Arizona's Edwin Jackson no-hits Rays

Baseball Betting Lines

06/26/2010 -

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) -Edwin Jackson had a chance to finish the ugliest of the no-hitters in this the Year of the Pitcher, and nothing was going to stop of him.

Not Arizona manager A.J. Hinch. Certainly not the Tampa Bay Rays.

Barreling ahead despite a soaring pitch count, Jackson tossed the fourth no-hitter of the season Friday night, beating his former team 1-0 despite walking eight, hitting a batter and watching another reach base on an error.

It took an astounding 149 pitches - most in the majors in five years - to complete the second no-hitter in Arizona history.

``We talked every inning after about the sixth because I was checking on him. It's such a complicated situation with the game in the balance and him chasing a no-hitter,'' Hinch said.

``He kept saying he was fine and, `I'm not coming out, I'm not coming out, I'm not coming out.' As the momentum built and the situation grew, it was pretty evident he had an extra gear. It's something to celebrate.''

All but one of Jackson's walks came in the first three innings, but the Rays still were no-hit for the third time in less than a year, including perfect games by Dallas Braden at Oakland on May 9 and Mark Buehrle at Chicago last July 23.

Colorado's Ubaldo Jimenez no-hit Atlanta on April 17 and Philadelphia's Roy Halladay tossed a perfect game at Florida on May 29. Detroit's Armando Galarraga lost his perfect game with two outs in the ninth on a blown call by umpire Jim Joyce.

``It's one of those moments where I tell him I'm not coming out until I give up a hit or a home run. You want to skip my next start, that's fine. Give me an extra day, that's fine,'' Jackson said.

``It's one of those opportunities that doesn't come everyday. And for me to come out of that game without giving up a hit, it would have been what if. What if I would have stayed in. I'm glad it didn't have to be a what if situation.''

Jason Bartlett grounded to shortstop Stephen Drew for the final out and Jackson's teammates mobbed him after the improbable feat.

Jackson, who entered the game with a 5.05 ERA, is 43-45 in eight seasons. He was an All-Star last year for Detroit before being traded to Arizona in the offseason in a three-team trade with the Yankees that included Curtis Granderson.

Two years ago, the 26-year-old right-hander matched a Tampa Bay franchise record with 14 wins to help the Rays make an improbable run to the World Series.

``It's one of those bittersweet moments. You throw a no-hitter and it's against your old team. At least it's with a crowd that you've had accomplishment with,'' said Jackson who was hit with a pie in the face by a teammate during an on-field interview before receiving a beer shower heading into the clubhouse.

The crowd of 18,918 stood and applauded the first no-hitter at Tropicana Field in the relatively short history of the Rays, who like the Diamondbacks began play in 1998.

Randy Johnson has the only other no-hitter in Arizona history, a perfect game at Atlanta on May 18, 2004.

Adam LaRoche homered off Jeff Niemann (6-2) in the second inning, all the support Jackson would need.

``He's a great athlete and a great kid. He's one of the very few who can do that,'' Tampa Bay manager Joe Maddon said, noting Jackson's ability to continue to pitch well despite a high pitch count.

``We had so many guys on base,'' Rays center fielder B.J. Upton said, ``nobody knew it was a no-hitter until the seventh.''

Jackson (5-6) walked the bases loaded in the third but was bailed out by a stellar play by third baseman Mark Reynolds, who spun around to throw out Ben Zobrist at home plate. Hank Blalock then grounded out to end the inning.

Reynolds made another big play on a sharp line drive by Bartlett in the seventh. Earlier in the at-bat Bartlett hit a dribbler that hung close to the third base line before rolling foul in front of the bag.

In the eighth, Miguel Montero threw out pinch-runner Carl Crawford trying to steal second after Carlos Pena reached on an error by Drew.

Jackson was so wild and the pitch count unusually high that the Diamondbacks had relievers warming up from the sixth inning on.

``All's well that ends well.'' Hinch said. ``We stopped counting at about 115.''

No one had thrown that many pitches in a nine-inning game since June 3, 2005, when Washington's Livan Hernandez threw 150 against the Marlins.

Jackson pitched for the Rays from 2006-08. His only other shutout in 126 career starts came for Tampa Bay in 2007.

``He was a big part of our success and a great guy in the clubhouse,'' Upton said, adding Jackson seemed as strong as the end as he did in the beginning.

``For him to have thrown that many pitches and still have 95 (mph) in the tank at the end says a lot about him.''

Jackson's eight walks were a career high - he struck out six. In 2001, A.J. Burnett walked a record nine in a no-hitter for Florida against San Diego.

In the ninth, Jackson struck out B.J. Upton on three pitches. After Blalock flied to left, Jackson walked pinch hitter Willy Aybar before getting the final out for his 149th pitch.

NOTES: Jackson's performance overshadowed the first meeting between brothers B.J. and Justin Upton, who despite being relatively close in age had never competed with or against each other at any level before Friday. ... The no-hitter was the fourth in interleague play. David Cone (Yankees, 1999), six Astros pitchers (2003) and Justin Verlander (Tigers, 2007) had the others. ... Niemann allowed six hits, struck out eight and walked two in 7 1-3 innings for Tampa Bay.Copyright © 2005 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. The information contained in the AP News report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without the prior written authority of The Associated Press.

Wwwllasvegas Baseball Betting News

<< Uribe and Giants slip past Red Sox
San Francisco, CA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Juan Uribe blasted a solo home run and Buster Posey added three hits with an RBI to help San Francisco beat Boston, 5-4, in the opener of a three-game interleague series at AT&T Park. San Franci

<< Pennington, A's hammer Pirates
Oakland, CA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Cliff Pennington went 3-for-4 with three RBI and a run scored as the Oakland Athletics pounded the Pittsburgh Pirates, 14-4, in the opener of a three-game interleague set. Ryan Sweeney went 3-for-5 wi

<< Unhappy Reunion: Yanks down Dodgers in first game against Torre
Los Angeles, CA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Alex Rodriguez hit the eventual game- winning homer in the sixth inning to back CC Sabathia's solid pitching performance, as the New York Yankees snuck past the Los Angeles Dodgers, 2-1, in the

<< Coyotes draft defenseman, goalie in 1st round
GLENDALE, Ariz. (AP) -The Phoenix Coyotes picked 18-year-old defenseman Brandon Gormley and 17-year-old goaltender Mark Visentin in the first round of Friday's NHL draft.Phoenix took Gormley with the 13th overall selection and Visentin at No. 27 aft

<< Boston's Pedroia leaves game after fouling ball off foot
San Francisco, CA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Boston Red Sox second baseman Dustin Pedroia exited Friday's game against San Francisco in the top of the third inning after he fouled a ball off his left foot. Pedroia was examined by an athle

Edmonton takes Taylor Hall with first pick >>
LOS ANGELES (AP) -Although the Edmonton Oilers agonized over their decision until a few hours before the NHL draft, they eventually decided Taylor Hall was just a bit more irresistible than Tyler Seguin.Both 18-year-old prospects realize this debate

Reunions: Torre and Yanks, Halladay and Jays >>
The Yankees practically lined up to greet Joe Torre in Los Angeles. Roy Halladay treated his first start against the Blue Jays like any other. Justin and B.J. Upton's mom didn't know who to cheer for when her sons faced each other for the first time

Timberwolves introduce Wesley Johnson >>
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) -In one of the longest and most difficult seasons in franchise history, one thing became painfully obvious to David Kahn and Kurt Rambis above all others - the Minnesota Timberwolves needed a star.Both acknowledge it is much easier

Pacers' George, Granger are similar >>
INDIANAPOLIS (AP) -Ron Artest was one of the best players in the NBA when the Pacers drafted Danny Granger for him to mentor.Artest saw something in Granger, prompting him to proclaim that the versatile forward would become a star. Granger made good

Herrera lifts Rockies over Angels in extras >>
Anaheim, CA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Jonathan Herrera had three hits and drove in the game-winning run in the 11th inning, as the Colorado Rockies rallied to beat the LA Angels, 4-3, in the first of three games at Angel Stadium. Chris Ianne

Big East Conference odds

Work left to do: Villanova, Syracuse, DePaul, West Virginia, Providence

Notre Dame and Louisville appear to have done enough to make the move, so we'll make them locks. The Cardinals, despite a modest RPI, are trending way up and have clinched at least a tie for third in the Big East, which should be more than enough with their pair of big road wins. Villanova got back to .500 and gets back to more solid footing. Syracuse got a very important road win and crippled a fellow contender in the process. West Virginia's fate could be in its hands Tuesday at Pitt.

Work left to do:

Villanova [18-9 (7-7), RPI: 21, SOS: 5] Pounded Rutgers to get back to .500. If Cats can get their last two (at UConn, vs. Syracuse), that should be enough with strong computer numbers and a host of wins away from The Pavilion. The Cats have beaten Texas and swept the Big 5 (never easy in Philly), but have a couple of losses to bubble teams (Xavier, Drexel), too. I still think they'll be OK, possibly even at 8-8.

Syracuse [20-8 (9-5), RPI: 53, SOS: 62] History says 10 wins will be plenty, but it might be hard for the Orange to get that last one with a final two vs. G'town, which is trying to win the league title, and at Villanova, which will be desperate for a W. The relative lack of nonconference heft and the weak computer numbers are still concerns, but the Orange have won four in a row and got a very, very big win at Providence on Saturday.

DePaul [16-12 (8-7), RPI: 54, SOS: 18] Beat Cincy and should get past South Florida to get to 9-7, but then what? They have beaten Kansas and Cal (right after the DeVon Hardin injury) earlier this season, but also have lost to Bradley and Purdue, among others. They'll likely need a couple of BE tourney wins, too, but we'll see ...

West Virginia [19-7 (8-6), RPI: 58, SOS: 125] The game at Pitt on Tuesday night could decide the Mountaineers' fate (barring a deep tournament run). They can still get to 9-7 in the Big East without it by beating Cincinnati, but the nine wins would be against UConn, Villanova, St. John's, South Florida, DePaul, Rutgers, Seton Hall twice and the Bearcats. Beating bubble foes is fine, but where's the beef? Outside of beating PG-less UCLA in nonconference play (still a top quality win), there's not a lot to fall back on (besides maybe NC State). WVU vs. Syracuse would be an interesting debate, as the teams don't play in the Big East regular season. WVU has the best win, but Cuse has played the much better schedule.

Providence [17-10 (7-7), RPI: 70, SOS: 33] The Friars likely saw their at-large hopes die at home in the four-point loss to Syracuse, barring an unexpected run to the Big East semis or more. The RPI, bad already, won't be helped by playing St. John's and South Florida in the final two league games.

For more March Madness odds go to MySportsbook.com

For more College Basketball betting lines go to BettingExpress.com

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


Betting the NFL preseason

Rule No. 1 in the gamblers' handbook states, "Avoid sports betting on meaningless games."

When you're drowning in a sea of baseball monotony, however, things change. Even a hint of pro football betting can persuade the most disciplined bettor to break a few rules. 

The NFL preseason is around the corner, with a tempting Hall of Fame match kicking off on Sunday. But bettors must stay vigilant. Wagering on NFL exhibition games is an entirely different beast than the regular season. Most fans don't recognize the players on the field because starters get as much action in August as Warcraft fans get on Prom night.

The only certainty about the NFL this time of year is uncertainty – and yet there are some who say betting in August can be a gold mine.

“I actually feel the NFL preseason presents solid profit opportunities for sharp bettors and handicappers,” Sports Expert Steve Merril explains. “My experience has been that the sportsbooks fear the preseason, which is evident by lower limits and massive moves.”

The line moves are attributed to the limited knowledge available regarding playing-time distribution. One team’s top unit out on the field for one more series has an impact on the pointspread. Setting lines in the preseason often is a shot in the dark.

“We base the betting lines mostly on public perception,” Pete Korner, founder of the Sports Club in Las Vegas, says. “It’s very tough to predict, almost a guessing game.”

The preseason is all about figuring out who’s in and for how long.

“It becomes a race between bettors and oddsmakers to find out how long the quarterbacks are going to stay in,” Korner admits. “If a sharp gets the information first, he could exploit an early line. I’m a full believer in moving the line in the preseason if the books find out something late in the week.”

Determining what each team’s motive is can help bettors handicap. To do this you must pay close attention to the philosophies head coaches employ in exhibition play.

“You need to know what a coach is trying to accomplish,” says Covers Expert Bryan Leonard. “Sometimes a new coach will want to instill a winning attitude. Others just want to make sure their starters don’t get hurt."

So how do you distinguish who’s playing scared and who’s playing for keeps?

“Head coaches on the hot seat or new coaches trying to implement a winning attitude usually try harder to win in the preseason,” Merril says.

Cleveland Browns head coach Romeo Crennel fits this criteria. He’s entering his third season as the sideline boss and has yet to lead the Browns to more than six wins.

Cleveland is an enticing bet as well because of the unresolved quarterback situation. General manager Phil Savage sacrificed the Browns’ first-round pick in next year’s draft for Brady Quinn, but the former Notre Dame quarterback hasn’t signed or reported to training camp yet.

Charlie Frye and Derek Anderson split time at QB last season and it looks like either player (or even Quinn) could be the opening-day starter.

“If a team has quarterback depth and the pecking order hasn’t been decided, it’s a big advantage,” Leonard says.

Even in the third week of the preseason when starters generally play the most, the final outcome of the game is in the hands of fringe players. A team's talent, all the way down to the last man on the roster, is something to consider.

The New England Patriots have long been considered one of the deeper teams in the NFL and coach Bill Belichick has said in the past he’s unafraid of stars getting hurt in games with nothing on the line. He shocked his colleagues in 2003 by playing some of his starters on special teams in the preseason.

“We want to have the team ready to play a tough, physical game and preparation has to go into that and I imagine a certain amount of injuries go with it,” Belichick told the Providence Journal in August 2003.

Bettors can only hope to find more teams that share the Pats' business-like approach to the preseason (New England is 17-9-3 against the spread since 2000) and take advantage of teams who detest the exhibition schedule.

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