Diamondbacks power past Mets to snap seven-game slide

Baseball Betting Lines

07/30/2010 - Flushing, NY (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Kelly Johnson hit a go-ahead two-run homer in the sixth and Miguel Montero tacked on a three-run shot later in the frame to help the Diamondbacks snap a seven-game slide with a 9-6 win over the Mets.

Montero went 3-for-5 with four RBI to highlight the offensive outburst for Arizona, which had lost four games at home to San Francisco and three straight at Philadelphia coming in.

Ian Kennedy (6-8) labored through six innings but still wound up with the win after giving up five runs on three hits and four walks.

David Wright had his first multi-home run game at Citi Field, driving in five runs in New York's fourth loss in six games.

Raul Valdes (2-3) gave up both homers in the sixth and did not record an out to take the loss behind Mike Pelfrey, who was touched for five runs -- four earned -- on eight hits in 5 2/3 frames.

Pelfrey was pulled with two outs and Kennedy on first base in the sixth frame, with the pitcher having reached on Jose Reyes' error on a routine ground ball. Valdes came in and quickly gave up New York's 5-4 lead, as Johnson smashed a changeup over the wall in center to push Arizona in front.

A pair of singles ensued before Montero sent a Valdes offering off the second- deck facing in right, signifying the end of the reliever's forgettable outing.

Blaine Boyer gave up a run in the seventh when Angel Pagan singled to left to plate Reyes, but the Mets stranded two runners in the frame.

Chad Qualls threw a 1-2-3 eighth, and Aaron Heilman, who spent his first six seasons in New York, hurled a scoreless ninth for his fourth save of the year.

Arizona put up three runs in the first thanks to consecutive run-scoring singles by Adam LaRoche, Montero and Mark Reynolds.

Wright got his glove on Reynolds' base hit and couldn't make a play, but made up for the near miss by sending one over the left-field fence in the bottom half to tie the game. Reyes singled and Luis Castillo walked ahead of the blast.

Stephen Drew's double to the left-field gap scored Montero in the third, though Wright answered again in New York's turn, following Pagan's walk with a shot to center to give the Mets their only lead.

Game Notes

Wright now has 15 multi-home run games in his career...Pelfrey finished July 0-3 in five starts and saw his earned-run average rise from 2.93 to 4.10...Before the game, the Mets traded minor league first baseman Mike Jacobs, who played seven games with the big club this season, to the Toronto Blue Jays for a player to be named later. New York also placed outfielder Jason Bay on the 15-day disabled list due to a concussion and recalled outfielder Jesus Feliciano from Triple-A Buffalo...Reyes and Wright each had three of the Mets' seven hits...Chris Young, Johnson, LaRoche and Reynolds each had two hits for the D'Backs...Arizona has won eight of the last nine in the series, including all four so far this season.

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2007 NFL Football Betting Preview


“You play to win the game!”

Those are the words of notoriously intense head coach Herman Edwards. Unfortunately, from a bettors’ perspective, most coaches don’t feel that way about the NFL preseason. August is a time to evaluate young players, finalize the depth chart and pray your star players stay healthy.

The trick to making money during the exhibition schedule is identifying coaches – like Edwards – who can’t stand losing even when there's nothing on the line.

The New York Jets betting won 15 of 21 preseason games and went 14-7 against the spread (ATS) during Edwards’s five-year tenure with the club. In his first season as the Kansas City Chiefs field boss, the team improved from 0-4 to 2-2.

Identifying win-a-holics like Edwards is a good start if you plan betting the preseason – even though most say you shouldn’t ... but what the hell do they know anyway?

Here’s a brief rundown of two teams that have a habit of winning during the second-stringers’ season, and another club that has a good chance of exceeding this year.

New York Giants betting lines

Playing in the media hub of North America can be stressful but the press can’t write anything negative about the way Tom Coughlin’s boys play in the preseason. The Giants won and covered all four games last summer, improving their record to 7-1 both straight up (SU) and against the spread over the last two years.

Coughlin has shown he’s not afraid to give his starters more time in the second preseason game than most of his colleagues, no doubt one of the reasons his team has been so dominant.

Dallas Cowboys betting lines

Bettors can count on America’s team early on. The Cowboys are 14-6 both SU and ATS since 2002 in warm-up contests. Former coach Bill Parcells, the coach of the team the last four years, has an intimidating, in-your-face presence – surely a reason Dallas has had so much early success.

The Big Tuna won’t be strolling the sidelines with looks of disgust, but new coach Wade Phillips will be anxious to make a good first impression for owner Jerry Jones.

Dallas plays the Indianapolis Colts and the Denver Broncos before things get serious. They then face the Houston Texans in their third contest (the game starters see most game time) and finish off with the Minnesota Vikings.

Expect a Dallas team able to walk away with another 3-1 preseason record.

Oakland Raiders betting lines

This team scored a league-worst 12 offensive touchdowns last season, so the rookies and veterans each have something to prove. There’s a bounty of first-unit jobs up for grabs and plenty of bodies competing for those slots.

First-time head coach Lane Kiffin will be eager to impress an owner who employs the philosophy, “Just win, baby!”

The 32-year-old Kiffin has to command respect from a locker room full of players older than him. All of these factors should lead to purpose in preseason. 

Don’t forget: before playing like a team that belonged in NFL Europe, Oakland went 4-1 (both SU and ATS) in exhibition games.

To visit this online sportsbook got to MySportsbook.com for all your football wagering needs. Mysportsbook.com online sportsbook accepts Visa and Mastercard credit cards.