Billingsley, red-hot Dodgers win fifth straight

Baseball Betting Lines

08/16/2008 - Los Angeles, CA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Chad Billingsley threw seven solid innings, and Casey Blake hit a two-run home run, as the Los Angeles Dodgers topped Milwaukee, 5-3, in the first of three games with the Brewers.

Billingsley (12-9) gave up three runs on five hits and a pair of walks while striking out five to pick up the victory. He did not factor into the decision in his past two starts, but has won three consecutive decisions.

Blake finished with three hits, as did Jeff Kent, while Russell Martin added a solo homer for the Dodgers, who have won five in a row. Los Angeles kept pace with Arizona for the top spot in the NL West, as the Diamondbacks beat Houston earlier Friday.

Manny Parra (9-6) took the loss after surrendering four runs on 10 hits in 5 2/3 frames. He has now dropped his past four decisions.

Gabe Kapler hit a two-run homer for Milwaukee, which has lost two straight after winning eight in a row. The Brewers' lead over St. Louis in the NL Wild Card race was trimmed to two games, as the Cardinals beat Cincinnati on Friday.

Milwaukee controlled the early portion of the game, thanks to Kapler's two- run, one-out homer in the first inning. Though the Dodgers scored one run in the home portion -- Manny Ramirez singled with runners on the corners -- the Brewers got that run right back. Mike Cameron tripled with one out, and Jason Kendall singled to left to make it a 3-1 game.

The contest remained that way until the bottom of the fourth inning. Nomar Garciaparra led off with a single, and after Martin grounded into a fielder's choice, Blake blasted his two-run shot to left field to tie the game.

Los Angeles went ahead in the fifth. Matt Kemp stroked a one-out double and came around on Kent's single to center for a 4-3 Dodgers edge.

For his part, Billingsley rebounded from the rough first few innings. He set the Brewers down in order in the third and fifth, and allowed just one baserunner each in the fourth, sixth and seventh frames.

Ramon Troncoso, Joe Beimel and Jonathan Broxton each got an out in the eighth inning to keep Milwaukee off the scoreboard. Martin then led off the home eighth with a homer -- just clearing the wall in left-center field -- to provide an insurance run.

Broxton remained on the mound for the ninth and struck out two in a perfect inning to seal the win, and notch his ninth save of the season.

Game Notes

The Dodgers have won seven in a row at home...LA left eight runners on base, while Milwaukee stranded five...Every starting position player in the Dodgers' lineup had at least one hit.

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Football Betting Lines

The 2009 AP NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year odds have been released and Denver Broncos' running back Knowshon Moreno has been made the opening favorite.

Bet NFL Sports Lines

Moreno was selected in the first round of April's NFL draft and is expected to carry the rushing load for the Broncos this season. And with Jay Cutler now in Chicago, Moreno might be expected to be Denver's entire offense.

Betting Lines from sports betting lines have made Moreno a 5/2 favorite to win this year's Offensive Rookie of the Year Award. Fellow running back Chris “Beanie” Wells (Arizona Cardinals) is right behind Moreno at 7/2, while Donald Brown (Indianapolis Colts) and receiver Michael Crabtree (San Francisco 49ers) are 5/1 to win. Quarterbacks Mark Sanchez (New York Jets) and Matthew Stafford (Detroit Lions) are 7/1 and 8/1, respectively.

A couple of players who present some value are Josh Freeman, Shonn Green and Darrius Heyward-Bey.

Freeman needs to beat out Byron Leftwich to become the starting quarterback of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers but if he does, he has a lot or raw talent and could use the weapons around him (i.e. Kellen Winslow Jr. and Antonio Bryant) to be very successful in his first season.

Green enters a crowded backfield in New York, but considering both Thomas Jones and Leon Washington are unhappy about their contract situations and might holdout, the former Iowa product could become the Jets' primary back.

Everyone was shocked when Al Davis took Heyward-Bey with the eighth overall pick in April's draft, but the kid has a tremendous amount of talent and if quarterback JaMarcus Russell takes the next step this year, the former Maryland product could blossom. Plus, Heyward-Bey will be looking to prove the people wrong who said Oakland should have taken Michael Crabtree with the No. 8 pick.

And if you're looking for a deep sleeper, check out Pat White at 30/1. He enters the Miami Dolphins vaunted “Wild Cat” offense and could be a big time playmaker.

For complete odds on the 2009 AP NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year odds, see below.

2009 AP NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year Odds to Win

Ramses Barden (NYG) 40/1

Andre Brown (NYG) 20/1

Donald Brown (IND) 5/1

Kenny Britt (TEN) 20/1

Glenn Coffee (SFO) 30/1

Chase Coffman (CIN) 50/1

Michael Crabtree (SFO) 5/1

Josh Freeman (TB) 14/1

Shonn Green (NYJ) 14/1

Percy Harvin (MIN) 10/1

Darrius Heyward-Bay (OAK) 18/1

Juaquan Iglesias (CHI) 30/1

Cornelius Ingram (PHI) 50/1

Rashad Jennings (JAC) 30/1

Johnny Knox (CHI) 40/1

Jeremy Maclin (PHI) 18/1

Mohamed Massaquoi (CLE) 30/1

LeSean McCoy (PHI) 12/1

Knowshon Moreno (DEN) 5/2

Hakeem Nicks (NYG) 18/1

Brandon Pettigrew (DET) 30/1

Brian Robiskie (CLE) 20/1

Mark Sanchez (NYJ) 7/1

Matthew Stafford (DET) 8/1

Jason Smith (STL) 40/1

Mike Thomas (JAC) 25/1

Patrick Turner (MIA) 50/1

Mike Wallace (PIT) 50/1

Chris Wells (ARI) 7/2

Pat White (MIA) 30/1

Field (Any Other Player) 9/1

Betting Line

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