Giants, Dodgers play rubber match at Chavez Ravine

Baseball Betting Lines

09/05/2010 - (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Hiroki Kuroda nearly threw a no-hitter in his last trip to the hill. Tonight, the Los Angeles Dodgers will settle for a win, as they play the rubber match of their three-game set against the San Francisco Giants at Dodgers Stadium.

The Dodgers seemed well on their way to a victory on Saturday before San Francisco mounted a furious comeback that culminated with Juan Uribe's two-run home run in ninth which lifted the Giants to a 5-4 win.

San Francisco trailed by four runs after six innings, but Buster Posey homered to begin the seventh. Edgar Renteria and Pat Burrell hit solo shots in the eighth to get the visitors within a run, and Uribe's one-out homer off Jonathan Broxton (5-5) put San Francisco on top.

"That's up there with comeback wins," said Giants manager Bruce Bochy. "Juan got a pitch he could handle. It's hard to get a bigger one than that. The longball won it for us tonight."

Brian Wilson then pitched a scoreless bottom of the ninth to earn the save for San Francisco, which rebounded from a loss in Friday's series opener and gained ground in the NL West. First-place San Diego dropped its ninth in a row earlier Saturday, and the Giants' win pulled them within two games.

"Hopefully when the team ahead of you struggles, you go on a springboard and get it going," Bochy added. "But we've been playing good teams, too."

San Francisco also remained three games behind Philadelphia in the wild card chase, as the Phillies beat Milwaukee on Saturday.

Jay Gibbons hit a three-run homer for the Dodgers, who have lost five of seven.

Kuroda, meanwhile, went 7 1/3 innings before allowing a hit on Monday against the Phillies and earned the win with 7 2/3 scoreless frames to run his record to 10-11, while lowering his earned run average to 3.39.

"I was hoping he was going to get it, but I could tell he was a little edgy at the end," said Dodgers manager Joe Torre. "His stuff was electric tonight."

Kuroda has faced the Giants six times and is 2-1 against them with a 3.60 ERA.

San Francisco will hand the ball to lefty Jonathan Sanchez, who is 9-8 with a 3.54 ERA. Sanchez did not get a decision on Monday against Colorado, but pitched well, surrendering just a run in eight innings of his team's 2-1 loss.

Sanchez has struggled mightily in his career against the Dodgers, going 0-5 in 13 games (nine starts) against them with a 6.04 ERA.

The Giants have split their 14 meetings with the Dodgers this season.

Sportsboo Baseball Betting News

<< Wilson, Rangers hope to avoid sweep in Minnesota
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Hoping to avoid a series sweep at the hands of the Minnesota Twins, the Texas Rangers may have the right pitcher on the mound today to accomplish that goal. C.J. Wilson will attempt to register his eighth consecutive winni

<< Jimenez holds off Molinari to win European Masters
Crans Montana, Switzerland (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - After nearly coughing up a six- stroke lead, Miguel Angel Jimenez birdied the 17th hole Sunday to fend off Ryder Cup teammate Edoardo Molinari and win the European Masters. Jimenez closed w

<< A's try to break out the brooms on Angels
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim haven't been swept in a series of at least three games by the Oakland Athletics in more than six years, partly due to the success Ervin Santana has produced against the team's American League

<< Cubs, Mets conclude series at Wrigley
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Chicago Cubs try to continue their resurgence under interim manager Mike Quade this afternoon when they go for a sweep in their three-game series with the New York Mets at Wrigley Field. The Cubs improved to 8-3 under

<< Red-hot Phils attempt season sweep of Brewers
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Philadelphia Phillies shoot for their sixth straight win and try to complete season sweep of the Milwaukee Brewers this afternoon at Citizens Bank Park. The Phillies, who also swept the Brewers in a three-game set back

Rockies try to pin 10th straight loss on reeling Padres >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The San Diego Padres try to avoid their worst losing streak in more than 16 years this afternoon when they play the finale of their three- game series with the Colorado Rockies at Petco Park. San Diego has been baseball's

Happ goes for Astros in the desert >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Newly-minted Astro lefty J.A. Happ can make it five wins in seven decisions with Houston today when they visit Chase Field to close out a three-game weekend series with the Arizona Diamondbacks. Arizona won Friday's opener

Reds, Cards close big series in St. Louis >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - It is starting to appear as if the Cincinnati Reds are headed towards their first National League Central title since 1995. Today, they try to put even more distance between themselves and the St. Louis Cardinals, as they

King Felix goes for M's in series capper with Tribe >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Felix Hernandez will attempt to atone for a recent loss to the Cleveland Indians and help the Seattle Mariners earn a split of a four- game series with that above-mentioned opponent when the ace pitcher toes the rubber this a

Orioles recall Tillman to make start >>
Baltimore, MD (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Baltimore Orioles recalled pitcher Chris Tillman to start Sunday's game against the Tampa Bay Rays. Tillman last pitched in the majors on July 19, when he gave up eight runs in 2 2/3 innings to the Rays

El Duque expected to throw Tuesday

PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. -- New York Mets pitcher Orlando Hernandez, sidelined at spring training because of arthritis in his neck, is expected to resume throwing on Tuesday.

Hernandez received a cortisone shot Thursday after leaving camp and returning to New York to have his neck examined. The 41-year-old right-hander is penciled in as the team's No. 2 starter behind Tom Glavine.

El Duque's health is a major issue for the Mets, who won the NL East in 2007 and came within one victory of the World Series. Their aging and unsettled rotation is a big question mark this year.

MySportsbook.com has the Mets as -110 favorites to repeat as NL East champions odds. 

Hernandez went 11-11 with a 4.66 ERA last season, including 9-7 with a 4.09 ERA in 20 starts after the Mets acquired him from Arizona in late May. But he missed the playoffs because of a torn calf muscle.

New York already is without Pedro Martinez, out until at least midseason following rotator cuff surgery. Among those competing for starting jobs are prospects Mike Pelfrey, Philip Humber and Jason Vargas, plus veterans Chan Ho Park, Jorge Sosa and Aaron Sele.

Notes: Mets manager Willie Randolph is excited about two new utility players he could have on his bench: Damion Easley and David Newhan. ''Their value is really all over the place,'' Randolph said. Easley can play anywhere in the infield and could be used as an emergency outfielder, though Randolph said he would prefer to keep the veteran in the infield. Newhan, meanwhile, can play second base, third or any outfield position for the Mets. ''I love versatility,'' Randolph said. ''I love guys that can give me options when I need them to step in.''

Additional baseball lines and World Series odds can be found at: www.MySportsbook.com

To visit this online sportsbook got to MySportsbook.com - this sportsbook accepts credit cards.