Escobar's blast in 10th lifts Braves over Marlins

Baseball Betting Lines

06/02/2008 - Atlanta, GA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Yunel Escobar drilled a game-winning two-run homer in the 10th inning to give the Atlanta Braves a wild 7-5 win over the Florida Marlins, in the opener of a four-game set.

Escobar had three hits, three runs batted in and scored twice while Jeff Francoeur and Mark Teixeira each added a home run to the winning effort. Will Ohman (2-0) pitched a perfect 10th for the win, snapping Atlanta's three-game losing streak.

Dan Uggla doubled twice and scored twice for Florida which dropped its second straight and fifth of its last six overall.

Logan Kensing (3-1) took the hill for the 10th and issued a leadoff walk to Kelly Johnson before Escobar cranked the opposite-field game-winner off the top of the wall in right-center.

Kevin Gregg came on to close the game for Florida in the ninth and issued consecutive one-out walks to Francoeur and Brian McCann. Jair Jurrjens came on to run for McCann and pinch-hitter Josh Anderson moved the tying run to third on a force out. Gregg uncorked a wild pitch with Gregor Blanco in the batter's box, allowing Francoeur to score. Blanco chopped a grounder right back to Gregg, sending the game into extra innings.

Scott Olsen tossed six innings of three-run ball, on four hits and two walks, while striking out four for Florida. Jo-Jo Reyes matched Olsen's effort tossing six-plus innings of three-run ball, on five hits and one walk. The left-hander struck out four for Atlanta.

John Smoltz came on to pitch the ninth for Atlanta, his first action since April 27, and first bullpen appearance since 2004. Matt Treanor doubled to center with one out and Alfredo Amezaga came on to pinch-run. Pinch-hitter Wes Helms lined a single to left, moving the runner to third. Smoltz retired Hanley Ramirez on a fly out with Helms tagging and moving to second on the play. Jeremy Hermida singled to left, scoring both runners giving the Marlins a 5-4 advantage heading to the bottom half.

Francoeur jumped on the first pitch from Olsen to start the home second, sending a fastball to the seats in left.

Atlanta manufactured their second run of the game one inning later. Escobar worked a walk to start things off and moved to second when Chipper Jones drew a one-out walk. Teixeira followed with a line single to left, bringing Escobar around to score.

Florida got on the board in the fourth, tying the game at two. Hermida led off with a triple to the gap in right-center and scored on a Jorge Cantu sacrifice fly. Uggla then ripped a two-out double down the left field line and Luis Gonzalez singled to left bringing in Uggla for the equalizer.

Teixeira gave Atlanta back the lead in the fifth with a two-out solo shot to left, his fourth home run in the last five games.

Florida came back to tie the game in the seventh. Uggla led off by ripping a double to left and Gonzalez moved him to third on a single through the right side, chasing Reyes from the game.

Manny Acosta came on in relief and got Cody Ross to ground into a force out but Uggla was able to score on the play. Acosta went on to retire Treanor on a pop fly and Ramirez on strikes to limit the damage.

Renyel Pinto took the hill for Florida in the home seventh, loading the bases with two out but got Francoeur swinging to keep the contest tied at three.

Matt Lindstrom came on in the eighth to retire the first two Atlanta batters but Blanco ripped a double to left and Lindstrom issued a free pass to pinch- hitter Johnson. Escobar followed with a single back up the middle, scoring Blanco. Omar Infante worked a walk to load the bases and Joe Nelson came on to relieve Lindstrom. Nelson got Jones to fly out to end the inning but Atlanta had the lead heading to the ninth.

Game Notes

The Braves activated Smoltz from the 15-day disabled list prior to the game. Smoltz had been on the DL since April 28 with a severely inflamed biceps tendon and an inflamed rotator cuff. The team optioned reliever Phil Stockman to Triple-A Richmond to make room for Smoltz...Atlanta is in the midst of a 20-game losing streak in one-run decisions on the road dating back to August 10, 2007, tying for the second- longest such streak in Major League history. The club is one shy of Kansas City's 21-game streak from 2000-2001...The Marlins are 2-5 on their current 10-game trip against NL East foes...This was Smoltz's first blown save since September 22, 2004.

Wmetacrawler Baseball Betting News

<< Pens tie the game late to force overtime in Game 5
Detroit, MI (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Maxime Talbot scored with just 34.3 seconds to play in the third period to tie the game, 3-3, for Pittsburgh and force overtime in Game 5 of the Stanley Cup Finals against Detroit at Joe Louis Arena.

<< Young's three doubles help push Twins past Yankees
Minneapolis, MN (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Delmon Young smacked three RBI doubles, including the game-winner in the bottom of the eighth inning, and the Minnesota Twins rallied for a 6-5 win over the New York Yankees to salvage a split i

<< Orioles recall Liz, designate Hernandez
Baltimore, MD (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Baltimore Orioles announced following their 6-3 win over Boston on Thursday that they have recalled pitcher Radhames Liz and designated infielder Luis Hernandez for assignment. Liz was 1-5

<< Utley continues with long balls as Phils dump Reds
Philadelphia, PA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Chase Utley continued his power surge with his fifth home run in five games then helped save the game with a diving stab, as the Philadelphia Phillies held off the Cincinnati Reds, 5-4, in the initial contest

<< Pens hold 2-1 lead after two periods of Game 5
Detroit, MI (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Detroit got the only goal of the second period thanks to Darren Helm to cut the Red Wings deficit to 2-1 after two periods of play in Game 5 of the Stanley Cup Finals at Joe Louis Arena. The Red Wi

Jones, Orioles double up Red Sox >>
Baltimore, MD (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Adam Jones' three-run eighth-inning double was the difference as Baltimore rallied late to top Boston, 6-3, in the finale of a four-game series at Camden Yards. Kevin Millar drove in a pair while Aubrey Hu

Michaels hits grand slam as Pirates upend Cardinals >>
St. Louis, MO (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Adam Wainwright was well on his way to another dominant start, but Pittsburgh scored four runs in the seventh and added the game-winning tally on Jason Bay's RBI single in the eighth to post a 5-4 vic

Fielder goes deep to give Brewers victory over Arizona >>
Milwaukee, WI (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Prince Fielder launched a game-winning home run in the eighth and the Milwaukee Brewers survived a sloppy ninth, pulling out a 4-3 victory over the Arizona Diamondbacks in the opener of a three-game set.

Ortiz to miss at least one month, may face surgery >>
Baltimore, MD (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Boston Red Sox slugger David Ortiz will be out of action at least one month after suffering a wrist injury. The club confirmed following Monday's 6-3 loss to the Orioles in Baltimore, that Ortiz learn

Still tied after first overtime in Game 5 >>
Detroit, MI (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - After 20 minutes of overtime play, Game 5 of the Stanley Cup Finals remains tied, 3-3, between Detroit and Pittsburgh at Joe Louis Arena. Detroit controlled play in the early part of the overtime and had

Mayweather picked to beat De La Hoya
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA -- Golden Boy Oscar De La Hoya and his rival Floyd Mayweather Jr. arrived at the MGM Grand here Wednesday amid the pomp and pandemonium befitting two of the biggest stars in the sport who are about to duke it out for the WBC super welterweight crown this Saturday (Sunday in Manila).

As of Wednesday, MySportsbook.com closed its book with Mayweather a favorite to defeat De La Hoya at -170 (a $100 bet wins $70), while De La Hoya is a +140 underdog (a $100 bet wins $140).

Mayweather arrived at about 11:30 a.m. on a big truck with his face and a big "World's Best Pound-for-Pound" sign scribbled across the vehicle. He was accompanied by his entourage made up of rappers and his training team.

A crowd of close to 3,000 eager fans packed the MGM Grand lobby, with their cameras in tow, all trying to vie for position to get a good angle at Mayweather, who is acknowledged as the world's best fighter pound-for-pound.

Eric Gomez, Golden Boy Promotions vice-president, described the fan turnout as "amazing" and swore he had never seen anything quite like this event.

"The crowd was fantastic. Everybody was just too eager to see the two fighters," said ALA manager Michael Aldeguer, who was among those who waited at the lobby together with his ward Rey "Boom Boom" Bautista and AJ Banal.

De La Hoya made his own grand entrance at the hotel lobby at around 12:30 p.m. accompanied by GBP chief executive officer Richard Schaefer and trainer Freddie Roach.

The same group of fans who trooped to see Mayweather also lingered around to get a close look at De La Hoya, who has been secretly working out at a Las Vegas gym for days after arriving from his main training camp in Puerto Rico.

The golden boy then took part in a closed-door afternoon workout with Bautista and Banal. The two, along with Aldeguer and wife Christine, as well as an HBO crew were the only ones allowed inside the gym.

De La Hoya and Mayweather take part in today's final press conference before the official weigh-in this Friday.

Ring Magazine, the acknowledged bible of boxing, reported in its June 2007 issue that 12 out of 20 boxing experts it interviewed have favored Mayweather to defeat De la Hoya, with only 8 favoring the latter.

But Filipino ring icon Manny Pacquiao said in a recent interview with The Freeman's Emmanuel Villaruel that De La Hoya will win by unanimous decision over Mayweather.

To visit this online sportsbook got to MySportsbook.com for all your bet on boxing needs.