08/28/2008 - Anaheim, CA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Emil Brown hit a two-run homer and finished with three runs driven in, while Rajai Davis scored twice and notched his first career four-hit game, as the Oakland Athletics edged the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, 6-5, in the rubber match of a three-game set.
Bobby Crosby had a two-run double for the A's, who have alternated wins and losses for the last eight games. Eric Patterson went 2-for-4 and drove in a run in the win.
Starter Gio Gonzalez received a no-decision as he gave up four runs on three hits and five walks in three-plus innings of work. Huston Street (4-5) got the win as he tossed 1 2/3 innings of perfect relief with three strikeouts. Brad Ziegler recorded the final five outs to earn his sixth save of the year.
Erick Aybar went 2-for-4 with three RBI, before leaving with a hamstring issue, for the Angels, who have dropped nine of their last 14 games. Howie Kendrick had an RBI, but also left the game in the fourth with a tight hamstring.
Joe Saunders (14-7) took the loss as he lasted just 1 1/3 innings and yielded six runs on eight hits. Saunders now has two losses and no wins over his last five starts.
"What bothered me was not getting ahead of guys and not throwing strikes," Saunders said. "I need to start making adjustments, it's not a good feeling to let your team down."
Trailing 6-5 in the ninth inning, LA mounted a rally. Garret Anderson hit a grounder to short off Ziegler, but Crosby's throw to first sailed high and the runner was safe. Pinch-hitter Reggie Willits followed with a sac bunt that moved Anderson to second base and Robb Quinlan worked a walk. Juan Rivera, though, grounded into a 4-6-3 double play to end the game.
"I just try to get as many ground balls as I can," said Ziegler. "Those guys have been turning double plays for me all year."
Oakland got on the board in the first inning. Davis led off with a single, stole second and crossed home as Brown singled to right field for a 1-0 lead.
The A's tacked on five more runs in the second. Daric Barton led the frame off with a single, stole second and scored as Patterson singled back up the middle. Davis kept it going with a single and Crosby followed with a two-run double. Brown cleared the table with a homer to left-center field to chase Saunders in favor of Shane Loux and give Oakland a 6-0 lead.
The Angels rallied for four runs in the fourth. The bases were loaded as Anderson led off with a triple, Mike Napoli walked and Quinlan was hit by a pitch. Aybar followed with a two-run single and Alan Embree was called on in relief.
Gary Matthews was walked to load the bases and Kendrick plated a run as he grounded into a force out. Mark Teixeira closed out the scoring with an RBI single, and it was 6-4.
Napoli worked a one-out walk in the fifth before Santiago Casilla was summoned from the bullpen. Quinlan followed with a base-hit and Aybar made it 6-5 with an RBI single.
Game Notes
Angels manager Mike Scioscia was ejected in the seventh inning for arguing balls and strikes with home plate umpire Paul Schrieber...The Angels have not won any of their last five series...Oakland hadn't won in 12 consecutive sets prior to Wednesday's triumph...The Angels have won nine of the 16 meetings between these AL West foes in 2008 but fell to 5-5 vs. Oakland in the games played in Anaheim this year...Willits was activated from the 15-day disabled list earlier Wednesday. In a corresponding move, pitcher Jason Bulger was optioned to Triple-A Salt Lake.
<< Angels' Kendrick and Aybar leave game early
Anaheim, CA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim second baseman
Howie Kendrick and shortstop Erick Aybar both left Wednesday's 6-5 loss to
the Oakland Athletics with hamstring injuries.
Kendrick was running to second ba
<< Angels' Kendrick leaves game early
Anaheim, CA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim second baseman
Howie Kendrick left Wednesday's game against the Oakland Athletics in the
fourth inning with an injured leg.
Kendrick was running to second base on Mark
<< Ludwick leads Cards past Brewers
St. Louis, MO (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Ryan Ludwick finished 3-for-4 with two runs
batted in, as St. Louis used a four-run eighth inning to upend Milwaukee, 5-3,
and earn a split in the two-game set with the Brewers.
Albert Pujols and Yadier Mo
<< Roddick, Djokovic, Davydenko cruise in Big Apple
Flushing Meadows, NY (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - American Andy Roddick along with
last year's runner-up Novak Djokovic of Serbia and Russian star Nikolay
Davydenko were easy first-round winners Wednesday at the U.S. Open.
Third-seeded D
Red Sox hoping to pay last respects to Yankee Stadium with sweep >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Jon Lester attempts to bounce back from one of his worst
starts of the season this afternoon, when the Boston Red Sox try to complete a
three-game sweep of the New York Yankees in what will likely be the final game
played
Around FCS: CAA Heavyweights Take Aim For Title >>
Philadelphia (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Every week in the Colonial Athletic
Association is something akin to a series of heavyweight elimination bouts.
The contestants get battered and bruised and a team or two is eventually is
left standing with
Harang targets back-to-back wins in finale with Astros >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Right-hander Aaron Harang will try to win consecutive
starts for the first time this season tonight when the Cincinnati Reds close
out a three-game midweek series with the Houston Astros at Minute Maid Park.
Harang, a 16
Dodgers try to avoid sweep at hands of lowly Nats >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - If the Los Angeles Dodgers wind up eventually falling
short in their quest to win the National League West, the team will likely
point to its current road trip -- and in particular, this series with the
Washington Nationals
Eastern Conference Playoff Betting Trends
We all know by now that the “public” loves to put their money on the FAVORITES and the OVERS. Just by taking a quick glance at Sportsbook.com’s “Betting Trends” it appears as is this tendency will continue as far as the Eastern Conference games are concerned. For the inaugural games of the first round, 69% of the early money is on Toronto -4.5; 59% of bettors prefer Chicago -4.5; 84% are backing Detroit -9; and 56% think Cleveland -11.5 is the way to go. As far as TOTALS are concerned, the only UNDER the “public” is backing is the Cleveland/ Washington game in which 83% are pounding the UNDER (190). Remember, there is no better way to predict a possible line change than by monitoring MySportsbook.com’s “Betting Trends”. By determining who the “public” is backing, you can get the most ideal line for your bet. For example, if you are siding with the public you better place your bet before the line moves in the wrong direction. On the other side of the coin, if you prefer the team that the “public” is betting against; you might be able to get and extra ½ or even more by placing your bet a bit later. Under the “Betting Trends” section, Sportsbook.com also provides plenty of statistical data and trends in order for the bettor to make the most informed pick. Below are some extremely important trends for the first round opponents of the Eastern Conference match-ups, more can be found at MySportsbook.com
New Jersey Nets vs. Toronto Raptors
Toronto was the most reliable covering team this season with a 48-33-1 ATS record but covered the OVER only 41.5% of the time.
The last 20 times these teams have played, the TOTAL has gone UNDER 16 times.
Versus Eastern Conference teams, Toronto is 33-19 ATS including 17-9 at home.
New Jersey has covered four games in a row while Toronto has failed to cover their last four games.
When playing a team with a winning record during the second half of the season, New Jersey was just 5-13 ATS this season.
After scoring 105 points or more, Toronto has covered the OVER only 28% of the time this season.
Miami Heat @ Chicago Bulls
Miami has failed to cover their last 7 games whereas Chicago has covered 6 out of their last 8 games.
Miami has covered the UNDER in four of their last five games whereas Chicago has covered the UNDER in five out of their last six.
When playing on Saturdays, Miami covered 80% of their games this season.
Away from home, Chicago is just 16-25 ATS this season.
At home, Miami covered the UNDER about 66% of the time whereas Chicago covered the UNDER about 61% of the time.
The last 13 times these teams have played each other, Chicago has covered 9 times.
In Miami’s last 11 road games, the UNDER covered 9 times.
Orlando Magic @ Detroit Pistons
Detroit has covered 5 out of their last 6 games.
Away from home, Detroit is 28-13 ATS but just 14-26-1 ATS at home.
At home, Orlando covered the UNDER 64% of the time while Detroit covered the UNDER in 63% of their away games.
The last five times these teams have played in Detroit, the OVER covered each time.
Versus Eastern Conference teams, Detroit is 8-17-1 ATS at home but 17-9 ATS away.
Detroit covered the spread 5 out of the last 6 times they played Orlando.
After a Division game, Orlando covered the UNDER 87% of the time this season.
Washington Wizards @ Cleveland Cavaliers
In a home game where the TOTAL is between 190 and 194.5 points, Cleveland is 9-1 ATS this season.
Washington has covered the UNDER in their last 6 games and in 8 of their last 9 games.
The last 6 times these teams have played each other, the UNDER covered each time.
When playing on 3 or more days of rest, Washington is just 18-37 ATS since 1996.
Since 1996, Washington is 28-16 ATS versus Cleveland including 11-5 over the last 3 seasons.
In their last 7 road games, Washington is 6-1 ATS.
Versus Eastern Conference teams at home, Washington is just 6-18-2 ATS.
For even more betting trends for not just the NBA but for all of the major sports, log on to Sportsbook.com and click on “Trends”. With only two months left in the NBA betting season it is important to be as well informed as possible in order to maximize your profit. Also for all of you poker players, check out MySportsbook.com’s “WSOP Low Bid Auction”. You could be on your way to Vegas to play against the world’s best poker players for under a buck.
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