Big Hurt's grand slam lifts Toronto over Tampa Bay

Baseball Betting Lines

04/08/2007 - St. Petersburg, FL (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Frank Thomas belted his ninth grand slam, moving him into a tie with Al Kaline (1,583) for 32nd on the all-time RBI list, as the Toronto Blue Jays downed the Tampa Bay Devil Rays, 8-5, to continue a three-game series at Tropicana Field.

Reed Johnson went 3-for-5 with an RBI and scored a run for the Blue Jays, who have split their last four games. Royce Clayton finished 2-for-4 with an RBI and a run scored, while Thomas finished 2-for-3.

Carl Crawford and Brendan Harris both homered for Tampa Bay, which trailed the Blue Jays by two runs heading into their last at-bat on Friday, but scored three times off Toronto closer B.J. Ryan in the bottom of the ninth inning to pull out a 6-5 win. Delmon Young finished 2-for-4 and scored a run.

Tomo Ohka, signed by Toronto during the offseason to add needed depth to the team's starting rotation, allowed five runs on six hits with three walks and a strikeout in 4 1/3 innings in his regular-season debut. Shaun Marcum (1-0) struck out five batters in 2 1/3 perfect innings for the win. Ryan got the final three outs this time for his second save.

Casey Fossum (0-1), who is looking to rebound from a lackluster 2006 season, the final month of which he missed for shoulder surgery, gave up seven runs on eight hits with three strikeouts and a walk in 3 2/3 innings.

The Jays got two runs in the first. Johnson got hit by a pitch, moved to third on Lyle Overbay's single, and scored on a Vernon Wells sacrifice fly to center field. Thomas then singled Overbay to third and the first baseman scored as Troy Glaus reached on a force attempt courtesy of an error by B.J. Upton.

Tampa Bay responded with a run in the home half of the first when Crawford belted a solo shot to right field on a full count.

Toronto put up four more runs in the second. Jason Phillips lined a lead-off single, moved to second on a Johnson base hit, and to third as Overbay grounded into a force out. Wells then got hit by a pitch to load the bases for Thomas, who smacked a grand slam over the wall in left field on a 3-1 pitch.

Toronto added another run in the fourth, as Clayton doubled and scored on a double by Johnson.

The Rays rallied for four runs in the bottom of the fourth. Young singled, Akinori Iwamura walked, and Dioner Navarro grounded out to move both baserunners into scoring position. Harris then homered to right field, and Upton followed with a walk. Crawford's ground-rule double moved him to third, and Upton scored on a wild pitch by Ohka.

The Jays padded their lead with a run in the ninth when Alex Rios tripled and later scored on a Clayton single for the final margin.

Game Notes

Crawford set a club record with the sixth leadoff homer of his career...Glaus left in the fifth with soreness in his left heel...Tampa Bay stopped a four- game losing streak to the Blue Jays with Friday's triumph...Toronto took 12 of the 18 meetings between the AL East rivals in 2006 and is 13-7 over their last 20 games at Tropicana Field.

Luckusurf Baseball Betting News

<< Michigan State topples BC; captures NCAA championship
St. Louis, MO (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Justin Abdelkader's goal with 18.9 seconds left in regulation was the game-winner, as Michigan State claimed its third championship in school history with a 3-1 win over Boston College at Scottrade Center

<< Slim Pickens: Fire goalie blanks Revs in opener
Bridgeview, IL (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Chicago Fire got a measure of revenge against the New England Revolution Saturday at Toyota Park. The Fire used a fourth minute goal from Logan Pause and an outstanding performance from third- year g

<< Willingham leads Marlins past Phillies
Miami, FL (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Josh Willingham went 3-for-4 with a homer, triple and double and had four RBI as the Florida Marlins beat the Philadelphia Phillies, 8-5 in the second game of a three-game set at Dolphins Stadium. Marlins s

<< Webb, D-Backs pound Nationals
Washington, DC (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Brandon Webb recovered from a shaky first start by throwing seven solid innings, and Eric Byrnes finished 2-for-5 with a solo home run and two runs batted in to power the Arizona Diamondbacks over the Was

<< Senators pound Bruins, clinch fourth seed in East
Boston, MA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Jason Spezza scored twice, Daniel Alfredsson and Dany Heatley each had a three-point night with a goal and two assists, and the Ottawa Senators beat up on the Boston Bruins, 6-3, to clinch home-ice advanta

Carter, Kidd lead Nets past Wizards >>
East Rutherford, NJ (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Vince Carter recorded a triple-double with 46 points, 16 rebounds and 10 assists, as New Jersey collected a thrilling, 120-114, overtime victory over Washington at the Continental Airline

Terry, Mavs down Trail Blazers >>
Dallas, TX (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Jason Terry scored 29 points, as the Southwest Division-champion Dallas Mavericks righted the ship after having hit a slight snag with an 86-74 win over the Portland Trail Blazers in the opener of a short t

Preds down Avs; Colorado's playoff hopes dashed >>
Denver, CO (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - J.P. Dumont scored twice to help the Nashville Predators close out their regular season with a 4-2 win over Colorado at Pepsi Center. David Legwand and Paul Kariya each had a goal for the Predators (51-23-8),

Sosa hits first HR as Rangers down Red Sox >>
Arlington, TX (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Sammy Sosa went 2-for-5 and hit his first home run of the season, as Texas dumped Boston, 8-4, in the middle contest of a three-game set. Sosa's homer was his first since the 2005 campaign when he was a

Lackey leads Angels past A's >>
Anaheim, CA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - John Lackey pitched seven innings of seven-hit, one-run ball to lead the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim to a 2-1 win over Oakland at Angel Stadium. Lackey (2-0) struck out six and did not walk a batter,

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

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