08/17/2008 - Miami, FL (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Reed Johnson's three-run double highlighted an eight-run seventh inning, as the Chicago Cubs pounded the Florida Marlins, 9-2, in the rubber match of a three-game set from Dolphin Stadium.
Johnson finished 4-for-5 and scored a run for the Cubs, who have won nine of their last 11 games. Aramis Ramirez and Alfonso Soriano each drove in two runs.
Ryan Dempster (14-5) gave up two runs on five hits and struck out 10 batters over six innings to pick up the win. The 31-year-old is one victory shy of tying his career-high set in 2001 with Florida.
Jorge Cantu had two hits and Luis Gonzalez added an RBI double for Florida, which has dropped four of its last five contests and trail New York by 4 1/2 games for first place in the NL East after the Mets blanked the Pittsburgh Pirates, 4-0, on Sunday, their sixth straight victory.
Chris Volstad allowed two runs on six hits in six-plus innings, but did not receive a decision. Renyel Pinto (2-5) was victimized for five runs on two hits and three walks in two-thirds of an inning and took the loss.
The Cubs erupted for eight runs in the seventh to erase a 2-0 deficit. Mike Fontenot began the frame with a double and Johnson singled to chase Volstad from the game. However, the Marlins bullpen came completely unglued. Pinto came on and walked pinch-hitter Mark DeRosa to load the bases, bringing up Soriano. The All-Star outfielder ripped a sinking liner past the glove of a sliding Gonzalez in left for a two-run double.
One out later, Pinto intentionally walked Derrek Lee to reload the bases for Ramirez, who gave the visitors the lead with a two-run double. Kosuke Fukudome's sacrifice fly knocked in the Cubs' fifth run. After Geovany Soto was given a free pass to first, Logan Kensing took over on the mound and walked pinch-hitter Ronny Cedeno before Johnson punched a bases-clearing double to the gap in left-center for an 8-2 Cubs lead.
The Cubs tacked on another run in the ninth on DeRosa's sac fly.
Chicago had two runners reach base in each of the first three frames, but the 16th overall pick in the 2005 draft managed to work out of trouble. The Marlins then scratched out a run in their half of the third. Cody Ross tripled off the left-field wall to begin the inning and scored on a John Baker groundout.
Although the Fish added a run in the sixth, the damage could have been much worse as they left the bases loaded. Hanley Ramirez drew a lead off walk and Gonzalez stroked a double for a 2-0 Marlins advantage. Cantu then slapped a single the other way and Jeremy Hermida was intentionally walked with two outs to load the bases for Ross, who lined out to Johnson in center.
Game Notes
The start of the game was delayed 22 minutes because of rain...Dempster struck out at least 10 batters for the 10th time in his career...Chicago won the season series, 4-3...Florida's Mike Jacobs and Dan Uggla both struck out four times.
<< Kang wins playoff for first Duramed Futures title
Richmond, VA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Haeji Kang defeated Sophia Sheridan in a
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Johnson finishe
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Washington, DC (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Argentina's Juan Martin del Potro continued
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Houston, TX (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Roy Oswalt tossed eight solid innings of one-
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Greensboro, NC (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Carl Pettersson caught fire in the middle of
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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.
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