Ramirez's three homers propels Cubs over Astros

Baseball Betting Lines

07/20/2010 - Chicago, IL (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Aramis Ramirez recorded his fourth career three-homer game and drove in seven runs, as the Chicago Cubs rallied past the Houston Astros, 14-7, in the second installment of a three-game series at Wrigley Field.

Derrek Lee knocked in three runs and scored three times for the Cubs, who bounced back from an 11-5 loss in the opener of this series on Monday. Geovany Soto hit a solo homer for the victors.

Ryan Dempster went five innings in the start, allowing seven runs -- four earned -- on eight hits. Andrew Cashner (1-3) tossed two innings of scoreless relief to pick up his first win in the majors.

Chicago manager Lou Piniella announced earlier in the day that he will retire at the conclusion of the season. Piniella is in his fourth year as the manager of the Cubs. He guided the team to a winning record in each of his first three years, but the team is just 43-52 this season.

Chris Johnson hit a solo homer, drove in two runs, and scored twice for the Astros, who have dropped three of four.

Wesley Wright lasted 4 2/3 frames in his first major league start, giving up six runs on six hits. Brandon Lyon (5-4) allowed two runs on three hits in one inning of relief to take the loss.

Trailing by six runs, 7-1, Chicago scored five times in the home fifth to get back into the game. Soto singled, moved to third when Ryan Theriot reached on Jeff Keppinger's throwing error, and scored on a passed ball. Starlin Castro knocked in a run when he grounded out. After Derrek Lee walked, Ramirez smacked a three-run homer to left-center to cut the gap to 7-6. Wilton Lopez was called upon from the bullpen two batters later to keep Houston in front.

The Cubs tied the contest in the sixth on Soto's blast to center off Chris Sampson.

Chicago took the lead in the seventh. Lyon started the inning on the mound for the Astros. Starlin Castro doubled off the wall in left-center and crossed the plate on Derrek Lee's double. Alfonso Soriano knocked in Lee with a two-out single for a 9-7 lead.

The Cubs scored five more times in the eighth to account for the final margin. Gary Majewski loaded the bases with one out. Derrek Lee hit a two-run single before Ramirez blasted a three-run homer over the wall in left.

The Astros scored four runs in the second. After Hunter Pence flied out to begin the inning, Carlos Lee doubled and Keppinger walked. Johnson followed with an RBI single. Jason Castro then reached base on Theriot's throwing error, which allowed Keppinger to score and the runners to advance to second and third. Michael Bourn walked to load the bases with two outs. Dempster's control issues continued as he hit Angel Sanchez with a pitch and walked Lance Berkman to plate two more runs. Pence popped out to end the frame.

Houston added two more runs in the top of the fourth to make it 6-0. Sanchez doubled and Berkman walked with two outs. Pence and Carlos Lee followed with back-to-back RBI base hits.

Ramirez hit a solo homer to left in the home fourth to make it a five-run game. Johnson, though, responded with a solo shot of his own in the top of the fifth to make it 7-1.

Game Notes

Houston has won five of eight matchups with Chicago this season, one year after the Cubs took 11 of the 17 matchups between the two clubs....The Cubs optioned pitcher Mitch Atkins to Triple-A Iowa and recalled pitcher Jeff Stevens from the same club...Wright became the first Astro to make their first Major League start for the club since Lopez started for Houston on September 29, 2009 at Philadelphia. Tuesday was Wright's 127th major league appearance.

Sprtsline Baseball Betting News


<< Bautista, Encarnacion power Blue Jays past Royals
Kansas City, MO (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Jose Bautista hit his MLB-leading 26th home run and finished with five RBI to lead the Toronto Blue Jays to a 13-1 rout of the Kansas City Royals at Kauffman Stadium. Toronto starting pitcher Jesse Litsch

<< Hafner's clutch double gives Indians win over Twins
Minneapolis, MN (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Travis Hafner's RBI double in the eighth proved to be the difference, and the Cleveland Indians extended their winning streak to a season-best six with a 4-3 win over the Minnesota Twins. Hafner finish

<< Alvarez, Pirates hang on to beat Brewers following nine-run first
Pittsburgh, PA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Rookie Pedro Alvarez hit two homers, including his first career grand slam, as the Pittsburgh Pirates scored nine times in the first inning and held on to edge the Milwaukee Brewers, 11-9, in the sec

<< Cardinals cruise behind Carpenter to top flailing Phils
St. Louis, MO (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Chris Carpenter allowed just one run in eight strong innings, and the St. Louis Cardinals defeated the struggling Philadelphia Phillies, 7-1, in the second of four games at Busch Stadium. Carpenter

<< Angels' home run parade leads to rout of Yankees
Bronx, NY (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Mike Napoli, Maicer Izturis and former Yankee Hideki Matsui each hit a two-run homer to lead the Angels to a 10-2 win over New York at Yankee Stadium. Napoli finished with four RBI for the Angels, who capt

Phillies P Moyer leaves game, DL stint looms >>
St. Louis, MO (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Philadelphia Phillies pitcher Jamie Moyer left Tuesday's 7-1 loss to St. Louis after one inning with a left elbow strain and is headed for a stint on the disabled list. Phillies manager Charlie

Lugo's RBI hit in 13th inning lifts O's over Rays >>
Baltimore, MD (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Julio Lugo's RBI single in the bottom of the 13th lifted the Baltimore Orioles to a wild 11-10 win over the Tampa Bay Rays in the second of three games at Camden Yards. The Orioles needed to score twice i

Enright, D'Backs shut down Mets >>
Phoenix, AZ (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Arizona rookie right-hander Barry Enright turned in eight solid innings following a shaky start, and the Diamondbacks beat the New York Mets, 3-2, in the second portion of a three-game series at Chase F

Danks shines on mound as White Sox down Mariners >>
Seattle, WA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - John Danks was nearly unhittable on the mound, as the Chicago White Sox blanked the scuffling Seattle Mariners, 4-0, in the middle installment of a three-game series at Safeco Field. Danks (10-7) scattered

Leake, Votto pace Reds over Nats >>
Cincinnati, OH (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Mike Leake threw five innings of one-run ball before a nearly three-hour rain delay and Joey Votto smacked a three-run homer, as the Reds hung on for an 8-7 win over Washington in the continuation of a four-gam

Police report: Terrell Owens hospitalized after attempt

Terrell Owens will address the media at a 3:15 p.m. ET news conference outside the Cowboys' practice facility after an internal police report indicated he tried to kill himself by overdosing on prescription pain medication, even putting two more pills into his mouth after a friend intervened.

The Dallas police report said Owens was asked by rescue workers "if he was attempting to harm himself, at which time [he] stated, 'Yes.'"

Owens left the hospital late Wednesday morning, giving reporters a "thumbs up" but making no comment as he was driven away in an SUV.

Michael Irvin said that Owens denied he attempted suicide and said he was rushed to the hospital as a result of an adverse reaction to medication. And a source close to Owens told Michael A. Smith that Owens wasn't attempting suicide.

NFL Network analyst Deion Sanders said he spoke with Owens shortly before his release from the hospital and that Owens was in good spirits.

"The fact that it has been reported a suicide attempt, he's laughed at that notion. It was a case that medication that was taken wasn't accepted well in his system with the other vitamins he's on," Sanders said.

The series of events began a little before 8 p.m. Tuesday.

Owens' publicist, Kim Etheredge, said she was at Owens' home when he took pain medicine for his broken right hand. Concerned by how he began acting, Etheredge said in various interviews Wednesday with Dallas-area media that she called 911. Owens was taken to a hospital, with Etheredge saying it was an allergic reaction to the medicine.

But early Wednesday, several media outlets received a police report -- that had yet to be released by the authorities -- saying Owens had attempted suicide by overdosing on the painkillers, even putting two more pills into his mouth after an unidentified friend intervened.

The police document, first reported by WFAA-TV, said Owens was asked by rescue workers "if he was attempting to harm himself, at which time [he] stated, 'Yes.'"

When officially released by police, about half the document was blacked out, including the phrases "attempting suicide by prescription pain medication" and "a drug overdose," as well as the details of Owens having two pills pried from his mouth and Owens saying "Yes" when asked if he intended to harm himself.

Etheredge, who said she was the friend cited in the police document, told Dallas-area media Wednesday that the police got the story wrong.

The tape of the 911 call could help clear things up. The Associated Press filed a request under the Freedom of Information Act to get its contents, but fire department officials said it would not be available before late Wednesday.

The police report said the 32-year-old Owens told his friend "that he was depressed." Details of the police report were first reported by WFAA-TV.

The friend, who is not identified in the report, "noticed that [his] prescription pain medication was empty and observed [Owens] putting two pills in his mouth," the police report said.

Using her fingers, the friend attempted to pry them out of Owens' mouth. Owens told police he had taken only five of the 40 pain pills in the bottle he'd emptied before the incident.

Etheredge told the Star-Telegram that Owens was "fine."

Etheredge said she called 911 because Owens was groggy and lethargic. After taking some supplements "it kicked in a reaction" with the painkillers, she told the Star-Telegram.

"Here's a person whose body is so clean, it really had a negative reaction to the medication and supplements he was taking," Etheridge told The Morning News. "Thank goodness someone was there to call an ambulance."

Police Lt. Rick Watson said he could only confirm that paramedics called police to say they were taking Owens to the hospital. He said no more details would come from the police because no laws were broken.

It is not a crime in Texas for a person to attempt suicide.

"This is a high-profile person. We looked into it and we determined it is not a criminal offense," Watson said. "This a medical type of situation that occurred."

Watson and fire department spokesman Joel Lavender cited privacy laws for the lack of information they could provide. Lavender said more details could come from the 911 call. The Associated Press filed a request under the Freedom of Information Act to get the contents of the call.

"Let's just look at the tape, review the tape," Lavender said. "I'll give you an honest answer once I know something."

At the police news conference, Watson released a version of the police narrative with certain sections blacked out. The full report was obtained by several news outlets and reported first by WFAA. The AP received the full version from WFAA.

According to the police report, Dallas Fire and Rescue was called regarding someone "attempting suicide by prescription pain medication." Officers arrived to find Owens being stabilized by ambulance workers, who then took him to Baylor University Medical Center.

Owens was hospitalized late Tuesday because of what his publicist said was an allergic reaction to pain medicine he was taking for a broken hand. Doctors reportedly tried to induce vomiting.

Owens, one of the league's top receivers during his 11-year NFL career, is best known for wild stunts on the field and other publicity-seeking antics off it.

When the Cowboys signed him to a $25 million, three-year deal in March, they said their background checks indicated no red flags. In fact, team consultant Calvin Hill -- who mostly deals with troubled players -- said during training camp that his department was not involved with Owens because he didn't have a history of those kinds of problems.

He missed most of training camp, and three of four preseason games, because of a hamstring injury. He was late for work during his recovery and was fined for it, but Owens laughed it off, saying he overslept. He said it had happened before, though not with Dallas, and would probably happen again.

Owens broke the bone leading to his right ring finger during a game a week ago Sunday. The next day, doctors screwed in a plate so the bone could heal without fear of further damage. Cowboys coach Bill Parcells said last week that the pain medicine made Owens ill.

Owens had not practiced since the injury, but because Dallas had a bye this past weekend he did not miss a game. He was expected to practice Wednesday, and Parcells had said there was a chance Owens could play Sunday against Tennessee.

Owens had been especially looking forward to the Cowboys' game after that -- Oct. 8, in Philadelphia, against the team that dumped him midway through last season only months after he helped them nearly win the Super Bowl.

Owens was seen laughing and joking on the practice field Tuesday morning. He chatted briefly with reporters in the locker room in the afternoon and seemed fine. A 2-inch scar on the top of his hand was puffy but not wrapped, and he said the swelling was doing down.

While in the locker room, he took a pill from a white paper bag and looked at another medicine bottle that was in the bag. He also called a business partner about a towel-wrap venture they're starting and joked to TV cameras that he wasn't talking until Wednesday and it was only Tuesday.

"My little boy knows better than that," he said, laughing, as he plopped onto a sofa in the middle of the locker room.

Also Tuesday, Owens was involved in launching a national campaign for the National Alliance to End Abuse, an organization aimed at helping at-risk youngsters. He appeared at a high school Tuesday morning and was scheduled to visit others but had to cancel because of changes in the team's practice schedule.

Owens has played two games for the Cowboys, catching nine passes for 99 yards and a touchdown. For updated football betting lines and Dallas Cowboy Superbowl odds visit online sportsbook MySportsbook.com

To visit this online sportsbook got to MySportsbook.com for all your VISA Sportsbook needs.

$12,000,000.00 MARCH MADNESS BRACKET CONTEST

2009 MARCH MADNESS BRACKET CONTEST

Offering $12 Million Dollars to whoever fills in the perfect March Madness Bracket. For the fifth year in a row MySportsbook.com is giving March Madness bettors a chance to never have to work another day in their lives. MySportsbook.com has been in business for 12 years and to celebrate this years March Madness they are offering $1 Million Dollars for every year they have been taking college basketball wagers along with every other sports wagering type imaginable.

The MySportsbook.com March Madness contest is simple just Sign-up for the March Madness bracket contest and come back after Selection Sunday to submit your March Madness picks. Then place $20.00 in wagers during each round of the March Madness tournament. Even if your bracket is not perfect you could potentially still win $10,000.00.

There is not an office pool on the planet that can offer this March Madness Grand Prize. Get together with your office, work as a team or keep the $12 Million and do it yourself and win the $12 Million. Also feel free to print out the Printable March Madness Brackets .

Get free 2009 March Madness Betting from top rated online sportsbook MySportsbook.com. Mysportsbook.com online March Madness betting VISA Mastercard