05/09/2008 - Seattle, WA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Ramon Vazquez finished 4-for-5 and Ian Kinsler hit a two-run homer, as the Texas Rangers blanked the Seattle Mariners, 5-0, in the finale of a four-game series from Safeco Field.
Kason Gabbard, activated from the 15-day disabled list before the game, gave up two hits with four walks and one strikeout over 3 2/3 scoreless innings before leaving with bruised legs sustained in a benches-clearing fracas.
Franklyn German (1-0) allowed one hit and struck out three in 1 2/3 innings for Texas, which has won three straight and seven of its last nine outings.
Brandon Boggs went 2-for-3 with a run batted in.
Felix Hernandez (2-3) gave up four runs on six hits with five strikeouts and three walks over five innings for the struggling Mariners, losers of three straight and eight of their last nine.
Jose Lopez doubled for Seattle, which was limited to four hits and extended its scoreless streak to 22 innings.
Texas raced out to a 2-0 lead in the top of the first. A single by Vazquez and walks to Josh Hamilton and Milton Bradley loaded the bases for David Murphy, who put Texas on the board with a sacrifice fly. Boggs then ripped a run- scoring single to right field.
The Rangers then added two more runs in the second, when Kinsler clubbed his third home run of the season.
In the fourth, frustrations boiled over for Richie Sexson and the Mariners. With two outs in the inning, Gabbard came up and in with a fastball that caused Sexson to charge the mound and fling his helmet at the Texas hurler. Both benches cleared, though, no punches were thrown. Hernandez had drilled Kinsler with a fastball in the previous frame.
Sexson was the only player to be ejected from the fracas and was replaced by Miguel Cairo. Gabbard remained in the game and issued a walk to Cairo. Yuniesky Betancourt then reached on an infield single and both runners moved into scoring position on Vazquez's throwing error.
Gabbard was then taken out of the game due to bruised legs. German took over on the mound and induced an inning-ending ground out from Wladimir Balentien.
The Rangers added a run in the sixth on Vazquez's RBI single.
After Lopez doubled to leadoff the bottom of the sixth, the Rangers pitchers retired the next 11 batters before Cairo's infield single in the ninth.
Game Notes
Hernandez has dropped three straight decisions...Texas left seven men on base, while the Mariners stranded six...The Rangers also activated infielder Travis Metcalf from the 15-day disabled list, optioned pitcher A.J. Murray to Triple- A Oklahoma and designated first baseman Ben Broussard for assignment...Texas returns home for a nine-game homestand, beginning with a three-game series with Oakland that opens Friday...Seattle welcomes the Chicago White Sox for a three-game set...Attendance was 22,922.
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MySportsbook.com: NBA Championship Odds
With the playoffs about two months away, the top two teams in the Western Conference are the clear cut leaders to win the NBA Championship. The Dallas Mavericks have the best record in the NBA (44-9) and have been absolutely scorching since the second week of the season. What makes the Mavs’ record more impressive is the fact that they dropped their first four games of the season. Currently they have won 17 out of their last 18 and are MySportsbook.com’s favorite (2-1) to win it all. Right behind the Mavs are the Pacific leading Phoenix Suns (39-13). Last season, the Suns lost in the Conference Finals to non-other then the Mavericks four games to two. Of course the Suns were without center Amare Stoudemire who has is averaging 19.9 PPG and 9.5 RPG since coming back from his knee injury. Unlike the Mavs, the Suns have struggled a bit lately having lost their last three and four out of their last seven. Of course the main reason for their three straight loses is due to the absence of two time MVP Steve Nash, who is out with a shoulder injury. Heads-up, the Mavs have beaten the Suns in both of their meetings this season.
In the Eastern Conference, the Pistons (32-19) are the favorites to win it all at 6-1. The addition of Chris Webber seems to have been a good move for the Pistons. Since coming over from the 76ers, Webber has averaged 13.1 PPG and 7.3 RPG and the Pistons are 11-4. Even though the defending champion Heat are currently on the playoff making cusp, they are the Eastern Conference team that is getting the most action to win it all (9-1). The fact that Shaquille O’Neal is back in the starting lineup after missing 39 games probably has something to do with this. No doubt, Shaq makes a difference when in the lineup as their winning six out of their last seven would indicate.
Just because it is the All-Star break doesn’t mean that you can’t bet on NBA hoops this weekend. Be sure to log onto MySportsbook.com to bet on who you think will cut down the nets this July. Also, be sure to check out all of the lines and props for All-Star weekend. With the highest credit card acceptance rate in the industry, there are plenty of ways to cash in on the NBA this weekend.
MySportsbook.com’s odds to win the NBA Championship:
Atlanta Hawks 1000-1
Boston Celtics 5000-1
Charlotte Bobcats 5000-1
Chicago Bulls 20-1
Cleveland Cavaliers 20-1
Dallas Mavericks 2-1
Denver Nuggets 25-1
Detroit Pistons 6-1
Golden State Warriors 250-1
Houston Rockets 12-1
Indiana Pacers 60-1
Los Angeles Clippers 45-1
Memphis Grizzlies 5000-1
Miami Heat 9-1
Milwaukee Bucks 1000-1
Minnesota T-Wolves 200-1
New Jersey Nets 50-1
New Orleans Hornets 150-1
New York Knicks 150-1
Orlando Magic 75-1
Philadelphia 76ers 1000-1
Phoenix Suns 5-2
Portland TrailBlazers 1000-1
Sacramento Kings 250-1
San Antonio Spurs 9-1
Seattle Sonics 5000-1
Toronto Raptors 35-1
Utah Jazz 20-1
Washington Wizards 25-1
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