Freel's HR lifts Reds over Marlins

Baseball Betting Lines

07/20/2007 - Miami, FL (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Ryan Freel's three-run homer in the eighth lifted the Cincinnati Reds over the Florida Marlins, 7-5, in the opener of a four- game set at Dolphin Stadium.

Adam Dunn knocked in a pair of runs while Javier Valentin went 2-for-5 with an RBI and a run scored for the Reds, who have won four in a row.

Miguel Olivo and Josh Willingham both went deep for Florida, which has dropped three of four.

Cincinnati coughed up an early three-run lead, and was trailing 5-3 heading into the eighth. Valentin started the frame off with a double, though, and Edwin Encarnacion followed with a single. Norris Hopper came up next and brought one run in with a base hit.

Jeff Keppinger then put down a sacrifice bunt before Freel launched an Armando Benitez (2-5) offering over the left-field wall.

Todd Coffey (2-1) and David Weathers shut the door from there, with Weathers working the ninth for his 19th save.

Matt Belisle got the start for the Reds and allowed five runs over 4 2/3 frames. His opponent, Sergio Mitre, yielded three runs over six-plus innings.

The Reds put up a three-spot in the first to forge ahead. With two on and two out, Dunn cracked a double to right that cleared the bases and put the Reds up 2-0. Valentin followed with a double of his own to cap the inning.

Florida responded, though, with five unanswered runs.

The first came in the second inning courtesy of Hanley Ramirez's RBI single. The Marlins then went ahead in the fourth, as Olivo blasted a two-run homer to left and Dan Uggla doubled in Alfredo Amezaga later in the frame.

Willingham tacked on a solo homer in the fifth -- his 15th long ball of the season -- to increase the Florida lead to 5-3.

Game Notes

The Reds placed right-hander Aaron Harang on the bereavement list Thursday, purchased the contract of Ricky Stone from Triple-A Louisville, and transferred pitcher Eric Milton to the 60-day disabled list...The Marlins activated outfielder Cody Ross from the 60-day disabled list and optioned outfielder Eric Reed to Albuquerque (PCL).

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MySportsbook.com and Kentucky Derby Offer Bonuses
The 2008 Kentucky Derby has announced a $1-million bonus for this weekend’s 134th ‘Run for the Roses’ and MySportsbook.com is doing the same.

Well, not quite $1 million, but MySportsbook.com is offering a 75% rebate for Kentucky Derby lines. Check out the exclusive horse racing bonus for all the details.

According to MySportsbook.com, the favorites for Saturday’s Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky are: Curlin (+250); Street Sense (+500); Scat Daddy (+700); Circular Quay (+750); and Nobiz Like Shobiz (+800).

Derby organizers announced this week that there will be a $1-million bonus at the 2007 Kentucky Derby odds if the first-place horse wins by more than 6 1/2 lengths – the margin of Barbaro's victory last year. The bonus would be divided Saturday among the winning trainer, jockey, owner and a charity, with each receiving 25 percent. The designated charity is the Barbaro Memorial Fund.

''It's certainly creative, it's certainly fun and it has something for the horsemen, which we always want to embrace,'' Churchill Downs president and chief executive Robert Evans said at a news conference. ''What's really cool is it will force us to remember Barbaro.''
    
Meanwhile, the Derby favorite – Curlin – is going against the odds this year. It's been 125 years since Apollo won after skipping his 2-year-old season, and not since Regret in 1915 has such a lightly seasoned horse worn the blanket of red roses.

Arkansas Derby winner Curlin – unbeaten in three career races – tries to overcome both those obstacles in Saturday's 133rd Derby.

''We're not running against history,'' trainer Steve Asmussen said Monday. ''We're running against who they load up.''

Six other horses have run in the Derby without benefit of 2-year-old races and with three or fewer starts. The best any of them managed was a sixth-place finish by Showing Up last year.
   
Asmussen dismissed suggestions that Curlin's lack of racing experience could keep him from the winner's circle.

”He exudes confidence and he's got a great presence about him,'' the trainer said. ''I feel great about the position we're in. He's not worried about anything, why should you be?''
   
The Kentucky Derby is at 4:04 p.m., ET Saturday.

For complete odds on the Kentucky Derby, visit MySportsbook.com. Mysportsbook.com online sportsbook accepts Visa and Mastercard credit cards.


Brandon Roy Favorite to Win 2007 NBA Rookie of the Year

Portland TrailBlazer’s guard, Brandon Roy, is MySportsbook.com’s overwhelming favorite to win the NBA Rookie of the Year odds.

Despite missing 20 games due to an injury earlier this season, Roy has definitely put up the best numbers of his 1st year peers. In 32 games, Roy is averaging 15.3 PPG, 4.2 boards and 3.5 assists in over 33 minutes of play per game. While most rookies breakdown as the season progresses (see Morrison), Roy is only getting stronger as his playing time and scoring average has increased each month.

With 30 or so games left in the regular season, Roy isn’t a lock for the award by any means. Other rookies are putting together some pretty impressive campaigns and a few could give Roy a run for the award with increased playing time. Heading the list is first pick, Andrea Bargnani of the Toronto Raptors. Even though he has started only two games all season, Bargnani is averaging 10.3 PPPG while shooting 35% from deep.

Randy Foye of the Minnesota Timberwolves could be set to give Roy the best competition NBA Rookie of the Year betting lines. With the benching of Mike James, Foye looks like he could be the starter in the T-Wolves backcourt for the rest of the season. So far, Foye has averaged 9 PPG and 2.4 assists in just under 21 minutes per game. With his new role of starter, Foye’s numbers will definitely increase. In his first game as the new starting guard this past Sunday, Foye had 10 points; five rebounds and 8 assists. More importantly, he logged 34 minutes of playing time; his third highest run of the season.

Adam Morrison, of the Charlotte Bobcats, was the favorite early on in the season after averaging 15+ PPG through the first month of the season. Ever since his torrid start, Morrison’s point production has declined each month. This really isn’t surprising, considering at 6’8” he only weighs 205 lbs. Obviously he will need to hit the weights big time during the off-season in order to keep from breaking down in the future.

Be sure to log on to MySportsbook.com to bet on the NBA. With the regular season about to hit the homestretch, it is important to point out that MySportsbook.com has the highest credit card acceptance rate in the industry.

To visit this online sportsbook got to MySportsbook.com - this sportsbook accepts credit cards.