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Blue Jays rough up Kuroda, rout Yankees

admin — Thu, 17 May 2012 19:47:19 +0000

CBSSports.com wire reports
May 16, 2012

Drabek snapped a four-start losing streak with seven sharp innings and Toronto hit four home runs in an 8-1 victory against the New York Yankees.

Coming in winless since April 15, Drabek allowed one run and three hits, walked four and struck out five. Thirteen of his 21 outs came on the ground.

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“That sinker was really working,” New York first baseman Mark Teixeira raved. “You dont want to say Halladay because Halladay is a special pitcher but I felt like Halladay was out there tonight because [Drabek] just wasnt getting the ball up in the zone at all.”

Drabek said he benefited from aiming slightly higher when delivering his sinker, an adjustment he worked on between starts.

“Really, it was just trying to throw it higher and allow it to sink back down,” he said. “My last two starts Ive been trying to throw it more on the black and not as high, and thats when it tends to bounce.”

The only thing bouncing Wednesday, however, were the balls Yankees batters were driving into the turf.

“He got us to beat the ball into the ground tonight,” Yankees manager Joe Girardi said. “It seemed like we werent quite able to lay off some of the sinkers that were a little bit below the zone and he took advantage of that.”

Luis Perez worked the eighth and Francisco Cordero finished in the ninth for Toronto.

Edwin Encarnacion hit a three-run homer and J.P. Arencibia added a two-run drive for the Blue Jays, who also got solo shots from Jose Bautista and Kelly Johnson.

Arencibia had three hits and scored twice, helping Toronto snap a three-game losing streak and giving the Blue Jays their seventh victory in their past 11 home games against the Yankees.

Three of the four Toronto homers came off Yankees right-hander Hiroki Kuroda, who matched a career-high by allowing seven runs.

“At times [Kuroda] threw the ball really well but when he got a ball up, they didnt miss it,” Girardi said.

New York has scored 11 total runs in eight May defeats and, after a 1-for-8 showing Wednesday, is only 3 for 53 with runners in scoring position in those games. Catcher Russell Martin acknowledged some Yankees hitters were trying to do too much at the plate.

“We got in a hole and then it seemed like every hitter was trying to hit a three-run homer with nobody on,” Martin said. “Thats not how you win ballgames.”

Kuroda (3-5) allowed eight hits and a season-high three homers in five-plus innings. He walked two and struck out six.

Arencibia got the Blue Jays started with a two-out drive to left in the second inning, his fourth. Encarnacion made it 5-0 with a two-out shot to center in the third, his 13th of the season and second in as many days.

Arencibia doubled and scored on a two-out single by Johnson in the fourth and Bautista drilled a leadoff shot into the second deck in left in the sixth, his ninth.

New York broke up Drabeks shutout bid in the sixth when Teixeira singled home Robinson Cano, who had doubled. Teixeiras hit was the 1,500th of his career, while Canos double was his 300th.

Johnson restored Torontos seven-run lead with a milestone hit in the seventh, smacking a leadoff drive to right off Clay Rapada, his 100th career home run and eighth this season.

The Yankees dropped to 1-13 when scoring three runs or fewer, and 0-8 when failing to hit a home run. New York is the only team in the majors this season to not win a game in which they did not hit a home run.

Notes

New York SS Derek Jeter got the day off and was replaced by Jayson Nix, with Curtis Granderson moving up to the leadoff spot. It was Jeters first day off this season. Yankees RHP Ivan Nova (right ankle) did not throw his scheduled bullpen session Wednesday but is expected to throw a side session Thursday. Manager Joe Girardi said he still expects Nova to make his next scheduled start, Saturday against Cincinnati. Blue Jays 3B Brett Lawrie was suspended four games and fined an undisclosed amount for Tuesday nights altercation with umpire Bill Miller. Lawrie is appealing and can play until there is a hearing, which could be held next week via video conference. The Blue Jays were unsuccessful in detaining the fan who hit Miller on the shoulder with a cup of beer as the umpires walked off the field Tuesday. Umpires and stadium security pointed at the fan, but he managed to evade security as he exited the building. OF Vladimir Guerrero, who signed a minor-league contract with Toronto last week, has started taking batting practice at extended spring training in Florida and could see his first game action next week.

Thunder rally late, stun Lakers for 2-0 lead in West semis

admin — Thu, 17 May 2012 19:47:15 +0000

CBSSports.com wire reports
May 17, 2012

Kevin Durant scored 22 points and rattled in the go-ahead basket on a baseline runner with 18 seconds left, and the Thunder scored the final nine points to rally for a 77-75 victory against the Los Angeles Lakers in Game 2 of the Western Conference semifinals Wednesday night.

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Oklahoma City trailed by seven with 2 minutes left before surging back with a series of defensive stops by its stars to claw back from that deficit in the closing stages of a game for the second time this postseason. The Thunder were also seven down with 2½ minutes left in Game 1 against defending NBA champion Dallas in the first round.

“They wont quit. Thats not in their DNA,” coach Scott Brooks said. “Theyre not wired that way and if they were, they wouldnt be here. Were not going to win every game but were going to fight to the last second of the game and we did that tonight.

“If we would have gotten down on ourselves with two minutes to go, we would have lost by 12 and we would go to L.A. 1-1.”

Instead, Oklahoma City will take a 2-0 lead into Game 3 on Friday night at Staples Center.

Kobe Bryant and Andrew Bynum scored 20 points apiece for the Lakers, who came up empty on their last six possessions after Bynums hook shot made it 75-68 with 2:09 remaining.

After struggling throughout the second half and missing 20 of their first 27 shots, the Thunder suddenly came alive after Brooks called timeout following Bynums basket that gave Los Angeles its largest lead of the game.

James Harden drove for a layup before Durant used his height advantage to reach up and tip away a pass from Bryant, who he was guarding. Durant ran out for a right-handed dunk at the other end before Russell Westbrook forced another turnover by aggressively challenging an outlet pass to Bryant along the sideline.

Harden made the next stop, blocking Bryants jumper on the next Lakers possession and getting a layup in transition off it to cut the deficit to one in the final minute.

Bryant couldnt connect again, this time on a 3-pointer, to give the Thunder the ball back with the chance to take the lead and Durant was able to make it happen.

“I wish it was my magical words. All I told the guys was, Were down seven. You dont have to play perfect basketball but we better come pretty close, ” Brooks said.

Steve Blake missed an open 3-pointer from the right side with about 5 seconds left after Metta World Peace couldnt get the ball to Bryant on the inbounds play.

Brown said he thought Bryant was open on the back side of th agreeing that Bryant was supposed to be the first option.

“Blake was wide open. We didnt have any timeouts left and he got a clean look, a really good look,” World Peace said. “He can knock that down.”

Durant was then fouled with 0.3 seconds left and made h failing to hit the backboard or rim for a violation.

The Lakers got a desperation try but World Peaces long pass for Bynum was intercepted by Harden.

“What they did the last few minutes there, they just made gambles,” Bryant said. “They just jumped in the passing lanes. Its something that were not accustomed to seeing. Its just flat-out risks defensively.”

Historically, the loss makes a huge difference. Los Angeles is 29-12 when splitting the first two games of a seven-game series and has lost 17 of 19 when falling into a 2-0 hole. The Lakers last comeback was in the 2004 West semifinals against San Antonio.

The Thunder have won all nine of their series after leading 2-0, dating back to the franchises days in Seattle.

“Its not good. I dont think anybodys happy in there [in the locker room],” coach Mike Brown said. “We felt like we let one slip away.”

Bryant was right at the heart of the meltdown, missing two shots and having a hand in two turnovers in the final 2 minutes. The first turnover came when Durant used his nearly 7-foot frame and impressive wingspan to come up with an energizing steal and fast-break chance.

“He used his length on Kobe. Coming up with that steal was huge,” Brown said. “Thats what great players are supposed to do. Theyre supposed to take on the challenge at the end of the game and he did.

“He won the game for them, basically.”

Westbrook added 15 points for Oklahoma City, which matched its lowest scoring total of the season but still gutted out the victory. The Thunder had ripped apart the Lakers defense with their pick-and-roll attack in Game 1, scoring 119 points in a 29-point blowout.

“We dominated defensively,” Bynum said. “We stopped them, made them play through their bigs and turn the ball over. In the last two minutes, we gave the game away.”

In a game that was nip-and-tuck throughout, the Lakers started inching away early in the fourth quarter while Westbrook was on the bench.

Bryant drilled a jumper from the left wing and Blake followed with a 3-pointer before World Peace hit one of two free the Lakers largest lead to that point.

Westbrook returned then but only provided the briefest of sparks for the struggling Oklahoma made it 75-68 with 2:09 to play.

Until that point, Oklahoma City had more turnovers (eight) than made baskets (seven) in the second half after committing an uncharacteristically low four turnovers in Game 1.

Notes

The NBA on Wednesday fined Devin Ebanks $25,000 for actions related to his Game 1 ejection and Bynum $15,000 for failing to speak to reporters Tuesday. Bynum, who has had recent disciplinary issues within the team, talked at the Lakers morning shootaround Wednesday and called it a make up for skipping the previous day. “I think hes learning. Is he going to be a perfect citizen the rest of his career? I dont know,” Brown said. “Hes bound to make mistakes. I think everybody makes mistakes.” World Peace has said he supported Brooks to become Sacramentos coach back in 2007, when Brooks had been an assistant under Eric Musselman. “Little does he know, if I would have got the job, I was going to ask for him to be traded,” Brooks joked. He then called World Peace, or Ron Artest at the time, the third-best two-way player at the time behind Bryant and Kevin Garnett. Harden caught World Peace with an inadvertent elbow to the face in the first quarter.

Marlins Indians Betting Predictions – AL Central Leading Indians Welcome Marlins

admin — Thu, 17 May 2012 19:47:14 +0000

It may be less than two months in to the 2012 MLB season, but even at this point few would have expected the Cleveland Indians to be on top of the American League Central, not after the Detroit Tigers broke the bank to bring Prince Fielder aboard. Nevertheless, the Indians have jumped out to the early lead in the AL Central, and will look to build on that early lead when they host the Miami Marlins in a three-game set this best sportsbook weekend.

Miami Marlins @ Cleveland Indians
Friday, 4:05 PM ET

The Indians have managed to gain position in the AL Central despite a pitching staff that ranks 25th in overall ERA and a sub-.500 record at home, two things that will need to improve if they are going to have any chance of staying there. One of those starters that Cleveland is relying on is 27-year old Justin Masterson, who will get the call in the series opener on Friday. Masterson has struggled with his control early on this year with a 5.40 ERA, and the Indians are just 3-5 in games that he starts. Meanwhile, Miami has been a .500 team on the road early on, and has to love what it has gotten out of veteran starter Carlos Zambrano. Despite a 1-2 record, Zambrano has a 1.88 ERA and has allowed just one earned run over his last 23 innings of work.

MLB Betting Pick: Miami Marlins

Miami Marlins @ Cleveland Indians
Saturday, 4:05 PM ET

The Marlins could have the slight pitching edge again in the second game of this set with Anibal Sanchez starting against the Indians’ Jeanmar Gomez, however, Gomez was very good in his last start going seven strong without allowing a run in a 5-4 win. The 24-year old Gomez is working with a 3.75 ERA, but a big part of that has to do with the eight runs he gave up in 6.2 innings of work in a loss to the Chicago White Sox earlier this month, his only start this season in which he has allowed more than three runs. Miami has lost its last two starts when Sanchez pitches, so this represents a strong opportunity for Cleveland to even this sports betting series.

MLB Betting Pick: Cleveland Indians

Miami Marlins @ Cleveland Indians
Sunday, 1:05 PM ET

The betting sites finale of this three-game set will be played Sunday afternoon, with Josh Johnson getting the call for the Marlins against Derek Lowe. The 38-year old Lowe has been lights out for the Indians this season with a 6-1 record and 2.05 ERA, and has allowed just four runs in his last 28.2 innings of work, including a complete-game shutout over the Minnesota Twins. Johnson has really struggled so far this season with an ERA on the wrong side of 5.00, and despite the fact that Miami has won the last three games he started, he has allowed 10 combined runs in just 16.2 innings of work.

MLB Betting Pick: Cleveland Indians

Portugal Euro Cup Betting Prediction – Ronaldo, Defense Has To Be Sharp At Euro 2012

admin — Thu, 17 May 2012 19:47:13 +0000

sports betting players familiar with Portugal’s national team know that they’re powered by their superstar captain who is one of the top three players in the world, and he’ll be counted on heavily at the European Championship. However, the defense may play an even bigger role as Portugal aims to escape an incredibly tough group.

Manager: Paulo Bento (since September 2010)
Best Euro Finish: Second place (2004)
Soccer Betting Odds: +400 to win Group B, +1800 to win Euro 2012

Offense

Portugal scored 21 goals in their 10 qualification matches as they finished in second place in Group H behind Denmark, and seven came off the boot of captain Cristiano Ronaldo, who just powered Real Madrid to the top of La Liga in Spain and is one of the top soccer betting favorites for World Player of the Year. A big Euro 2012 will put Ronaldo in the driver’s seat for the award, but the criticism on the forward is, like his Barcelona rival Lionel Messi, Ronaldo has never really carried over his club play to his country. This is a massive chance to quiet those critics, especially with the competition Portugal faces in their group.

But Ronaldo has to have some help and that should come in the form of fellow striker Helder Postiga, who scored four goals in six 2011 matches, while Nani added three goals and two assists from the wing and he has the ability to be a gamebreaker for Portugal. Ronaldo is surely going to attract a lot of attention from opposing defenses and Nani provides a good outlet for the Portuguese counterattack. He has been inconsistent for Manchester United this season, but when he is on, Nani can be a handful for any fullback.

Defense

This is where the Portuguese struggled during qualification as they allowed 12 goals in 10 matches, which doesn’t seem like a lot, but in soccer that is the sign of a leaky defense. Rui Patricio seems to be the man between the sticks, but he is only 24 and has just 10 international appearances under his belt, although five of those came in 2011. Bruno Alves is the most experienced defender and should be joined by Joao Pereira, Pepe and Fabio Coentrao, but Portugal was shaky at the back and allowed three goals at home against Iceland, a team that isn’t exactly loaded with attacking options.

Miguel Veloso and Joao Moutinho will be crucial to Portugal’s soccer betting hopes this summer as they’ll have to form a defensive shield in front of the back four to take some of the pressure off Alves and company. Portugal are going to run into Germany and the Netherlands, two of the best attacking sides in Europe, and if the midfielders don’t track back and help, Portugal are going to find themselves out of the tournament quickly, no matter how many goals Ronaldo can score.

Intangibles

Paulo Bento took over the team from Carlos Queiroz after Portugal failed to make it out of the group stage at the World Cup in South Africa, and he was the federation’s second choice after another failed attempt to lure Jose Mourinho from Real Madrid. But Bento has led the side to a few big wins, such as a 4-0 thrashing of rival Spain in a friendly in November. Even though it was only a friendly, it was still an encouraging performance from the team, which lost just once in 11 matches in 2011.

However, Bento represented the national team 35 times as a defensive midfielder and he understands that Portugal has to tighten things up at the back if they’re going to win their first international tournament. Look for defense to be a priority of his leading up to Euro 2012.

How It Will Play Out

As was mentioned before, the soccer betting odds are against Portugal in this tournament’s “group of death” as they’re rated at +400 to win Group B, and then +1800 to win the European Championship. Germany is one of the pre-tournament favorites along with Spain, while the Netherlands are coming off a trip to the World Cup final and Denmark just beat Portugal to the top of Group H in qualification as the pair split two meetings. This isn’t an easy road for the Portuguese at all, and they’re going to need a superlative effort from their captain, Ronaldo,

Pujols has productive game, Santana blanks A’s

admin — Wed, 16 May 2012 19:47:13 +0000

CBSSports.com wire reports
May 15, 2012

Santana struck out nine during 7 2/3 innings of four-hit ball, Albert Pujols drove in two runs with infield singles, and the Angels rebounded from yet another shutout loss with a 4-0 victory over the Oakland Athletics on Tuesday night.

Mike Trout went 3 for 4 with a homer and three runs scored for the Angels, who finally produced enough offense to back a strong performance by Santana (2-6). The Dominican right-hander retired 16 in a row early, winning his second straight start after losing his first six.

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“My first inning was a little tough, but after that, I was feeling better and better,” Santana said. “Definitely, its more easier when youve got run support. I felt great today. Everything was good.”

Last week in Minnesota, Santana snapped a nine-game losing streak dating to last season. Before that 6-2 win, he received just three total runs of support from his teamm for easily the worst run support in the majors.

Santana retired every Oakland batter between Cliff Penningtons first-inning double and Jemile Weeks bouncing single under Pujols glove in the sixth, striking out six of nine on one trip through the order. After he doffed his cap to the cheering crowd, relievers Scott Downs and Ernesto Frieri finished.

“Ervin has pitched much better than his numbers show,” Angels manager Mike Scioscia said. “I think hes going to give us a good little spurt here. … Hes got a pretty even heartbeat. He doesnt get too high or too low, but theres a competitive mechanism inside him.”

Bartolo Colon (3-4) allowed 12 hits while pitching into the seventh inning for the As, who were off to an AL-best 8-4 start in May.

A day after Oakland sent Los Angeles to its major league-worst eighth shutout loss this season, the Angels snapped the As four-game winning streak at Angel Stadium, handing Oakland its fifth scoreless defeat of the year.

“[Santana] had his slider working today, so youve just got to tip your hat,” said Kurt Suzuki, who went 0 for 4.

Alberto Callaspo had a run-scoring double for the Angels. Pujols went 3 for 4 with three infield singles, pushing the $240 million first basemans average from .197 to .212.

Colon wasnt awful, but the 38-year-old couldnt match the eight scoreless innings he threw at Angel Stadium last month. Hes 0-3 with 43 hits allowed in his last five starts since a 3-1 beginning to the season.

“I dont know if he was as sharp as we saw him the first time,” said Scioscia, who managed Colon during his AL Cy Young season in 2005. “We did a good job when we got a ball to hit. We put it in play hard, and we found some holes for once.”

Los Angeles rallied for two runs in the third inning when Trout singled and scored standing up on Callaspos double down the right-field line. Pujols then drove home Callaspo from second when Weeks knocked down his grounder to short, but couldnt make a play.

The Angels added another run on another tough-to-play grounder to short by Pujols in the fifth. Oakland finally solved Santana in the sixth, loading the bases on a single and two walks, but Santana struck out Seth Smith on three pitches.

Trout hit his third homer of the season to straightaway center leading off the seventh. The 20-year-old rookie is cementing an everyday job in center field since his latest call up on April 28, going 18 for 49 over the last 12 games while adding his usual blazing speed and standout fielding.

Notes

As manager Bob Melvin said CF Yoenis Cespedes is doing baseball-related activities while hes on the DL with a strained muscle in his hand. The Cuban slugger is allowed to do everything except swing a bat. “Hes a hardworking kid,” Melvin said. “Theres no way youre going to be able to tell him to sit and not do anything.” Los Angeles welcomes the White Sox to Angel Stadium for another two-game series Wednesday, with Jerome Williams facing Gavin Floyd. Oakland is headed to Texas for a two-game set, with Tommy Milone facing Yu Darvish in the opener. The Angels head out on a 10-game trip starting Friday. They wont be back until Memorial Day, when they will finish a stretch with 16 of 20 on the road.

Spurs draw first blood against Clippers, win 15th straight game

admin — Wed, 16 May 2012 19:47:12 +0000

CBSSports.com wire reports
May 16, 2012

and making matters worse, theyre even a little more beat-up than when they got here.

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Tim Duncan had 26 points and 10 rebounds following an eight-day layoff for the top-seeded Spurs, who wore down Los Angeles in the Clippers sixth game in 11 days and won Game 1 of their Western Conference semifinals series, 108-92 on Tuesday night.

“Its hard to tell if they were tired or not. If we were rusty or not,” Spurs guard Manu Ginobili said. “The game just developed that way it did.”

By that, he meant the latest Spurs blowout.

The Spurs have won 15 in a row, havent lost in more than a month and are winning by an average margin of nearly 17 points during that span. Its the longest winning streak sustained in the NBA playoffs since the 2004 Spurs carried 17 straight wins into the second round that season.

That Spurs team, however, wound up dropping four straight to the Lakers and lost that series. The Clippers have a lot of work to do if theyre going to stage a similar stunner, and a good start would be getting healthy.

Blake Griffin scored 15 points in 28 minutes a day after estimating his sprained left knee had him feeling “80 percent” at best. The All-Star said he became tired quicker than usual, and also turned his left ankle early in the game.

“But Ill get back in the training room, get treatment and hope to be better the next game,” Griffin began with a fizzle.

Paul, who ended the first round with an aching hip, scored just six points and didnt make a single basket in the second half. Parker was barely any batter, putting together seven points and 11 assists, and didnt talk to reporters after the game.

Paul did face the media after his worst playoff game since scoring four points in a loss to Denver in 2009. But not until after a quick chat with his young son.

“Good game, Daddy,” Pauls son said in the locker room.

“No, bad game,” Paul told him. “Daddy had a bad game. Daddy couldnt make a shot.”

Paul, who was 3 of 13 from the floor, gave a more elaborate explanation to reporters.

“I felt I got all the shots that I wanted. I just didnt make them,” Paul said. “Thats the most frustrating part. Getting to where I wanted to and not seeing them go down. Cant do that in the playoffs.”

Game 2 is Thursday night.

That gives the be which is all the time theyve had to recover between games for the past week and a half. Los Angeles couldnt even fly home first after knocking out the Grizzlies on Sunday in Game 7 of a grueling series that had the Clippers hobbling next to Texas.

Rookie Kawhi Leonard added 16 points, hitting all three of his 3s, and Danny Green added 15 points for the Spurs.

Caron Butler scored 15 points and Nick Young had 13 for the Clippers. Los Angeles cut the deficit to single digits with a 10-burst in the fourth quarter before San Antonio ran away with its 11th double-digit victory during this dominating winning streak.

The Clippers didnt even need San Antonios help getting more bumps and bruises: Mo Williams, already playing with his sore right fingers taped, took a lump on the head when teammate Reggie Evans kicked him with an errant foot after Williams fell on his back in the lane.

Williams wobbled when he tried standing, sat back down, and the Clippers burned a timeout. He never left the game, but the Clippers werent getting any fresher.

Parker, meanwhile, finally felt the hard knocks and slow-him-down shoves that Utah repeatedly promised but never delivered in the first round. Sometimes, the All-Star looked in vain to officials when the whistle didnt blow. When that didnt work once in the first quarter, he kept jabbering about a no-call on the last possession while lining up to shoot free throws on the current one.

Spurs coach Gregg Popovich, pacing and sensing an impending technical foul, silenced his leading scorer.

“Tony!” Popovich snapped from the sideline. “Shoot!”

“He didnt score, but he got 11 assists,” Ginobili said. “Thats who we are. Sometimes its not going to be him.”

Notes

The Spurs tied a franchise playoff record with 13 3-pointers.Before this became the deepest Spurs team yet under Popovich, Butler said he came so close to signing with the Spurs after the lockout that he canceled a flight to San Antonio when the Clippers counteroffered. “They made a great pitch,” Butler said. Leonard finished fourth in the Rookie of the Year voting, the highest finish for a Spurs player since Ginobili finished fourth in 2003. Said Popovich: “Hes done a good enough job to make me trust him to be in the starting lineup. Im happy for him.”

How To Bet Kings Coyotes – Kings Try To Cement Early Advantage In West Finals

admin — Wed, 16 May 2012 19:47:12 +0000

The 2012 NHL Playoffs involve two geographically intimate rivalries in the conference finals. One is in New York and New Jersey. The other one is along Interstate 10: L.A. versus Phoenix.

Western Conference Finals: Los Angeles Kings vs. Phoenix Coyotes – Series Overview
Sports betting line: N/A

Why Los Angeles Will Win

When you place a bet on an NHL playoff series after looking at any of several betting sites, you have to look at which team is playing the better brand of ball at the moment, and its clearly the Kings. Los Angeles swarmed Phoenix in Game 1 of this still-young series on Sunday, winning its sixth road game of the playoffs in as many outings. The Kings got almost 50 pucks on goal, a season high for them. Coach Darryl Sutter is squeezing the most out of his team, which is clicking on all four lines and is getting top-shelf play from goaltender Jonathan Quick. The Kings also ought to feel good about themselves because they made two stupid plays in Game 1 on Sunday. Quick allowed a very bad goal on a mid-ice shot, and Quick also gave up the puck behind his own net to a player who was being closely followed. The exchange led to a turnover and a quick Phoenix goal. Los Angeles ability to overcome these mistakes should only fuel the Kings confidence to a much greater degree.

This team has lost only one playoff game so far. It has steamrolled through the first two rounds, it is winning games on the road with regularity, and it has the look of a team that believes in itself far more than any other team left in the National Hockey League playoffs. The Kings are not the same team they were in the regular season. They have undergone the kind of transformation that typically happens with a Stanley Cup favorite. They dismissed the top two seeds in their conference, beating teams that accumulated 220 points in the NHL regular season (Vancouver and St. Louis). It would be very hard to pick against the Kings at this point, especially since they already have a 1-0 lead in the series and have taken home ice away from the spirited but inferior Coyotes.

Why Phoenix Will Win

The people who are studying the best sportsbook odds in this series will calmly point out that as you assess your bet, the Phoenix Coyotes have made a living out of defying the odds this postseason. They won a series against the Chicago Blackhawks that featured five overtime games. Thats just not a very regular everyday occurrence. They were a clear underdog against the Nashville Predators but decisively won that series in five games. Phoenix loves being counted out. The Coyotes will just keep coming; they like surprising the experts.
Read more on the latest best sportsbook odds in the NHL playoffs.

Who Will Win?

While Phoenix will put up a very good fight, this is Los Angeles series to lose. The Kings are in a zone right now. Everything they touch turns to hockey gold. They will win this series, though Phoenix will push them.

NHL Betting Pick: Los Angeles in 6 games

Betting Tips For Red Sox Phillies – Phillies Try To Escape N.L. East Cellar When Facing A.L. East Foe

admin — Wed, 16 May 2012 19:47:11 +0000

The Philadelphia Phillies havent fared well in the National League East, but thanks to an interleague series against the Boston Red Sox, they can move upward against the A.L. East.

Boston Red Sox @ Philadelphia Phillies – Series Overview

Game 1: Friday, May 18

If you are interested in betting on baseball this season, the upcoming three-game series between the Boston Red Sox and Philadelphia Phillies presents the kinds of situations in which raw numbers arent all theyre cracked up to be. The first installment of this three-game series pits Boston starter Daniel Bard, with an earned-run average of 4.30, against Philadelphia hurler Cole Hamels, who totes a snappy 2.28 ERA at the moment. Hamels is a better pitcher than Bard; you wont get any argument on the matter from a baseball betting expert. However, one must also realize that earned-run averages in the American League and the National League have to be taken with a grain of salt. The American League, because of its use of the designated hitter, is a much tougher league in which to pitch. An ERA just above four runs per game is a lot worse in the National League than in the American League.

If Bard and Hamels switched leagues, their earned-run averages, currently two runs apart, would probably be within three-fourths of a run, maybe only half a run. The sense here is that Bostons better batting order will make Hamels work. Hamels relies on his mixture of speeds to get hitters out, so as long as Bostons hitters are patient, they will get hittable pitches in the strike zone. This game should be very close, but Boston is in a position where it can wear down the Phillies arms. The Red Sox will strike first and prove that ERAs dont tell the whole story in a baseball game… not all the time, at least.

MLB Betting Pick: Boston

Game 2: Saturday, May 19

The team that is a mystery for a lot of online sportsbooks is the Philadelphia Phillies, and the big reason for the teams slump is that it has not produced at the plate. In Saturdays game, Jon Lester of the Red Sox, with a 3.71 ERA, will face the Phillies Joe Blanton, who brings a 2.96 earned-run average into Citizens Bank Park. Lester should be able to shut down the Phillies, while Blanton – a reliable starter at the back end of the Phillies rotation – does not have the overpowering stuff that can silence Bostons bats. Blanton will pitch well, but Lester will pitch better, and thats a recipe for a Red Sox victory in game two.

MLB Betting Pick: Boston

Game 3: Sunday, May 20

The team that sports betting sites are not favoring at the moment is Boston. The Red Sox have more weaknesses than the New York Yankees and the Tampa Bay Rays, and when they finish this Sunday game, theyre likely to have one more loss. The Red Sox will go with Josh Beckett, who carries a large 5.97 ERA into this game. Philadelphia will trot out its staff ace, Cliff Lee, who has been humming along this season with a 2.17 earned-run average. Lee will dominate, while Beckett – immersed in a horrible season – will find it hard to outduel his counterpart. Philadelphia will win the finale of this three-game set.

MLB Betting Pick: Philadelphia

Dodgers top D-Backs, place Kemp on DL

admin — Tue, 15 May 2012 19:47:12 +0000

CBSSports.com wire reports
May 15, 2012

Kemp, the Dodgers All-Star center fielder, was downcast following Monday nights 3-1 victory against the Arizona Diamondbacks, knowing hell be sidelined for at least two weeks with a strained left hamstring. His consecutive game streak ended at 399, the longest active streak in the majors until Monday.

“Im disappointed,” Kemp said after missing his first game since Aug. 18, 2009. “This is my second time being on the DL, and the first time was a long time ago (April 2007). I like playing every game, but Ive got to be healthy and playing at 100 percent for me to be effective. So Ive got to let it heal. Its going to take some time.”

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“Its hard for me to sit out for 15 days. I mean, I was going crazy tonight watching them play,” Kemp said.

Andre Ethier homered in Kemps absence as the Dodgers won their fifth straight. Third baseman Juan Uribe, who was in manager Don Mattinglys original lineup, also was placed on the 15-day disabled list because of an injury to his left wrist.

Kershaw (3-1) scattered four hits over seven innings, struck out six and walked three, helping the Dodgers improve the best record in the majors to 24-11. He bounced back from winless starts against Colorado and San Francisco in which he gave up four home runs.

“When youre chasing pitches out of the zone, he can be tough. But when hes in the zone hes hittable,” Arizona shortstop Willie Bloomquist said. “I mean, hes got good stuff, obviously, so youve got to bring your `A game when you face him or youre not going to beat him. Hes about as tough as they get from the left-handed side.”

Kershaw faced the Diamondbacks for the first time since his 3-2 victory on Sept. 14 at Dodger Stadium, when he was ejected by umpire Bill Welke for hitting Gerardo Parra with a pitch on the right elbow after Parra doubled his previous time up. One night earlier, Parra had taken an extra second or two to leave the batters box on his tying home run against Hong-Chih Kuo, who had thrown an earlier pitch at his head.

On Monday night, Kennedy threw a 2-1 pitch behind Kershaw and to the backstop before walking him. Kershaw returned the favor in the fifth, making Kennedy bail out of the batters box on a first-pitch fastball before walking him. Umpire Marvin Hudson immediately issued a warning to Kershaw and both dugouts.

“He obviously didnt like it, so he came back at us. So you take it for what its worth. Its a long season,” Bloomquist said. “Its the game within the game. Nobodys trying to hurt anyone, its just to prove a point. Baseball has a way of taking care of itself, so if it happens again, itll happen again. I certainly dont mind it, if theres a reason for it. But Im not the one out there throwing the ball.”

Kershaw then gave his side of it.

“Old-school baseballs one thing, and I understand what the managers trying to instill over there, but theres no place for that here,” he said. “Its obvious what they were trying to do, but I dont agree with what they did. It just felt wrong. Hes a good pitcher, he had an awesome year last year and I have a lot of respect for what he does on the hill. But if thats how they want to do it, thats fine. He missed anyway, so no big deal.”

Josh Lindblom gave up a home run to Aaron Hill in the eighth inning and Kenley Jansen pitched a perfect ninth for his fourth save in five attempts.

Kemp was replaced in center by Tony Gwynn Jr., who prevented a run in the third inning with a perfect one-hop throw to A.J. Ellis after A.J. Pollack tried to score from second base on a single to right-center by Bloomquist. In Sundays win over Colorado, Gwynn shifted from left field to center after Kemp aggravated his hamstring injury while robbing Carlos Gonzalez with a diving backhanded catch in left-center.

Ke and six hits in six innings, after going 12-0 with a 2.28 ERA in his previous 17 starts against NL West opponents. The right-hander, coming off back-to-back losses against Washington and St. Louis, has lost three straight starts for the first time since June 15-July 5, 2010, when he lost four in a row while allowing 20 earned runs over a span of 23 2/3 innings.

Notes

The Dodgers recalled OF Jerry Sands from Triple-A Albuquerque to replace Kemp on the roster. During Kemps streak, he was used nine time and after Manny Ramirez injured his hamstring. Ethiers home run was the first given u a stretch that spanned 45 2/3 innings and 168 batters. The last one he had allowed away from Chase Field was a two-run shot by John Mayberry Jr. on Aug. 18, 2011 at Philadelphia.

Rangers surge in third period, shut out Devils in Game 1

admin — Tue, 15 May 2012 19:47:12 +0000

CBSSports.com wire reports
May 14, 2012

If any proof was needed, Henrik Lundqvist provided it with a shutout victory over the well-rested New Jersey Devils in the opener of the Eastern Conference finals on Monday night.

Lundqvist made 21 saves in his fifth career playoff shutout. Rookie Chris Kreider, defenseman Dan Girardi, and Artem Anisimov all had a goal and an assist in the third period as the Rangers turned a scoreless game into a 3-0 win. It came two days after New York outlasted the pesky Washington Capitals in Game 7 of the second-round series.

“I dont know where you guys get all this stuff about being tired,” Rangers coach John Tortorella said. “If were tired this time of the year, theres something the matter. We still have a month to play. You might as well not even ask me questions about being tired.”

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The Rangers said during their one day off before facing the Devils that they liked the rhythm of playing every other day, and didnt think the quick turnaround would affect them. The Devils, however, had been off for five days since they knocked out the Philadelphia Flyers in five games.

“Its always tough to come from a Game 7. So emotional, and everything around it, and then start over,” Lundqvist said. “[Sunday] was all about regrouping, and move your focus to a new team and just a different type of game.

“I didnt really know what to expect from this game, honestly.”

No team forced to play seven-game series in each of the first two rounds has gone on to win the Stanley Cup, but the Rangers are determined to be the first. The Rangers slogged through two scoreless periods and pulled out a win with a dominating third period.

The Rangers are in the conference finals for the first time since 1997, and they havent reached the Stanley Cup Finals since 1994, when they beat 22-year-old goalie Martin Brodeur and the Devils in a classic seven-game series that backed up captain Mark Messiers guarantee.

Brodeur and the Devils are making their first conference finals appearance since 2003, the year they won the Cup for the third time.

Game 2 is Wednesday night in New York.

Girardi, who struggled at times with his defensive duties, got a perfect setup from Kreider and scored 53 seconds into the third period. Playing in just his 13th NHL game, all in these playoffs, Kreider sent a pass back from the right circle in the Devils zone to the point. Girardi took long strides as he charged up ice and stepped into a shot that ripped through a screen in front by teammate Derek Stepan.

“I saw [Kreider] coming up the wall, and I was delaying to see what he was going to do,” Girardi said. “I saw no one go to the point, and I kind of stepped into it and got it through.”

The shot beat Brodeur for Girardis second playoff goal this season and second in 47 career postseason games. It was a drive Brodeur said he never saw.

“We didnt finish Kreider down the board,” Brodeur said. “We didnt close him out and get him off of the puck. Nobody went to him, probably a miscommunication, and he was able to lay a puck to Girardi and for a bomb.”

The other assist went to 21-year-old defenseman Michael Del Zotto, who along with Kreider was only 3 when these teams last met in the conference finals in `94.

Girardi also earned a secondary assist on Kreiders power-play goal with eight minutes remaining that made it 2-0. New Yorks slumping power play connected after Girardi was drilled hard from behind into the boards by Devils forward Steve Bernier.

Anisimov, who also assisted on Kreiders goal, scored into an empty net to make it 3-0 with 1:27 left.

Brodeur heard sing-song chants of “Mar-ty, Mar-ty” before the game started. Those got much louder after Girardis goal, and even more taunting after Kreider scored as the blue-shirt wearing, towel-waving fans excitement grew. Brodeur finished with 25 saves.

Lundqvist showed no signs of fatigue and was solid throughou helped by 26 blocked shots by his teammates.

“Hank is huge for us back there,” Girardi said. “We were struggling a little bit in our defensive zone and he was there to bail us out. Thats what happened. He made some big saves, and in the third period we came out hard and got a couple of goals for him.”

To no ones surprise, the teams were still tied heading into the final frame, but not because of a lack of chances.

Lundqvist was sharp in turning aside pucks that sneaked through the wall of teammates that blocked so many shots. He was at his best while the Rangers were on a power play late in the second period.

Zach Parise had the puck to the left of the net and snapped off a forehand that Lundqvist blocked. Parise got another whack at the rebound, and was again denied. Given one more chance with a backhander, Parise failed to break the deadlock with a short-handed goal.

“I tried to go 5-hole on the first one and it just kept popping back to me,” Parise said. “I tried to go up, and he made the save. It came back, and I tried to go high, and he made another save. It was unfortunate. It was a few of those opportunities we had. We just didnt capitalize.”

It wasnt the first bit of frustration in the series opener for the Devils captain. Parise was caught from behind by hard-charging defenseman Ryan McDonagh to thwart a first-period breakaway before Parise could get a shot on Lundqvist

McDonagh made the most of his 22-year-old legs, and showed no signs of fatigue from 14 previous playoff games this season, when he also chased down Ilya Kovalchuk in the first period. Lundqvist made a stop at the end of the charge.

The Devils also peppered Lundqvist in the opening minutes of the second period. Lundqvist fought to see between a maze of players and even gave a shove to the back of teammate Anton Stralman, trying to move the defenseman out of his line of sight.

Brodeur also was sharp at the other end, even shaking off a collision with teammate Marek Zidlicky, who got tangled with Rangers forward Brandon Prust. Brodeurs mask was knocked off after the whistle.

Notes

The Rangers held an 18-17 edge in shots through 40 minutes, but New York also blocked 18 other Devils attempts. Brodeur, who has 24 postseason shutouts, made his 183rd consecutive playoff start for the Devils. He is the only player from the 1994 series still in the NHL. Kreider, who made his debut on April 16 at Ottawa after winning the NCAA championship with Boston College, has three goals in the playoffs.