Zambrano comes back strong as Cubs nip Cardinals
Baseball Betting Lines
07/04/2008 -
St. Louis, MO (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Carlos Zambrano was impressive in his first
game back from the disabled list, and he shut down St. Louis as the Cubs beat
the Cardinals, 2-1, in the opener of a three-game set.
Zambrano (9-3) pitched for the first time since losing to the Tampa Bay Rays
on June 18. The big right-hander left that start with shoulder discomfort and
was placed on the DL four days later. He gave up just four hits in six shutout
frames. Kerry Wood earned his 22nd save of the year with a scoreless ninth.
Kosuke Fukudome and Geovany Soto both hit solo home runs for the Cubs, who
have won three of their last five games overall.
Albert Pujols became the fifth fastest player in major league history to hit
300 home runs with a solo shot in the eighth inning for the Cardinals, who
have lost two in a row and three of four. Yadier Molina extended his hit
streak to 11 games with a single in the second inning. Braden Looper (9-6)
took the loss as he was touched for two runs on six hits in seven innings.
Bob Howry came in to pitch the eighth and retired the first two batters.
However, Pujols golfed a 2-2 fastball off the foul pole in left field, his
18th homer on the year and the 300th of his career, to make it a 2-1 ballgame.
Wood came in for the bottom of the ninth and caught Troy Glaus looking at the
third strike on the payoff pitch for the first out. Chris Duncan popped up for
the second out, but Molina hit a bloop single to shallow left field. Ryan
Ludwick grounded out to second base to make it official.
Fukudome gave the Cubs an early 1-0 lead as he parlayed a nine-pitch at-bat
into a solo home in the first inning.
Soto connected on a two-out home run in the fourth inning, giving the Cubs a
2-0 lead.
Game Notes
Cardinals infielder Aaron Miles' hit streak was snapped at 15 games as he went
0-for-4...Jim Edmonds had his first appearance in St. Louis since the
Cardinals dealt him to San Diego this past winter. He received a standing
ovation in his first at-bat...St. Louis took two of three from the Cubs
earlier in the season, but Chicago has won nine of its last 13 at Busch.
<< Tale of Two Cities: Surging Twins upend slumping Tribe
Minneapolis, MN (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Delmon Young went 3-for-5 with a three-run
home run and finished with four runs driven in, and Nick Punto hit a solo home
run while also driving in four runs, as the Minnesota Twins crushed the
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the No
<< Cust homers, Blanton dazzles as A's top ChiSox
Chicago, IL (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Jack Cust slammed a two-run homer and Joe
Blanton pitched seven solid innings in Oakland's 7-1 victory over the Chicago
White Sox in the second of a four-game series.
Blanton (5-11) allowed just one ru
<< Calvillo's big first half paces Als over Bombers
Montreal, QC (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Anthony Calvillo threw for 372 yards and four
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the Winnipeg Blue Bombers to notch a 38-24 win at Molson Stadium.
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Saskatoon, SK (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Graham DeLeat carded a six-under 66 Friday to
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He completed 36 holes at 13-under-par 131 and was joined atop the leaderboard
by Ryan Car
It's in the Cards: Cubs' Zambrano makes return >>
St. Louis, MO (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Chicago Cubs' ace Carlos Zambrano started
Friday's 2-1 victory over the St. Louis Cardinals after a two-week stint on
the disabled list with a strained right shoulder.
Zambrano, who returned from his first
Report: Duhon to become a Knickerbocker >>
Chicago, IL (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The New York Knicks have reportedly agreed to a
two-year, full mid-level exception $12 million contract with guard Chris
Duhon.
The Chicago Tribune reported Friday that Duhon will sign with the Knicks wh
Rapids roll to 4-0 win over Red Bulls >>
Commerce City, CO (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Mehdi Ballouchy, Colin Clark and Tom
McManus each had a goal and an assist as the Colorado Rapids rolled to a 4-0
win over Red Bull New York on Friday to snap a four-game winless streak.
Omar Cum
Angels rout Blue Jays >>
Anaheim, CA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Howie Kendrick finished 2-for-4 and drove in
three runs as Los Angeles drubbed Toronto, 8-2, in the first of a three-game
set.
Garret Anderson went 3-for-4 with a two-run homer and a pair of runs scored
Rockies top Marlins in slugfest >>
Denver, CO (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Chris Iannetta drove in four runs, including the
game-winner in the bottom of the ninth, as the Colorado Rockies trailed by as
many as nine runs but rallied for a wild, improbable 18-17 win over the
Florida
Marlins could start season without No. 2 starter Johnson
JUPITER, Fla. -- The Foorida Marlins are preparing for the likelihood that right-hander
Josh Johnson won't be ready when the season starts April 2.
Grapefruit League action starts Wednesday, but Johnson, penciled in as the No. 2 starter, hasn't even thrown off a mound at full speed since September. He's experienced some soreness in his right forearm.
MySportsbook.com have the Marlins listed with baseball betting lines at +800 to win the NL East this season .
''You guys know the math. If he's not on the hill then he becomes an opening day roster issue,'' manager Fredi Gonzalez said Saturday. ''We're borderline now.''
Johnson, who finished 12-7 with a 3.10 ERA in 2007, was supposed to throw on flat ground Saturday. That was canceled when he woke up with pain.
He played catch on Wednesday with no pain but felt discomfort in a throwing session on Thursday. He's expected to try again Sunday.
''Like we always said from the very beginning, we're going to take it easy on him,'' Gonzalez said. ''He didn't feel right, so we shut him down. We're going to take it back to step one and see where we're at.''
Among the candidates to take Johnson's spot in the rotation are left-hander Chris George and right-handers Yusmeiro Petit and Jose Garcia.
Right-hander Sergio Mitre, who missed most of last season with arm and shoulder problems, also is behind.
With Johnson's status doubtful, Gonzalez said right-hander Ricky Nolasco will stay in the rotation and no longer will be considered a candidate for closer.
Additional basbeall odds can be found at: www.MySportsbook.com
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