Giants hope to break the brooms out on Reds

Baseball Betting Lines

08/25/2010 - (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Cincinnati Reds may be the National League's highest scoring team this season, but the San Francisco Giants have been the ones swinging the powerful bats during this three-game series between the two postseason contenders.

One day after amassing a season-high run total, the revitalized Giants set their sights on a sweep of the National League Central-leading Reds in this afternoon's showdown at AT&T Park.

San Francisco pounded Cincinnati pitching for 17 hits in an 11-2 rout on Monday, then created even more damage in last night's middle test of this series. The Giants collected a total of 18 hits and swatted four homers en route to a 16-5 victory that moved the team into a virtual tie with Philadelphia for the lead in the NL Wild Card standings.

Pablo Sandoval and Andres Torres each had three hits and four RBI in Tuesday's shellacking, with Sandoval accounting for one of San Francisco's four long balls on the night. Freddy Sanchez also went deep as part of a 4-for-4 performance in which the second baseman scored four runs.

Sanchez also had four hits in Monday's game and has raised his season average from .261 to .278 with his output in this series.

"Right now he looks comfortable up there," Giants manager Bruce Bochy said of Sanchez. "He's got his timing and getting some good swings off. When good hitters get into a groove, they're going to get their base hits."

San Francisco also received a three-run homer from Buster Posey and a two-run blast off the bat of Juan Uribe in the win, the club's fourth in six games. The contest marked the first time the Giants have totaled 11 runs or more in back-to-back home tilts since September 2-3, 1973.

Cincinnati was able to flex its muscles at the plate as well, with Brandon Phillips belting two solo homers while going 3-for-5 and Scott Rolen delivering a two-run shot in a losing cause. All three round-trippers came against San Francisco starter Jonathan Sanchez, who failed to pitch the required five innings to gain the decision.

Santiago Casilla (5-2) was credited with the win after holding the Reds scoreless in the sixth and seventh innings. Sanchez was removed after only 4 1/3 frames and surrendered five runs on six hits while walking three.

Rookies Travis Wood and Mike Leake each had forgettable nights for Cincinnati, with Wood rocked for seven runs and seven hits over the first four innings and Leake permitting six runs and six hits -- including homers to Uribe and Posey -- while recording only a single out in the fifth.

"We just got beat up the last couple of days," Reds manager Dusty Baker said afterwards. "It makes for long nights."

Despite the two lopsided defeats, Cincinnati remained 2 1/2 games in front of St. Louis for the Central's top spot after the Cardinals lost to lowly Pittsburgh last night. The Reds have also gone a respectable 5-3 so far on a nine-game road trip that ends this afternoon.

Baker will ask Homer Bailey to try to cool off San Francisco's red-hot offense in the finale. The former phenom may be up to the task, if his two starts following a lengthy stint on the disabled list are any indication.

After missing close to three months due to a sore shoulder, Bailey returned to fire six shutout innings in a 2-0 home win over Florida on August 15. The right-hander backed that up by yielding just one run and four hits over seven sharp frames to defeat the Dodgers Friday in Los Angeles.

Bailey is 1-0 in three career meetings with San Francisco, but was hit hard in a pair of clashes with the Giants last season. In those two games, the 24- year-old was tagged for 10 runs and 16 hits over 11 2/3 innings of work.

The Giants will counter with a talented young hurler of their own in top prospect Madison Bumgarner, with the rookie entering today's assignment off a big victory on the road over playoff-hopeful St. Louis last Friday.

Bumgarner limited the Cardinals to two runs over seven-plus innings to improve to 5-4 in 11 starts since being promoted from Triple-A Fresno in late June. The 21-year-old has posted a 3.20 ERA as well following the promotion and allowed two runs or less in six of his past nine appearances.

The left-hander, who will be taking on the Reds for the first time, is still in search of his first career win at AT&T Park, however. Bumgarner has pitched four times at home so far this year and gone 0-2 with a 4.21 ERA over the course of those games.

These teams have split the past eight meetings between one another held in San Francisco, as well as a four-game series in Cincinnati back in June.

Onlinesportsbookgambling Baseball Betting News

<< Canucks sign Torres
Toronto, ON (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Vancouver Canucks have added depth to their roster by signing Raffi Torres. TSN of Canada reported on Wednesday that the left winger was given a one-year contract worth $1 million. Torres, 28, split t

<< Division leaders continue set in Arlington
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Texas Rangers seem to be cruising to their first American League West title since 1999 and C.J. Wilson is a big reason why. Tonight, the reliever turned starter goes for a 13th win when the Rangers resume

<< Cubs shoot for sweep in DC
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Chicago Cubs may have been shocked at first by Lou Piniella's sudden retirement, but the team appears to be handling the changing of the guard at the managerial position quite well. Chicago goes for a sweep of its init

<< Phils send Halladay to hill to face Astros, Happ
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - A 16-inning marathon in their last game has put a strain on the Philadelphia Phillies' bullpen. Fortunately for the two-time defending National League champions, they'll have one of baseball's premier workhorses ready to go t

<< Rays' Niemann gets the call at Angel Stadium
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Tampa Bay Rays got a boost on Tuesday with the return of Wade Davis. Today they hope for that same kind of lift when Jeff Niemann returns from the disabled list to face the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim in the fin

Rockies go for sweep of Braves at Coors Field >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Sensational play at home is a big reason why the Atlanta Braves sit atop the National League's East Division, but the team continues to find the going tough at Denver's Coors Field. The Braves attempt to avoid their first

Pirates shoot for rare series win over Cardinals >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) -- The Pittsburgh Pirates were able to come through with an impressive victory over the St. Louis Cardinals on Tuesday. Repeating such an effort has been a big problem for the last-place club as of late, however. The Pirates

Cards, Pirates play rubber match at PNC >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Pittsburgh Pirates were able to come through with an impressive victory over the St. Louis Cardinals on Tuesday. Repeating such an effort has been a big problem for the last-place club as of late, however. The Pirates

Aluko claims WPS Player of the Week >>
Kennesaw, GA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - English forward Eniola Aluko was named Women's Professional Soccer Player of the Week for Week 19 after scoring what would prove to be the decisive goal to lead the expansion Atlanta Beat to a vital 3-2 vic

It's first vs. worst in the West, as Stamps visit Lions >>
Vancouver, BC (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - A couple of teams heading in opposite directions in the CFL's Western Division clash at Empire Field in Vancouver for the second time in less than a month as the British Columbia Lions entertain the Calgary Stam

FOOTBALL BETTING : Cassel Signs Contract

Kansas City, MO - Kansas City has not officially named Matt Cassel its starting quarterback, but there can be no doubt now.

NFL Betting
After praising his leadership and work ethic through spring workouts, the Chiefs announced Tuesday they had signed the 27-year-old Cassel to a multiyear contract. Terms were not disclosed, but he will almost certainly be one of the highest-paid members of the team.
"We are excited to be able to reach a long-term agreement for Matt Cassel to be a Kansas City Chief for many years to come," owner and board chairman Clark Hunt said in a statement. "His proven leadership on and off the field will be a tremendous asset to the organization."
Patriots made him their franchise player, meaning his salary for this season will be about $15 million.
New head coach Todd Haley, taking over for Herm Edwards after a 2-14 season, refused to name a starter at any position during offseason workouts. But it was obvious to everyone the team belonged to Cassel.
"I go out there each and every day with that focus that I'm the starter," Cassel said during a June minicamp. "Competition brings out the best in everybody."
The signing will come as welcome news to Cassel's new coaches and teammates. Amiable and hardworking, online football betting he appeared to win over everyone at minicamp.
"I think he's got some unique leadership qualities. I think his teammates like him and have respect for him. I think he's doing a pretty good job on the field, too," Haley said last month. "He's doing everything that I'm asking him, that our coaches are asking him to do. I don't have one single complaint how he's carrying himself."
After one workout, wide receiver Devard Darling declared Cassel "a breath of fresh air."
"He has a lot of swagger, a lot of confidence. It's good for us," said Darling. "We trust in him that he's going to go out there and lead us all the way."
nse to accommodate his specific abilities.
Trapped on the bench behind Heisman winners Carson Palmer and Matt Leinart at USC and then unable to unseat Super Bowl MVP Brady at New England, Cassel seemed destined to be a backup all his life. As Brady was helped off the field last September, Cassel seized the opportunity he'd been waiting for since high school.
In his only sustained action since his teens, he hit 349 of 555 passes for 3,949 yards at New England. He had 23 touchdown passes and 13 interceptions as the Patriots, who had gone unbeaten through the regular season the year before, finished 11-5 and out of the playoffs.
Chiefs general manager Scott Pioli, who had been Bill Belichick's assistant in New England, engineered the trade after the Patriots became convinced that Brady would recover fully from his knee operation.
"Since Matt arrived in Kansas City, he has embraced the team and the community," Pioli said. "His work ethic, his ability and competitive presence is what we expect from our players."

NFL Betting Lines

To visit this sportsbook go to MySportsbook.com for all your college football betting needs.