Yanks sting Devil Rays in first game of doubleheader

Baseball Betting Lines

07/21/2007 - Bronx, NY (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Hideki Matsui and Shelley Duncan each hit two- run homers as the New York Yankees defeated the Tampa Bay Devil Rays, 7-3, in the first game of a doubleheader.

Robinson Cano went 2-for-4 with an RBI and run scored for the Yankees, who avoided losing three straight. Bobby Abreu and Andy Phillips each had two hits in the victory.

New York starter Kei Igawa pitched five frames, allowing two runs on seven hits. Igawa also fanned six and walked three. Luis Vizcaino (7-2) was credited with the victory after pitching a scoreless sixth.

Jason Hammel came out of the bullpen to start for Tampa Bay and pitched just four innings, giving up two runs on three hits. He was then optioned down to Triple-A Durham after the game.

"Today I felt real good," said Hammel. "My rhythm was good and everything just felt real good on the mound. It was a great line-up (to face) and I thought I did pretty well. I felt like I had a few more (innings) in me, but I don't want to get hurt on something silly. Definitely, I'd like to be a starter but I'll take any role if I can help the club. It's bittersweet (being sent to the minors), but hopefully I'll be back real soon."

Jae Kuk Ryu (1-2) absorbed the loss after allowing five runs on four hits in only 1 2/3 innings.

B.J. Upton, Ty Wigginton and Raul Casanova all hit solo home runs for the Devil Rays, who have lost two of their last three games.

With the game tied at 2-2, the Yankees plated five runs with two outs in the sixth to take control. Abreu singled to start things and Alex Rodriguez was hit by a pitch. Matsui and Jorge Posada followed with strikeouts before Cano picked them up and singled home Abreu. A base hit by Phillips brought two more runs in and Duncan's two-run homer made it 7-2.

"It was a changeup, and the ball started in my zone and I committed to it," said Duncan, who was pushed from the dugout by his Yankee teammates in response to a curtain call from the fans. "I just really made sure I wanted to stay on it, because the at-bat before I came off (the pitch), and I struck out. I wasn't going to let that happen again."

"It was really a special game," Duncan added. "I never really expected (the standing ovation). It was probably one of the coolest things I've ever been a part of."

Tampa Bay made it a four-run game in the eighth after Casanova hit a home run off Scott Proctor.

The D-Rays loaded the bases in the ninth with two outs, but Mariano Rivera struck out Jonny Gomes to end the game.

Home runs by Upton in the first inning and Wigginton in the second gave the Devil Rays an early 2-0 lead.

The score remained tied until Matsui launched a two-run homer in the fourth frame to even the score. Rodriguez walked with one out before Matsui belted his 15th homer of the season.

Game Notes

Duncan's home run was the first of his career...Tampa Bay outfielder Carl Crawford left the game in the fifth inning with a sprained left ankle and will not play in the second game of the doubleheader...Scheduled starting pitchers for the night cap of the doubleheader are Matt DeSalvo for the Yankees and J.P. Howell for the Devil Rays.

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Football Betting Lines

The 2009 AP NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year odds have been released and Denver Broncos' running back Knowshon Moreno has been made the opening favorite.

Bet NFL Sports Lines

Moreno was selected in the first round of April's NFL draft and is expected to carry the rushing load for the Broncos this season. And with Jay Cutler now in Chicago, Moreno might be expected to be Denver's entire offense.

Betting Lines from sports betting lines have made Moreno a 5/2 favorite to win this year's Offensive Rookie of the Year Award. Fellow running back Chris “Beanie” Wells (Arizona Cardinals) is right behind Moreno at 7/2, while Donald Brown (Indianapolis Colts) and receiver Michael Crabtree (San Francisco 49ers) are 5/1 to win. Quarterbacks Mark Sanchez (New York Jets) and Matthew Stafford (Detroit Lions) are 7/1 and 8/1, respectively.

A couple of players who present some value are Josh Freeman, Shonn Green and Darrius Heyward-Bey.

Freeman needs to beat out Byron Leftwich to become the starting quarterback of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers but if he does, he has a lot or raw talent and could use the weapons around him (i.e. Kellen Winslow Jr. and Antonio Bryant) to be very successful in his first season.

Green enters a crowded backfield in New York, but considering both Thomas Jones and Leon Washington are unhappy about their contract situations and might holdout, the former Iowa product could become the Jets' primary back.

Everyone was shocked when Al Davis took Heyward-Bey with the eighth overall pick in April's draft, but the kid has a tremendous amount of talent and if quarterback JaMarcus Russell takes the next step this year, the former Maryland product could blossom. Plus, Heyward-Bey will be looking to prove the people wrong who said Oakland should have taken Michael Crabtree with the No. 8 pick.

And if you're looking for a deep sleeper, check out Pat White at 30/1. He enters the Miami Dolphins vaunted “Wild Cat” offense and could be a big time playmaker.

For complete odds on the 2009 AP NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year odds, see below.

2009 AP NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year Odds to Win

Ramses Barden (NYG) 40/1

Andre Brown (NYG) 20/1

Donald Brown (IND) 5/1

Kenny Britt (TEN) 20/1

Glenn Coffee (SFO) 30/1

Chase Coffman (CIN) 50/1

Michael Crabtree (SFO) 5/1

Josh Freeman (TB) 14/1

Shonn Green (NYJ) 14/1

Percy Harvin (MIN) 10/1

Darrius Heyward-Bay (OAK) 18/1

Juaquan Iglesias (CHI) 30/1

Cornelius Ingram (PHI) 50/1

Rashad Jennings (JAC) 30/1

Johnny Knox (CHI) 40/1

Jeremy Maclin (PHI) 18/1

Mohamed Massaquoi (CLE) 30/1

LeSean McCoy (PHI) 12/1

Knowshon Moreno (DEN) 5/2

Hakeem Nicks (NYG) 18/1

Brandon Pettigrew (DET) 30/1

Brian Robiskie (CLE) 20/1

Mark Sanchez (NYJ) 7/1

Matthew Stafford (DET) 8/1

Jason Smith (STL) 40/1

Mike Thomas (JAC) 25/1

Patrick Turner (MIA) 50/1

Mike Wallace (PIT) 50/1

Chris Wells (ARI) 7/2

Pat White (MIA) 30/1

Field (Any Other Player) 9/1

Betting Line

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