Bruce's homer lifts Reds over Braves in 10th; Griffey hits No. 599

Baseball Betting Lines

05/31/2008 - Cincinnati, OH (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Jay Bruce made his first major-league home run a game-winner, lifting the Cincinnati Reds to an 8-7 victory in 10 innings over the Atlanta Braves in the middle contest of a three-game set.

Ken Griffey Jr. blasted his 599th career home run, doubled and drove in three runs. But Bruce, who continued his hot start with three hits and a walk, stole the show.

Manny Acosta started the 10th with a strikeout of Jerry Hairston Jr., but Bruce followed by taking Acosta's pitch deep to right, giving the Reds their second consecutive extra-inning win. Cincinnati edged Atlanta on Friday, 3-2, in 11 innings.

Bruce's blast made a winner of Francisco Cordero (2-0), who entered for the 10th and allowed a leadoff single to Josh Anderson, but worked around it and got Mark Teixeira to line out to end the inning. Acosta (3-2) took the loss.

The Reds were only in position to win the game in extra innings because of a ninth-inning tally. Rafael Soriano walked Adam Dunn to start the frame, and pinch-runner Ryan Freel moved to third on a one-out single from Joey Votto.

David Ross grounded weakly to Soriano, who looked the runner back, but Freel raced home anyway as Soriano flipped to first for the out.

Teixeira then went home with a throw, but wasn't able to get Freel, who was safe and tied the game at 7-7. Braves manager Bobby Cox was ejected arguing the call, and the teams went to the 10th inning.

The Reds have now won four of five, despite a shaky start from Josh Fogg, who lasted only 3 1/3 innings and gave up six runs on seven hits and two walks.

Braves starter Jair Jurrjens didn't fare much better, as he also allowed six runs, on nine hits and six walks in just 4 1/3 innings.

Jeff Francoeur, Teixeira and Greg Norton added home runs for the Braves. Chipper Jones had two hits and three walks to raise his MLB-best average to .413 for Atlanta, which has dropped four of five.

The Reds wasted no time in getting to Jurrjens in the first. Bruce smacked a one-out single to center followed by Griffey's 599th home run, a line shot into the seats in right. Brandon Phillips followed that by cranking a homer to left, his 11th of the season.

Atlanta answered in the second by cutting the Reds' lead to one. Francoeur looped a lead-off single to left, and Norton took a full-count slider to the seats in right-center to bring the Braves within 3-2.

Cincinnati came right back in the home half, leading off with back-to-back singles from Hairston and Bruce. Hairston, who advanced to third on Bruce's knock, scored on a Griffey sacrifice fly. Edwin Encarnacion lined a two-out single to left three batters later, giving the Reds a 5-2 lead.

But Atlanta again fired back and tied the game in the third. Kelly Johnson took a leadoff double to right and Jones followed with a walk. Teixeira then clobbered a three-run shot to dead center to even things up.

Jurrjens helped himself in the fourth, leading off with a triple to right. Johnson brought him in with a one-out single off the newly inserted Jeremy Affeldt.

One inning later Jurrjens was in trouble, loading the bases on a single, double and a walk with one out. Hairston moved the runners along with a single to knot things up at 6-6 and chase Jurrjens from the game.

Royce Ring came on and induced a double-play groundout from Bruce to end the threat.

Francoeur broke open a tie game in the seventh, greeting David Weathers with a line-drive homer to right-center to start the frame.

Game Notes

Griffey remains 10 shy of Sammy Sosa (609) for fifth on the all-time home run list and looks to become only the sixth player ever to reach 600...The Reds took six of seven contests from Atlanta last season...Bobby Cox was ejected for the third time this season...Hairston extended his hitting streak to eight games...Jurrjens' six walks were a career-high.

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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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Academy Award Betting Odds for Best Picture Offer Great Value

If there is any category that is not an obvious win for any one nominee in this year's Academy Awards, it would be for Best Picture.  Sure the Departed is a 5/7 favorite, but that's hardly anything when we look at Helen Mirren and her "out-of-reach" 1 to 40 odds (which means you would win a whopping $1 for every $40 bet).

For value, take a look at MySportsbook.com Oscars betting odds on my personal favorite, The Queen - a remarkable 12 to 1 long shot.  The film hasn't won any pre-awards for Best Picture (compared to The Departed and Little Miss Sunshine), but there is a tremendous following and it is a strong enough film to warrant a surprise win.

TV Guide advises Oscar watchers should be cautioned not to discount the  drama "Babel" with its strong social themes about overcoming communication gaps among people of different cultures.

"While 'Babel' lost several guild awards to 'Sunshine' and 'Departed,'  it still enjoys loyal support, and historically Oscar voters favor dramas with social messages over comedies like 'Sunshine' and violent crime movies like 'Departed'."

"It hasn't done well in the guilds, which means there isn't much industry support," said Tom O'Neil of awards site TheEnvelope.com, "But several critics are expecting it to win, and that gets my attention." Babel had 7 to 2 odds at press time.

Who is to say independently produced Little Miss Sunshine won't be this year's Crash.  Last year, Crash won for Best Motion Picture, shocking those who bet on gay cowboy flick, Brokeback Mountain, as the favorite to win. 

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