08/20/2008 - San Francisco, CA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Ricky Nolasco was dominant, fanning 11 in a two-hit shutout as the Marlins cruised to a 6-0 win over the San Francisco Giants in the opener of a three-game set.
Nolasco (12-7) walked one in his first career shutout, and his first career complete game. The 25-year-old nearly threw what could have been a controversial one-hitter, in the process ending the longest complete-game drought for a team in major league history.
A Marlins pitcher had not tossed a complete game since Anibal Sanchez in a 2-1 loss to the Atlanta Braves on September 16, 2006. In the 301 games since no Florida hurler has gone the distance, but that came to an end on Tuesday night, thanks to Nolasco, who also clubbed a two-run double.
Jorge Cantu hit a solo homer for Florida, which had dropped four of five entering this series. The Marlins kept pace in the NL East, where they trail the first-place New York Mets by four games, and the second-place Phillies by 2 1/2 games. Both Philadelphia and New York also won on Tuesday.
Kevin Correia (2-7) gave up five runs -- three earned -- on seven hits with three walks and no strikeouts to take the loss for the Giants, who had won three of four entering play.
Mike Jacobs' RBI groundout in the first and Jeremy Hermida's RBI groundout in the second gave Nolasco an early 2-0 edge. Nolasco cruised on the mound, and helped himself at the plate in the fifth.
After John Baker singled in Dan Uggla with two outs, Nolasco belted a liner to deep left. The two-bagger, Nolasco's first of his career, plated two runs, giving the Marlins a 5-0 lead.
Cantu's leadoff blast to deep left in the sixth, his 22nd of the season, gave Florida a six-run pad.
That was more than enough for Nolasco, who allowed only one hit through eight innings. That hit was a first-inning grounder by Randy Winn that bounced off the glove of Florida first baseman Jacobs and into right field. Jacobs had to slide on the play, but it was routine, and just as easily could have been ruled an error.
Had pinch-hitter Pablo Sandoval not doubled to left with one out in the ninth off Nolasco, the official scorer's decision in the first would have come under fire. But Sandoval's double rendered any argument moot. Nolasco, meanwhile, recovered to get Ivan Ochoa to fly out, and struck out Winn to end the game.
Game Notes
The shutout was the first for the Marlins since former Florida left-hander Dontrelle Willis blanked the Phillies 3-0 on September 10, 2006...San Francisco's four errors were a season-high for a game...The Marlins left 12 runners on base.
<< Bartoli, Mauresmo, Szavay post wins in New Haven
New Haven, CT (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Third-seeded Frenchwoman Marion Bartoli,
fourth-seeded Hungarian Agnes Szavay and former world No. 1 Amelie Mauresmo of
France were all winners Tuesday at the $600,000 Pilot Pen Tennis event, a
final h
<< Padres activate Tomko from DL
Phoenix, AZ (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The San Diego Padres activated pitcher
Brett Tomko off the 15-day disabled list Tuesday.
Tomko had been sidelined with a strained right elbow since July 1.
The journeyman right-hander made two
<< Report: Louisville QB Simms suspended four games
Louisville, KY (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Louisville has reportedly suspended backup
quarterback Matt Simms -- the son of former NFL QB Phil Simms -- for the first
four games of the season due to a violation of team policy.
The Louisville Courier
<< Royals pick up Wells
Kansas City, MO (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Kansas City Royals signed Kip Wells to
a contract which will expire at the end of the 2008 season on Tuesday.
The 31-year-old Wells, who was released by the Rockies last week, missed over
two months t
Stewart, Hawpe power Rockies past Dodgers >>
Los Angeles, CA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Ian Stewart hit a three-run homer and
finished with a career-high five RBI while Brad Hawpe continued his recent
strong offensive play with a two-run homer, as the Colorado Rockies defeated
the Lo
Cards' Isringhausen shut down with elbow tendonitis >>
St. Louis, MO (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - St. Louis Cardinals pitcher Jason
Isringhausen has been shut down indefinitely after an MRI exam Tuesday
revealed tendonitis in his right elbow and a partial tendon tear in his flexor
group.
Red Wings re-sign Downey >>
Detroit, MI (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Detroit Red Wings re-signed forward Aaron
Downey to a one-year, two-way undisclosed contract Wednesday.
Downey signed with Detroit last season following a training camp tryout and
appeared in 56 game
Royals, Indians resume three-game series in Cleveland >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Lefty Zach Jackson makes his second appearance in a
Cleveland uniform tonight when the Indians take on the visiting Kansas City
Royals in the second of three midweek games at Progressive Field.
Jackson, a supplemental 2004
American Idol odds : Blake Lewis the Early Standout
An important American Idol betting lines recap from February 20 Guys episode. The 12 men came out flat overall with Blake Lewis appearing to have the early edge after the first hour and a half.
Rudy - was quite good singing "Free Ride" to start off. Randy was not impressed though. Paula thought he started off fantastic. "Never had anyone stop off so lively" said Paula but Simon (who does not like Rudy) does not feel he has a distinct voice and was not impressed either.
Brandon was a little pitchy according to Randy and Paula agreed. Simon said he was a good singer but the song was "too safe" and he needs to make an impact. He was listed at +1200 odds or $1200 paid out on a $100 bet should he win the competition.
Big favorite Sundance came in with a flat version of "Knights in White Satin" and the judges let him have it, including Paula. Randy claimed the song was out of pitch throughout.
Korean American - and a Jenny Woo favorite - Paul Kim was up next. Another pitchy flat one but Randy said he still liked his potential. Kim at +3000 odds was said to have sung a "third rate version of that (George Michael) song" according to Simon Cowell. He sang "Careless Whisper".
22 year old Chris Richardson was up next. He was listed with +1100 odds coming in. He got the best response from the judges though Simon did not believe the vocal was that great.
Nick was boring and pitchy. Simon didn't think he was that bad though and predicted he would be back next week. Nick Pedro was a big +3000 dog coming into this competition.
Beat boxer Blake Lewis was listed with early +1000 odds or $1000 payout on a $100 bet if he were to become the next American Idol winner odds . These of course were the early odds. He was considered original for picking an "odd song". He did not beat box and the judges felt it was the best vocal of the night.
Sanjaya came in as the second biggest favorite after Chris Sligh but his performance Tuesday night was not very good.
Chris Sleigh was the early favorite at +450 odds. Great voice and a great sense of humor. He's a real standout. Randy felt it was on point but maybe ahead of the chorus a little bit. Simon Cowell said he felt like he was in some "sort of weird student gig".
Jared Cotter followed. He was listed with +2000 odds early on to win the competition. The judges felt he needs to take more risks but looked good.
22-year old AJ Talbado, who has tried out for American Idol five times, was up next. "Kind of a theme park performance" said Simon. Though the judges felt he performed okay. Simon did feel AJ might be better than he originally thought.
Phil - this season's military favorite - came into this competition with +1200 odds to win the competition. He was the last to perform. He was certainly strong enough to get through this stage of the competition and perhaps the best one after a shaky start.
Tomorrow night, the ladies perform and I sure hope they do a better job than the boys. Check out all the American Idol betting odds here.
To visit this online sportsbook got to MySportsbook.com - this sportsbook accepts credit cards.
Sports Betting News: NFL Team History | Football Betting | Baseball Betting | Basketball Betting | Hockey Betting | Golf Betting | Tennis Betting | Auto Racing Betting | Horse Racing Betting | Soccer Betting