07/24/2008 - San Francisco, CA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Matt Cain threw a four-hit shutout and Dave Roberts singled home the winning run in the eighth inning as the San Francisco Giants completed a three-game sweep over the Washington Nationals with a 1-0 victory.
Cain (6-8) spearheaded the Giants' first home sweep of the season, as the club completed a seven-game season-series sweep of the Nationals. The righty did not walk a batter and managed four strikeouts, tossing 81 of his 113 pitches for strikes in his first shutout since 2006.
Roberts, playing in his first game since April 7, was 2-for-4 at the plate, while Aaron Rowand added two hits for San Francisco, which was swept in three games by Milwaukee coming into the series.
Tim Redding (7-5) threw the first complete game of his seven-year career, but took the loss after allowing a run on seven hits with no walks and five strikeouts. Ryan Zimmerman and Cristian Guzman both doubled in the Nationals' sixth loss in eight games.
After 7 1/2 scoreless innings the Giants played small ball to account for the game's only run. Steve Holm led off the eighth with a single to left and Cain moved pinch-runner Eugenio Velez into scoring position with a sacrifice bunt.
Roberts went down 1-2 in the count, but managed to punch a single past a diving Guzman at short, and the speedy Velez scored without a throw.
Cain came out in the ninth to complete his shutout. After fanning Jesus Flores, Willie Harris beat out an infield single and Guzman doubled down the left field line.
After a brief coaching visit to the mound, Giants manager Bruce Bochy left Cain in the game and the decision proved correct. Zimmerman's pop fly to right wasn't deep enough to score a run, and Austin Kearns flied to right to conclude the pitching masterpiece.
Game Notes
The Giants are still a mere 20-31 at home this season...The 36-year-old Roberts was sidelined for most of the year after having knee surgery in April...Redding is still winless in eight appearances -- six starts -- against San Fran...It was the Giants first season sweep against an opponent since taking all six games against the Mets in 2002.
<< Wright State gives Brownell new six-year deal
Dayton, OH (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Wright State University signed head men's
basketball coach Brad Brownell to a new six-year contract on Thursday, keeping
him with the Raiders through the 2013-14 season.
Brownell, the Co-Coach of the Year
<< Royals place Gathright on DL
Kansas City, MO (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Kansas City Royals placed
outfielder Joey Gathright on the 15-day disabled list with a bone bruise in
his right shoulder and recalled outfielder Mitch Maier from Triple-A Omaha.
Gathrig
<< Padres reinstate Bard, recall Hampson, option Carlin and Thatcher
Pittsburgh, PA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The San Diego Padres reinstated catcher
Josh Bard from the 15-day disabled list and recalled pitcher Justin Hampson
from Triple-A Portland on Thursday.
Bard has been shelved since May 22 with a left
<< Knicks sign free agent Roberson
New York, NY (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The New York Knicks signed free agent guard
Anthony Roberson, the club announced Thursday.
Terms of the pact were not disclosed, although the New York Post reports it is
a two-year deal with the first year
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Oakland, CA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Golden State Warriors matched the
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Kelenna Azubuike Thursday. Per team policy, terms of the deal were not
disclos
Four share lead in Columbus >>
Columbus, OH (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Kelly Grunewald, Bill Lunde, Bryce Molder and
Dave Schultz each shot rounds of four-under 67 on Thursday to share the lead
after the first round of the Nationwide Children's Hospital Invitational.
Rich Barc
Yun takes out medalist at U.S. Junior >>
Shoal Creek, AL (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Andrew Yun, 17, parred the third extra hole
on Thursday to eliminate medalist Jorge Fernandez Valdes in the third round of
match play at the U.S. Junior Amateur Championship.
Yun trailed 2-down with two ho
Dynamo acquire Kamara from 'Quakes for draft pick, allocation >>
Houston, TX (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Houston Dynamo acquired 23-year-old
forward Kei Kamara in a trade with the San Jose Earthquakes, the team
announced on Thursday.
"Our goal has been to add depth at forward, and this move
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BILLS (+10) at Steelers SPORTSBOOK LINES
It's impossible to gauge how a team will react after something like the Steve Everett situation, and it probably doesn't matter. That being said, the Bills are going to lose several games this year where they keep things close but fall short in the end to superior teams. Ben Roethlisberger and company could have a field day against Buffalo's decimated defense, but I like the Bills to cover.
BENGALS (-7) at Browns SPORTSBOOK LINES
All you can ask out of your NFL team is that it has a plan. You may not always agree with it as a fan, but as long as it appears the organization is going in some sort of direction, you have to go with it. Which brings us to the Cleveland Browns. You flip a coin to determine whether Chuck Frye or Derek Anderson should start the preseason opener. You start Frye in Week 1, but pull him in the first half. And then you deal him to the Seahawks for a sixth-round pick? Hmm... the Bengals could get six turnovers again this week.
COLTS (-7) at Titans SPORTSBOOK LINES
Tennessee signed ex-Colts cornerback Nick Harper in the offseason so that should help slow down Peyton Manning. Just ask Jason David and the Saints. Oh wait... One of these weeks, I'm going to learn to not pick against Tennessee, which has won seven of its last eight games. But it's not happening against Indy.
TEXANS (+6.5) at Panthers SPORTSBOOK LINES
Houston's Mario Williams, the first pick in the '06 draft, has more touchdowns than Reggie Bush after one week. Somehow I don't see that lasting. Meanwhile, Carolina bottled up what was expected to be a pretty high-octane offense in St. Louis in Week 1. Could this be the Panthers' defense everyone expected last year? Maybe. This feels like a 20-16 Carolina win.
RAMS (-3) vs. 49ers SPORTSBOOKS LINES
Absolutely love this game. Everyone's favorite pick for this year's surprise team -- the 49ers -- laid an egg on Monday night (not that anyone was watching with the game ending in the middle of the night for those of us on the East Coast). St. Louis wasn't much better, delivering a lackluster effort against the Panthers that included two Steven Jackson fumbles and panic from his fantasy owners. Jackson rebounds this week, and the Rams get their first win.
PACKERS (+1.5) at Giants SPORTSBOOKS LINES
Do you really trust this guy to win an NFL game if Eli Manning can't go? I say no. I'd feel alot better about this Packers team if it had any semblance of a running game, but I still think Green Bay's defense is good enough to give it a 2-0 start.
JAGUARS (-10) vs. Falcons SPORTSBOOKS LINES
Does it scare me to pick Jacksonville to cover a double-digit spread after it scored just 10 points last week against the Titans? Absolutely. But can I bring myself to pick Atlanta under any circumstances? No. Check out this poll on ajc.com. It asks what Atlanta's most urgent deficiency is: offense, defense, specials teams or all of the above. "All of the above" has 57 percent of the votes. Ouch.
SAINTS (-3) at Buccaneers SPORTSBOOKS LINES
I'm picking way too many road teams this week. Oh well. New Orleans has had some time to reflect on its lackluster showing in the opener, and the Buccanneers just aren't a very good football team. Anyone else surprised Tampa Bay hasn't made a move to sign Byron Leftwich? I thought that's what they do.
VIKINGS (+3) at Lions SPORTS BETTING LINES
Run the ball and stop the run. Minnesota can do both, and that will keep them in a lot of games this season. Even though it was only one week, Adrian Peterson looks like he was a steal at No. 7 in last year's draft. Not only will he produce, but Peterson delivers excitement to what otherwise would be one of the league's most boring teams.
DOLPHINS (+3.5) vs. Cowboys SPORTS BETTING LINES
Lost in the Tony Romo lovefest is just how bad the Cowboys' defense was last week. I know they're banged up, but Dallas' 'D' allowed 438 yards to the Giants' offense, and backup running back Derrick Ward averaged 6.8 yards per carry. Meanwhile, Cam Cameron's decision to split carries between Ronnie Brown and Jesse Chatman sounds about as can't-miss as Larry David's plan to show up to Marty Funkhouser's party a night late. Still, gotta go with Miami to cover at home.
SEAHAWKS (-2.5) at Cardinals SPORTS BETTING LINES
I'm probably missing something, but this game seems too easy. Arizona blew Monday night's game against the 49ers in typical Cardinals fashion, and the Seahawks beat Tampa Bay by two touchdowns. Love Seattle in this one.
BRONCOS (-9.5) vs. Raiders SPORTS BETTING LINES
Special teams was a major story line in Week 1. Take a look at the Broncos. They had to rush on to the field to get a Jason Elam field goal as time expired against the Bills. Denver drove into Buffalo territory on eight of 10 drives but came away with just a pair of field goals and a touchdown. Look for more scoring from the Broncos this week against an Oakland defense that gave up 36 points to Detroit in Week 1.
BEARS (-12) vs. Chiefs SPORTS BETTING LINES
Everyone talks about Rex Grossman when dissecting the Bears' offense, but Chicago's quarterback got no help in last week's loss to the Chargers. Meanwhile, Kansas City confirmed what we all thought while watching Hard Knocks: The Chiefs are going to stink this year. It could be a rough first month for Larry Johnson fantasy owners. Kansas City's RB was limited to 43 yards on 10 carries in Week 1, and the Chiefs face the Bears, Vikings and Chargers the next three weeks, all formidable run defenses.
RAVENS (-10) vs. Jets SPORTS BETTING LINES
A big dose of Willis McGahee and a usual sound defensive effort will give the Ravens their first win. According to Football Outsiders, no team in the NFL rushed only three defenders on pass plays last year more than the Jets. And according to my special Jets correspondent Ben Stauber, New York did the same in Week 1. Whoever starts at quarterback for the Ravens should have all day to throw.
PATRIOTS (-3) vs. Chargers SPORTS TRASH TALK
Friends and I were discussing how Bill Belichick goes about paying his $500,000 fine for cheating. Does he just write one check to the NFL? Do you need some sort of clearance to make such a monstrous financial transaction? I guess I shouldn't complain about the security deposit I have to put down on my new apartment. Anyway, two of the league's best teams square off in what should be a good one Sunday night. The Patriots always respond well just when you think they're in trouble. And their offensive attack was the story in Week 1.
Note: Monday night game will be picked Monday. Lines used are from football betting.
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