Pierzynski's late HR lifts ChiSox over Tribe
Baseball Betting Lines
08/31/2010 - Cleveland, OH (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - A.J. Pierzynski's three-run blast in the ninth provided the difference, as the White Sox beat the Cleveland Indians, 4-3, in Manny Ramirez's first game in a Chicago uniform.
Pierzynski's seventh home run of the season helped the White Sox win for the fourth time in six games. Chicago now stands 3 1/2 games behind Minnesota in the AL Central, and the Twins are currently taking on Detroit.
Ramirez, who was acquired in a waiver claim from the Dodgers on Monday, suited up, but did not play. He was standing in the on-deck circle when Pierzynski went deep, but was pulled back to the dugout after the White Sox took the lead.
Edwin Jackson (3-0), meanwhile, continued to star with Chicago, throwing his third consecutive 10-plus strikeout performance in 8 2/3 innings. He allowed three runs on seven hits and a walk while fanning 11. He's allowed just six earned runs in 36 2/3 innings with his new club since a trade with Arizona and has struck out 10 or more in three straight games for the first time in his career.
Shelley Duncan homered for Cleveland, as the Indians lost their third straight. Justin Masterson was solid in 7 2/3 innings, allowing just one run, four hits and two walks while fanning seven, but Joe Smith (1-2) was saddled with the loss.
After tying the game with a run in the eighth, the White Sox went ahead with a big blast in the ninth.
Smith began the inning and walked both Alex Rios and Carlos Quentin, preceding Frank Herrmann's entrance out of the bullpen. Pierzynski was the first batter to face Herrmann and launched a three-run homer into the right-field bleachers for a 4-1 advantage.
The Indians brought the tying run to the plate after two singles in the ninth, and Jason Donald scored them both with a two-out single to center. That chased Jackson in favor of Bobby Jenks, who allowed a base hit to pinch-hitter Matt LaPorta, sending Donald to second.
Michael Brantley, though, grounded out to Jenks to end the rally and the game. Jenks earned his 25th save.
Neither offense was unable to push any runs across in the first six innings.
The White Sox had a chance in the third, when Alexei Ramirez reached on an error and advanced to third with one out. Masterson was able to get Juan Pierre to foul out and Omar Vizquel to ground out to end the threat.
The Indians squandered a leadoff double from Lou Marson in the home half, and Jayson Nix flied out with two runners on in the sixth.
Duncan, though, finally ended the stalemate in the seventh, leading off the inning with a blast over the wall in left for a 1-0 Cleveland lead.
The White Sox rallied to tie it in the eighth. Mark Kotsay worked a walk leading off and was replaced by Brent Lillibridge on the base path. He was bunted to second and scored on Mark Teahen's base hit to center.
Game Notes
Jackson is the first White Sox pitcher to record three straight 10-strikeout performances since Floyd Bannister -- the father of Royals pitcher Brian Bannister -- did it in 1985...Chicago first baseman Paul Konerko surpassed manager Ozzie Guillen for fifth all-time games played with the franchise with his 1,744th appearance...The Indians still lead the season series, 8-6.
Philadelphia, PA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Philadelphia Soul named Mike Hohensee as the team's head coach for when they return to the Arena Football League in 2011. The Soul, who won the ArenaBowl in 2008 before the AFL folded, will return t
<< Arena Football League commissioner Kurz to return in 2011
Tulsa, OK (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Arena Football League commissioner Jerry B. Kurz
had his contract extended Tuesday and will return for the 2011 season.
"I couldn't be more pleased to continue to lead the resurgence of the Arena
Football Le
<< Lomg-time Stamps physician Murphy passes away
Calgary, AB (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Calgary Stampeders physician Dr. Vince Murphy
has passed away at the age of 87, the team announced Tuesday.
Dr. Murphy was associated with the Stampeders since 1957. A release from the
team said Murphy pass
<< BYU officially announces football independence, will join WCC
Provo, UT (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Brigham Young University officially announced its
resignation from the Mountain West Conference, effective June 30, 2011, in its
quest to become a football independent next season.
The Cougars will re-join the We
<< Cowboys release Watkins
Irving, TX (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Dallas Cowboys on Tuesday released veteran
safety Patrick Watkins.
A fifth-round pick by the Cowboys in the 2006 draft, Watkins recorded 122
tackles and four interceptions over 49 games.
Dallas al
Atlanta, GA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - David Ross' first career grand slam capped a seven-run fifth inning as the Atlanta Braves clobbered the New York Mets, 9-2, in the second of a four-game set. Derrek Lee went 3-for-3 with an RBI and a run sco
Orioles top BoSox in Baltimore >>
Baltimore, MD (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Luke Scott and Felix Pie each hit solo homers
to back Brian Matusz's solid performance on the mound, as the Baltimore
Orioles held off the Boston Red Sox, 5-2, in the opener of a three-game series
at Camd
Rangers acquire OF Francoeur from Mets >>
Kansas City, MO (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Just prior to the waiver trade deadline,
the Texas Rangers bolstered their outfield depth with the acquisition of Jeff
Francoeur from the New York Mets.
Francoeur confirmed to reporters after Tuesday
Marlins beat Nationals, 1-0, in extras >>
Miami, FL (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Chad Tracy's game-winning RBI single in the
bottom of the 10th inning produced the only run of the game, as the Florida
Marlins edged the Washington Nationals in the middle installment of a three-
game se
Votto, Reds increase NL Central lead with win over Brewers >>
Cincinnati, OH (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Joey Votto doubled twice and drove in three
runs, as the National League Central-leading Cincinnati Reds handled the
Milwaukee Brewers, 8-4, in the second of a three-game set at Great American
Ball Pa
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.