on five hits in six innings. He walked just one and struck out seven, but lost his second consecutive start, and has now dropped four of his past five.
Jason Kendall had three hits, while Mike Cameron and J.J. Hardy each drove in a run for the Brewers, who have lost four of six.
With the score knotted at two runs apiece headed into the sixth inning, Erstad got the Astros going with a leadoff single. After Erstad stole second, Bourn was hit with a pitch.
Ty Wigginton flied out and Lance Berkman followed with a strikeout, but Blum took advantage of the situation by blasting a three-run shot to right-center field to give Houston a 5-2 lead.
Kendall hit a one-out single in the sixth for Milwaukee, which forced Moehler out and brought in Chris Sampson, who got the final two outs of the inning. Geoff Geary worked a perfect seventh frame, LaTroy Hawkins was perfect in the eighth, and Jose Valverde notched his 32nd save of the season with a flawless ninth.
The Brewers took a first-inning lead. Ray Durham led off with a single and scored when Hardy followed with a double -- though Hardy was thrown out trying to get to third.
Milwaukee added another run in the second after Craig Counsell reached base when Berkman couldn't cleanly field his bunt. Cameron then doubled home Counsell for a 2-0 Brewers lead.
But Houston tied the game in the third. With one out, Quintero singled, though Moehler struck out. Erstad singled to put two runners on base, and Bourn sent them both home with his triple to right.
Game Notes
Wigginton's 15-game hitting streak came to an end after an 0-for-4 night...Valverde's save was the 130th of his career, which broke a tie with Antonio Alfonseca and Kazuhiro Sasaki for 81st all-time. It also broke a tie with Alfonseca for fourth-most all-time by a Dominican-born player.
<< Richard, White Sox blank Mariners
Chicago, IL (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Clayton Richard earned his first career victory
with six shutout innings as the White Sox blanked the Seattle Mariners, 5-0,
at U.S. Cellular Field.
Richard (1-2) allowed five hits, struck out two and walk
<< Harden, Cubs blank Reds
Chicago, IL (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Rich Harden dominated for seven innings, and
the Cubs tagged the Cincinnati bullpen for four runs in the eighth as Chicago
downed the Reds, 5-0, in the opener of a three-game set.
Harden (3-1) surrendered
<< New AL-best Rays top Angels with help from Shields, Aybar
St. Petersburg, FL (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Willie Aybar had a two-run single in a
decisive eighth and James Shields tossed eight effective innings, as the Tampa
Bay Rays downed the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim 4-2, in the middle contest
of a th
<< Big eighth inning helps Mets top Braves
Flushing, NY (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Carlos Delgado's two-run double was part of a
five-run eighth inning, as the New York Mets took a 7-3 win over the Atlanta
Braves in the opener of a three-game set at Shea Stadium.
Damion Easley hit a tw
Joyce homers twice as Tigers rout Rangers >>
Arlington, TX (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Matt Joyce hit a pair of homers and finished
with four runs driven in, as the Detroit Tigers used a nine-run seventh to
crush the Texas Rangers, 11-3, in the middle contest of a three-game set.
Edgar Re
Royals starter Hochevar leaves games >>
Cleveland, OH (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Kansas City Royals starting pitcher Luke
Hochevar left Tuesday's 9-4 loss to the Cleveland Indians with tightness in
his right ribcage.
Hochevar hurled five innings but did not return for the six
Rangers' Bradley leaves game >>
Arlington, TX (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Texas Rangers designated hitter Milton
Bradley left Tuesday's 11-3 loss to the Detroit Tigers with soreness in his
left knee.
Bradley was 0-for-2 with a walk and run scored before being removed fr
Royals pick up Wells >>
Kansas City, MO (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Kansas City Royals signed Kip Wells to
a contract which will expire at the end of the 2008 season on Tuesday.
The 31-year-old Wells, who was released by the Rockies last week, missed over
two months t
JUPITER, Fla. -- The Foorida Marlins are preparing for the likelihood that right-hander
Josh Johnson won't be ready when the season starts April 2.
Grapefruit League action starts Wednesday, but Johnson, penciled in as the No. 2 starter, hasn't even thrown off a mound at full speed since September. He's experienced some soreness in his right forearm.
MySportsbook.com have the Marlins listed with baseball betting lines at +800 to win the NL East this season .
''You guys know the math. If he's not on the hill then he becomes an opening day roster issue,'' manager Fredi Gonzalez said Saturday. ''We're borderline now.''
Johnson, who finished 12-7 with a 3.10 ERA in 2007, was supposed to throw on flat ground Saturday. That was canceled when he woke up with pain.
He played catch on Wednesday with no pain but felt discomfort in a throwing session on Thursday. He's expected to try again Sunday.
''Like we always said from the very beginning, we're going to take it easy on him,'' Gonzalez said. ''He didn't feel right, so we shut him down. We're going to take it back to step one and see where we're at.''
Among the candidates to take Johnson's spot in the rotation are left-hander Chris George and right-handers Yusmeiro Petit and Jose Garcia.
Right-hander Sergio Mitre, who missed most of last season with arm and shoulder problems, also is behind.
With Johnson's status doubtful, Gonzalez said right-hander Ricky Nolasco will stay in the rotation and no longer will be considered a candidate for closer.
Additional basbeall odds can be found at: www.MySportsbook.com
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