07/23/2008 - Houston, TX (Baseball Betting) - Doug Mientkiewicz went 4-for-4 with a pair of runs batted in, and the Pittsburgh Pirates won a wild, 8-7, decision over the Houston Astros in the finale of a three-game series at Minute Maid Park.
Jason Bay belted a two-run home run for the Pirates, who pulled off a sweep of Houston on the heels of a five-game losing streak. Xavier Nady and Freddy Sanchez each went 2-for-5, while Nate McLouth reached base three times and scored twice.
Franquelis Osoria (4-3) tossed two perfect innings to earn the win in relief of Ian Snell, who was battered for five runs on six hits in three innings. Damaso Marte worked a scoreless ninth to notch his fifth save.
Mark Loretta went 3-for-5 with two RBI for the Astros, losers of four straight after a four-game win streak. Kaz Matsui homered, drew three walks and scored three times, while Brad Ausmus added an RBI double.
Geoff Geary (2-2) was tagged for two runs in two innings and dropped the decision behind Brian Moehler, who was rocked for six runs -- five earned -- on nine hits in just 2 1/3 frames.
With the game knotted at 6-6, the Pirates forged ahead by two against Geary in the seventh. Singles by Ryan Doumit and Nady and a walk to Adam LaRoche loaded the bases with one out, and Mientkiewicz's single pushed the go-ahead run across. Pinch-hitter Jason Michaels then grounded into a force out that extended the gap to 8-6.
Houston pulled a run back in the bottom half on Geoff Blum's run-scoring single, but John Grabow came on in relief of Tyler Yates and retired pinch- hitter Darin Erstad to preserve the lead.
Grabow followed with a scoreless eighth, and Marte worked around a two-out walk to Ty Wigginton for the save, fanning pinch-hitter Miguel Tejada to complete the sweep.
The offenses started early, with each team rocking the opposing pitcher in the first. Pittsburgh ripped into Moehler, batting around and plating four runs. After a pair of singles to start the game, Doumit brought home a run with a sac fly. Bay followed with a long homer to left, and three batters later, Snell helped his own cause with an RBI single.
Houston responded with three runs against Snell, as the Astros loaded the bases with nobody out before Loretta's two-run single and Hunter Pence's run- scoring fielder's choice.
Pittsburgh tacked on another in the second when McLouth reached on a two-base error and scored on Freddy Sanchez's double, but Matsui's two-out solo blast in the home half pulled the Astros within 5-4.
Each team scored on back-to-back doubles in the third, with LaRoche and Mientkiewicz connecting for the Pirates and Wigginton and Ausmus picking up the hits for Houston.
However, Houston finally managed to keep the Pirates off the board in the fourth, then tied the game in their at-bat when Matsui walked, stole second and scored on Lance Berkman's single.
Game Notes
It was the sixth four-hit game of Mientkiewicz's career...Each team went 4- for-14 with runners in scoring position...Nady extended his hit streak to 12 games...Bay's homer was the 138th of his career, tying Hall of Famer Bill Mazeroski for eighth on the Pirates all-time list...The teams combined to use 11 pitcher, six for Pittsburgh, five for Houston...The Pirates batted Snell in the eighth spot of the lineup, and between pitchers and pinch-hitters, eight different players occupied that spot in the batting order during the game.
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In part two of MySportsbook.com’s draft preview, we’ll take a look at a division that was extremely disappointing last season: the NFC South. Many “experts” predicted the Panthers to represent the NFC in the Super Bowl, of course they could not even make the playoffs in an extremely weak NFC. The Saints definitely made up for the disappointing seasons of their NFC South brethren by exploding out of no where en route to the NFC Championship game. For the avid NFL gambler, it is imperative to pay attention to the NFL draft. Although free agency gets a ton of publicity, the successful franchises build their teams around the draft.
1. New Orleans Saints
Who would have thought this time last year that the Saints would be the favorites to win the NFC South for the 2007 campaign? New Orleans is loaded with firepower on the offensive side of the ball but with the exodus of Joe Horn they will most likely look to draft a WR on Day 1. Despite having the NFL’s 3rd ranked pass defense last season, the Saints will most likely upgrade their CB’s with one of their first two picks. Other possibilities for the Saints will be TE and DT. Because of where they will be selecting (27th), the Saints could go the “best available player” route which could net a LB.
Key additions: Eric Johnson TE, Troy Evans LB, David Patten WR
Key loses: Joe Horn WR,
Team needs: CB, WR, TE, LB, DT
Possible draftees: Aaron Ross CB Texas, Darrelle Revis CB Pitt, Ted Ginn Jr. WR OSU, Paul Posluszny LB PSU, Chris Houston CB Arkansas, Greg Olsen TE Miami
2. Carolina Panthers
Carolina was one of the biggest disappointments in the NFL last season. With the signing of David Carr, expect the very first quarterback controversy to come out of Carolina if Jake Delhomme doesn’t rebound quickly from an average 2007 season. With veteran safety Mike Minter getting up there in age, they will look to draft a safety on Day 1 but probably not in the first round. LB is another need with the loss of Chris Draft to go along with Dan Morgan’s concussion problems. If TE Greg Olsen is still on the board, he might be too good to pass up despite their needs on the defensive side of the ball.
Key additions: David Carr QB
Key loses: Chris Draft LB
Team needs: LB, TE, S, OT
Possible draftees: Greg Olsen TE Miami, Patrick Willis LB Ole Miss, Paul Posluszny LB PSU, Levi Brown OT PSU
3. Atlanta Falcons
The Falcons were another NFC South team to have a disappointing 2007 season. The Falcons have been plenty busy during the off season with plenty of players coming and going including a new head coach. The Falcons were able to improve their draft position with the trade of coveted backup QB Matt Schaub. High on the list of Day 1 needs will be a defensive end to replace Patrick Kerney and a hard hitting safety since Lawyer Milloy is nearing the end of his career. With an additional 2nd round pick, the Falcons could attempt to trade up to acquire local product WR Calvin Johnson.
Key additions: Joey Harrington QB, Toniu Fonoti OG, Joe Horn WR
Key loses: Justin Griffen RB, Patrick Kerney DE, Matt Lehr OG, Ashley Lelie WR, Matt Schaub QB
Team needs: DE, S, OT, WR, DT
Possible draftees: LaRon Landry S LSU, Amobi Okoye DT Louisville, Levi Brown OT PSU, Jamaal Anderson DE Arkansas, Alan Branch DT Michigan
4. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Age really caught up to the Bucs last season. The Bucs still have plenty of household names on defense in Ronde Barber, Simeon Rice and Derrick Brooks but the one thing those three have in common is unfortunately age. It is imperative for the Bucs to get much younger, especially on the defensive side of the ball. Despite having bigger needs on the defensive side of the ball, WR Calvin Johnson is the most likely pick if he is still available when the Bucs pick at the four spot. This would suit Bucs’ faithful just fine as Johnson is widely considered the top talent in the draft and it is a position of need for the Bucs.
Key additions: Jeff Garcia QB, Kevin Carter DE, Torrie Cox CB, Cato June LB
Key loses: Dewayne White DE, Sean Mahan OG
Team needs: WR, LB, DE, CB (Youth on defense!)
Possible draftees: Calvin Johnson WR Georgia Tech, Gains Adams DE Clemson, Jamaal Anderson DE Arkansas
It is never too early to start betting on the NFL. Log on to MySportsbook.com to checkout all of the NFL futures for the upcoming season. On the clock: the NFC North
Odds to win the NFC South:
New Orleans Saints 8-5
Carolina Panthers 2-1
Atlanta Falcons 12-5
Tampa Bay Buccaneers 9-2
Odds to win the NFC:
New Orleans Saints 13-2
Carolina Panthers 7-1
Atlanta Falcons 20-1
Tampa Bay Buccaneers 25-1
Odds to win the Super Bowl:
New Orleans Saints 18-1
Carolina Panthers 20-1
Atlanta Falcons 50-1
Tampa Bay Buccaneers 75-1
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