Feldman, bullpen help Rangers complete sweep of Rays

Baseball Betting Lines

07/05/2009 - Arlington, TX (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - David Murphy went 3-for-3 with a run batted in, as the Texas Rangers completed a three-game sweep of Tampa Bay with a 5-2 victory over the Rays.

The Rangers also extended their overall winning streak to five games, despite going 2-for-11 with runners in scoring position and stranding nine runners. Murphy, Elvis Andrus and Marlon Byrd each had a sacrifice fly.

Texas starter Scott Feldman (7-2) got the win after giving up two runs -- one earned -- on three hits and four walks over six innings. Jason Jennings, C.J. Wilson and Frank Francisco each threw a perfect inning of relief, with Francisco notching his 14th save this season.

Rays starter Matt Garza (6-6) gave up five runs on seven hits and two walks in five frames, and took the loss. Garza also struck out seven for the Rays, who have lost four in a row.

Carl Crawford had one of Tampa's three hits to extend his hitting streak to 13 games, walked, and scored a run in the loss.

The Rangers got on the scoreboard in the first inning. Leadoff hitter Ian Kinsler was hit by a pitch, and Murphy's base hit two batters later put runners on the corners. Byrd then reached on a soft hit to third, plating Kinsler. Jarrod Saltalamacchia scored on Andrus' sac fly in the second inning to make it a 2-0 game.

Tampa, though, tied the contest in the third thanks to an error. B.J. Upton was hit to lead off and went to second after Crawford worked a walk. The speedy pair then executed a double steal before Evan Longoria lofted a fly to right field.

Upton tagged up on the play, beating an errant throw to the plate. Saltalamacchia then tossed the ball into left field trying to catch Crawford going to third, allowing him to score.

But Texas quickly re-assumed the lead. Michael Young began the home third with a double, and Murphy's single again put runners on the corners. Byrd walked to load the bases before Hank Blalock struck out.

The Rangers got a run when Nelson Cruz batted a ball to the right side, and Rays shortstop Jason Bartlett couldn't hang on to the ball for the force out. Young scored on the play, but Garza got the next two batters to keep it a one- run game.

However, Texas tacked on two more runs in the fourth, when the Rangers loaded the bases with no outs. Sac flies from Murphy and Byrd pushed the Rangers' lead to 5-2.

The Texas pitching staff sealed the win from there, though it got some help from a pair of double plays. Crawford and Carlos Pena were each doubled off first base to end the fifth and sixth innings, respectively.

Jennings worked a flawless seventh, Wilson got three fly outs in the eighth, and Francisco set the Rays down in order in the ninth to finish off the victory.

Game Notes

On Sunday, Major League Baseball announced the rosters for this season's All- Star Game, scheduled for July 14 in St. Louis. Rays third baseman Longoria and Rangers outfielder Josh Hamilton were named starters by fan vote. Rays shortstop Bartlett and outfielders Crawford and Ben Zobrist, as well as Rangers third baseman Young were named reserves for the American League...Blalock finished 0-for-4 with three strikeouts and left eight runners on base...Rays catcher Dioner Navarro went 0-for-3, striking out twice, and left four runners on...Francisco improved to 14-for-16 in save chances this season...Garza had won his last two starts, in which he gave up two runs in 15 innings...Texas next visits LA for a three-game series against the Angels, beginning Monday...The Rays start a three-game home set against Toronto on Tuesday.

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2007 Academy Award Betting : Oscars odds

The 79th Annual Academy Awards odds , which will air February 25th, is sparking an interest throughout the nation with the announcement of its nominees. As the public chooses their favorites, sportsbooks are creating odds for one of the biggest entertainment betting nights of the year.

Whether its at a “Oscar Party” or in an on line sportsbook, entertainment gambling on award shows represent a huge increase in betting. As the public speculation mounts, MySportsbook.com, the largest and most respected sportsbook on the web, posted odds on who is going home with a “Golden Best Friend.”

“ We see a majority of our entertainment wagers come from the Academy Awards,” said MySportsbook.com spokesperson, Tim Dalton. “This is a competition that applies to everyone. These are the people that entertain us on a daily basis and you want to see them win.”

MySportsbook.com posted the following odds for Academy Awards:

Odds to win the Achievement in Directing:

Alejandro González Iñárritu "Babel": 8/1

Martin Scorsese "The Departed": 2/17

Clint Eastwood "Letters From Iwo Jima: 4/1

Stephen Frears "The Queen": 12/1

Paul Greengrass "United 93": 15/1

Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role:

Leonardo DiCaprio in "Blood Diamond": 11/1

Ryan Gosling in "Half Nelson": 20/1

Peter O’Toole in "Venus": 16/5

Will Smith in "The Pursuit of Happyness": 16/1

Forest Whitaker in "The Last King of Scotland": 1/11

Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role:

Penélope Cruz in "Volver": 18/1

Judi Dench in "Notes on a Scandal": 15/1

Helen Mirren in "The Queen": 1/50

Meryl Streep in "The Devil Wears Prada": 10/1

Kate Winslet in "Little Children": 20/1

Best Animated Feature Film:

"Cars": 1/3

"Happy Feet": 2/1

"Monster House": 20/1

Best Foreign-Language Film of the Year:

"Water" – Canada: 22/1

"The Lives of Others" – Germany: 7/2

"After the Wedding" - Denmark: 24/1

"Days of Glory (Indigenes)" – Algeria: 23/1

"Pan's Labyrinth" - Mexico: 1/10

Odds to win the Best Live-Action Short Film:

"Binta and the Great Idea (Binta Y La Gran Idea)": 6/5

"Eramos Pocos (One Too Many)": 7/2

"Helmer & Son": 5/2

"The Saviour": 6/1

"West Bank Story": 7/2

Odds to win the Best Original Screenplay:

"Babel": 7/4

"Letters From Iwo Jima": 3/1

"Little Miss Sunshine": 21/20

"Pan's Labyrinth": 11/4

"The Queen": 5/4

Best Motion Picture of the Year:

"Babel": 11/4

"The Departed": 1/2

"Letters from Iwo Jima": 15/2

"Little Miss Sunshine": 17/10

"The Queen": 20/1

Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role:

Alan Arkin in "Little Miss Sunshine": 11/10

Jackie Earle Haley in "Little Children": 10/1

Djimon Hounsou in "Blood Diamond": 9/1

Eddie Murphy in "Dreamgirls": 2/5

Mark Wahlberg in "The Departed": 5/1

Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role:

Adriana Barraza in "Babel": 14/1

Cate Blanchett in "Notes on a Scandal": 11/1

Abigail Breslin in "Little Miss Sunshine": 2/1

Jennifer Hudson in "Dreamgirls": 1/8

Rinko Kikuchi in "Babel": 11/1

Film To Win Most Oscars:

Dreamgirls: 2/3

Pans Labyrinth: 6/5

The Departed: 6/1

The Queen: 11/1

Babel: 15/1

Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest: 11/1

Little Miss Sunshine: 15/1


Additional sports and entertainment odds can be found at: www.MySportsbook.com

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