Braun delivers in extras to end Brewers skid

Baseball Betting Lines

07/09/2010 - Milwaukee, WI (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Ryan Braun lined an opposite-field single over Ryan Church's head in right field to score Rickie Weeks with the game- winning run in the 10th inning, as the Brewers earned a 5-4 comeback win over the Pirates in the opener of a three-game series.

Braun, who earlier in the game snapped out of an 0-for-19 slump, came up with runners on first and second and two outs after Evan Meek (4-3) intentionally walked Prince Fielder and struck the game-winner to end Milwaukee's five-game slide. Weeks scored without a play at the plate.

"It felt really good. It's been a tough stretch for me and a tough stretch for the team, so it was a big victory," Braun said. "There's a lot of season left, and we just want to focus on playing better baseball."

Fielder added a solo homer and Corey Hart had a two-run blast in the win, which was credited to John Axford (4-1) after he struck out Pedro Alvarez and Ryan Doumit to strand a runner on third in the top of the 10th.

Doug Davis, in his first start since May 10, surrendered four runs on seven hits and three walks over five innings for Milwaukee, while his counterpart, Paul Maholm, held the Brewers to two runs on three hits and a pair of walks in a seven-inning no-decision.

Andrew McCutchen went 2-for-5 with a home run and two RBI, and Lastings Milledge added two hits with a solo shot for the Pirates, losers of four straight overall.

Milwaukee's offense was relatively silent after Hart's two-run blast in the first inning, though Fielder's moonshot to right in the eighth off Joel Hanrahan cut the Brewers' deficit to 4-3.

With Octavio Dotel on the hill to start the bottom of the ninth, Carlos Gomez reached base on a one-out bunt single, stole second and moved to third when Doumit's throw went to center field.

George Kottaras followed with a triple down the right-field line to tie it and nearly scored the winning run seconds later, as Dotel's pitch got away from Doumit. However, the ball was quickly recovered by the catcher, and Kottaras was thrown out at the plate in plenty of time.

"The guys we ran out there in the eighth, ninth and 10th have done the job all year, but tonight they each gave up a run," Pirates manager John Russell said of his bullpen. "You don't see that very often. Unfortunately it happened tonight. It's a shame."

Trailing 2-0, Ronny Cedeno doubled starting the third and scored two batters later on McCutchen's base hit to left.

Milledge tied it, 2-2, in the fourth with his second homer of the season, and McCutchen's leadoff blast the next frame gave the visitors the lead. Jose Tabata singled after the round-tripper and scored on Pedro Alvarez's two-out double to right for a 4-2 score.

Game Notes

Davis had been on the disabled list due to chest pain...Tabata also had two hits for Pittsburgh, which had won three of the previous four over the Brewers after losing the first four meetings by a 53-4 margin...The Pirates went 2- for-11 with runners in scoring position.

Casinoxtc Baseball Betting News

<< Bosh arrives in Miami via sign-and-trade
Miami, FL (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Chris Bosh officially joined the Miami Heat Friday night via sign-and-trade with the Toronto Raptors. The Raptors acquired two first-round draft picks and a trade exception from the Heat to facilitate th

<< Report: Knicks agree with PG Felton
New York, NY (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The New York Knicks have reportedly come to terms on a multi-year contract with point guard Raymond Felton. According to the New York Daily News, the three-year deal could be worth $25 million for the fiv

<< Stockton takes lead at Dakota Dunes
Saskatoon, SK (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Brady Stockton shot an eight-under 64 to take the midway lead Friday at the Canadian Tour's Dakota Dunes Casino Open. Stockton, a 30-year-old from Arizona, completed two rounds on the Dakota Dunes course wit

<< Buehrle, Pierzynski carry White Sox over Royals
Chicago, IL (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Mark Buehrle spun seven scoreless frames and A.J. Pierzynski hit two home runs and drove in a season-high four runs to power the White Sox to an 8-2 victory over Kansas City in the opener of a three-g

<< Wainwright dominant as Cardinals blank Astros
Houston, TX (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Adam Wainwright turned in eight scoreless innings while Albert Pujols collected two hits, including a two-run shot, and drove in three as St. Louis downed Houston, 8-0, in the first of three between

Busch denies Logano second straight Nationwide win at Chicago >>
Joliet, IL (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Kyle Busch had the dominant car, but needed a little bit of luck at the end to win Friday's Dollar General 300 Nationwide Series race at Chicagoland Speedway. Despite leading a race-high 110 laps, Busc

Argos edge Blue Bombers >>
Winnipeg, MB (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Cleo Lemon threw for 162 yards and ran for a touchdown as he helped lead the Toronto Argonauts to a thrilling 36-34 win over the Winnipeg Blue Bombers at Canad Inns Stadium. Also putting together a str

Orioles C Wieters leaves after injury >>
Arlington, TX (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Baltimore Orioles catcher Matt Wieters left Friday's game against the Texas Rangers after stumbling while running the bases. Wieters was seen limping to third on a Scott Moore double and was forced o

Marlins edge Diamondbacks behind Nolasco, Uggla >>
Phoenix, AZ (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Ricky Nolasco pitched seven strong innings to win his fourth straight start, and Florida edged Arizona, 3-2, in the second portion of a four-game series. Nolasco (9-6) allowed six hits and two runs, w

Stewart's slam completes another winning rally for Rockies >>
Denver, CO (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Ian Stewart knocked in a career-high six runs and his grand slam was the big blow in a five-run seventh inning as Colorado rallied to down San Diego, 10-8, in the opener of a three-game set at Coors Field.

FOOTBALL BETTING : Cassel Signs Contract

Kansas City, MO - Kansas City has not officially named Matt Cassel its starting quarterback, but there can be no doubt now.

NFL Betting
After praising his leadership and work ethic through spring workouts, the Chiefs announced Tuesday they had signed the 27-year-old Cassel to a multiyear contract. Terms were not disclosed, but he will almost certainly be one of the highest-paid members of the team.
"We are excited to be able to reach a long-term agreement for Matt Cassel to be a Kansas City Chief for many years to come," owner and board chairman Clark Hunt said in a statement. "His proven leadership on and off the field will be a tremendous asset to the organization."
Patriots made him their franchise player, meaning his salary for this season will be about $15 million.
New head coach Todd Haley, taking over for Herm Edwards after a 2-14 season, refused to name a starter at any position during offseason workouts. But it was obvious to everyone the team belonged to Cassel.
"I go out there each and every day with that focus that I'm the starter," Cassel said during a June minicamp. "Competition brings out the best in everybody."
The signing will come as welcome news to Cassel's new coaches and teammates. Amiable and hardworking, online football betting he appeared to win over everyone at minicamp.
"I think he's got some unique leadership qualities. I think his teammates like him and have respect for him. I think he's doing a pretty good job on the field, too," Haley said last month. "He's doing everything that I'm asking him, that our coaches are asking him to do. I don't have one single complaint how he's carrying himself."
After one workout, wide receiver Devard Darling declared Cassel "a breath of fresh air."
"He has a lot of swagger, a lot of confidence. It's good for us," said Darling. "We trust in him that he's going to go out there and lead us all the way."
nse to accommodate his specific abilities.
Trapped on the bench behind Heisman winners Carson Palmer and Matt Leinart at USC and then unable to unseat Super Bowl MVP Brady at New England, Cassel seemed destined to be a backup all his life. As Brady was helped off the field last September, Cassel seized the opportunity he'd been waiting for since high school.
In his only sustained action since his teens, he hit 349 of 555 passes for 3,949 yards at New England. He had 23 touchdown passes and 13 interceptions as the Patriots, who had gone unbeaten through the regular season the year before, finished 11-5 and out of the playoffs.
Chiefs general manager Scott Pioli, who had been Bill Belichick's assistant in New England, engineered the trade after the Patriots became convinced that Brady would recover fully from his knee operation.
"Since Matt arrived in Kansas City, he has embraced the team and the community," Pioli said. "His work ethic, his ability and competitive presence is what we expect from our players."

NFL Betting Lines

To visit this sportsbook go to MySportsbook.com for all your college football betting needs.