Keppinger, Myers lead Astros past Pirates

Baseball Betting Lines

07/16/2010 - Pittsburgh, PA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Jeff Keppinger homered and drove in three runs to support 7 2/3 sturdy innings from Brett Myers in Houston's 5-2 win over the Pirates in the opener of a three-game set.

Hunter Pence singled twice, scored two runs and walked, and Jason Bourgeois scored twice and swiped two bases for the Astros, who have won all seven games between the teams this season.

Myers (7-6) allowed two runs on five hits for Houston, which has won five of its last seven games. He walked one and struck out four in extending his franchise record to 19 straight starts of six innings or more to open the season. Matt Lindstrom retired the side in order in the ninth to nail down his 22nd save of the season.

Zach Duke (3-9) suffered the loss in his first start since June 16, yielding a pair of runs on five hits over five frames while fanning five for the Pirates, who have dropped seven straight.

Bourgeois led off the game with an infield single, stole second and third and scored on a Keppinger ground out.

Pence opened the second inning with a single, advanced to second on a wild pitch and scored on a two-out double to right field by Humberto Quintero.

Andrew McCutchen started the home fourth with a double, moved to third on a ground out and came in to score on a Neil Walker sacrifice fly to halve the Houston lead.

Keppinger greeted D.J. Carrasco by belting his first pitch of the sixth just over the wall in left field to restore the Astros' two-run edge. The visitors tacked on another run in the frame when Pence walked, moved up on a Chris Johnson single, reached third on a wild pitch and scored on a squeeze bunt by Angel Sanchez.

The Pirates put runners at first and second with two outs in the bottom of the inning, but Andy LaRoche was picked off at second base to end the threat.

Bourgeois used his speed to create another run after he drew a walk with one out in the seventh off Sean Gallagher. He advanced on a balk, moved to third on a ground out and scored on Keppinger's double to center field that made it 5-1 and chased Gallagher.

Javier Lopez came on to retire Lance Berkman to end the inning.

The Pirates pushed across a run in the eighth on a two-out single by McCutchen that scored Lastings Milledge and knocked Myers out of the game.

Jose Tabata then welcomed Brandon Lyon to the contest with an infield single before Walker lined out to end the frame.

Game Notes

Duke was activated from the disabled list during the All-Star break...He had been sidelined by a left elbow flexor pronator strain...Carlos Lee did not start Friday's game for the Astros after missing the team's scheduled workout on Thursday at PNC Park...Myers became the 53rd pitcher since 1920 to begin the season with 19 straight starts of six innings or more. The last Astros pitcher to put together a similar streak was Roy Oswalt, who did it in 20 straight turns from May 11-August 22, 2005...Myers improved to 2-6 in 10 road starts...Pence extended his hitting streak to seven games...Keppinger finished 2-for-4 and has 29 multi-hit games...Pittsburgh has allowed a run in the first inning in six of its last seven games...Pirates third baseman Pedro Alvarez went 1-for-4 and has hit safely in 11 of his last 12 games...Friday marked the 40th anniversary of the first game played at Three Rivers Stadium.

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Albert Pujols to be This Year's Home Run Champ Says Online Sportsbook

Barry Bonds is a 50-1 long shot to be this year's home run champ odds.  The favorite to be this year's home run champ is none other than Albert Pujols, however.

Now that Barry Bonds is signed and in Giants camp, it is on to his pursuit of all of sports most prestigious records: the all-time home run mark. Bonds sits just 21 homers shy of tying Hank Aaron for the career mark at 755. Word out of Giants’ camp is that Bonds is the healthiest he has been in a few years. Bonds is just two seasons removed from his injury riddled 2005 campaign where he played in only 14 games and hit only 5 home runs. He did come back last year and had a solid season hitting .270 with 26 bombs. All eyes will be on Bonds this spring and summer not only because of his home run chase but his highly publicized steroid abuse allegations. If and when Bonds breaks the record, he surely will not get the positive attention one should for breaking a record that was once thought of as “unbreakable”. Despite Bonds decent season last year, he is just 50-1 at MySportsbook.com to lead the MLB in long balls this season.

Not surprisingly, the favorites to go deep the most times this season are Albert Pujols 5-1, Ryan Howard 6-1, David Ortiz 8-1 and Alex Rodriguez 12-1. With 49 homers, Pujols finished second in the National League behind Howard (58). Pujols is considered the favorite due to the consistent power numbers that he has posted since breaking into the league in 2001. Also one must consider the fact that he played in 16 fewer games then Howard did due to an injury. Howard smashed 58 homers in his first complete season of big league play en route to the National League MVP odds award. He silenced his critics by successfully hitting left-handed pitching. Howard also displayed the ability to use his power to the opposite field. Two attributes which should keep Howard amongst the league leaders in long balls for years to come. From the American League representatives, David Ortiz leads the field. Ortiz was second in the majors last year with 54 home runs. Except for 1999 when he only played in 10 games, Ortiz has improved on his home run numbers each year he has been in the majors (1997).

Be sure to log onto online sports betting site MySportsbook.com to check out the odds for who will lead the MLB in home runs this season. Below is just a sample of the players listed. With the highest credit card rates in the industry, MySportsbook.com is the place to bet on baseball this summer.

World Series odds

Adam Dunn 15-1

Albert Pujols 5-1

Alex Rodriguez 12-1

Alfonso Soriano 15-1

Andruw Jones 25-1

Barry Bonds 50-1

Carlos Delgado 40-1

David Ortiz 8-1

Jermaine Dye 40-1

Ken Griffey Jr. 100-1

Lance Berkman 40-1

Manny Ramirez 20-1

Richie Sexson 40-1

Ryan Howard 6-1

Travis Hafner 20-1

Vladimir Guerrero 40-1

To visit this online sportsbook got to MySportsbook.com - this sportsbook accepts credit cards.

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With 3,919 passing yards, 32 touchdowns and a mere seven interceptions last season, combined with a powerful South Bend Heisman legacy, odds makers at MySportsbook.com have given Notre Dame senior quarterback Brady Quinn the best Heisman Trophy odds at 5-2.

Quinn isn’t the only big man on campus this season.  Oklahoma junior running back and 2004 Heisman runner-up Adrian Peterson, listed at 7-2, rushed for a combined 3,033 yards in his first two years as a college player and will give Quinn a run for his money. 

This online sportsbook has also listed Troy Smith, Ohio State senior quarterback, as another strong favorite to win the 72nd Heisman Trophy.  A 7-1 bet, Smith threw for 2,282 yards last season and also led the Buckeyes to a convincing 34-20 victory over Quinn and the Fighting Irish in last season’s Fiesta Bowl.

Current betting odds Heisman trophy are:

Brady Quinn (QB, Notre Dame)
Adrian Peterson (RB, Oklahoma)
Troy Smith (QB, Ohio State)
Michael Bush (RB, Louisville)
Steve Slaton (RB, West Virginia)
Brian Brohm (QB, Louisville)
Chris Leak (QB, Florida)
Mike Hart (RB, Michigan)
Ted Ginn (WR, Ohio State)
Darius Walker (RB, Notre Dame)
Drew Tate (QB, Iowa)
Marshawn Lynch (RB, Cal)
Kenny Irons (RB, Auburn)
Chad Henne (QB, Michigan)
Kyle Wright (QB, Miami)
Drew Stanton (QB, Michigan State)
Kenneth Darby (RB, Alabama)
JaMarcus Russell (QB, LSU)
Drew Weatherford (QB, Florida State)
Blake Mitchell (QB, South Carolina)
Reggie Ball (QB, Georgia Tech)		 5-2
7-2
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For complete NCAA Football odds visit MySportsbook.com.