Figgins, Angels beat Rays to shrink magic number

Baseball Betting Lines

09/18/2007 - Anaheim, CA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Chone Figgins hit the go-ahead RBI triple in the fifth inning and had three of Los Angeles' 18 hits, as the Angels inched closer to the AL West title with a 10-7 win over the Tampa Bay Devil Rays.

Figgins drove in two runs, and Casey Kotchman had three hits, two RBI and scored twice, as the Angels reduced their magic number to five for clinching the AL West title for a third time in four years.

"Our team is not a home run hitting team," Figgins said. "We've got guys that can run. We won tonight. It's too early to think about anything else but tomorrow's game."

Garret Anderson and Maicer Izturis each had three hits and scored twice for the Angels.

Delmon Young drove in three runs for Tampa Bay, which had a two-game winning streak broken but lost for the fifth time in seven games.

The Devil Rays tied the game with a pair of runs in the fifth inning. Akinori Iwamura singled, Greg Norton doubled and Carlos Pena walked to load the bases. Darren Oliver (3-0) then replaced starter Kelvim Escobar, and B.J. Upton reached first on an error by second baseman Howie Kendrick to make it 6-5. Young grounded into a fielder's choice to tie the game, but despite reloading the bases later in the frame, Dioner Navarro flied out to end the inning.

Nathan Haynes walked with two outs in the bottom of the inning, and Figgins laced a triple to center to give the Angels the lead.

LA added to its total with a three-spot in the sixth. Anderson walked with one out and was on his way to third on an Izturis single to center. Upton threw toward third, but the ball sailed into the stands, making it 8-6. Jeff Ridgway then gave up an RBI single to Kotchman, and then a triple to Kendrick.

Brendan Harris tripled and scored on Navarro's sac fly in the ninth.

Escobar allowed eight hits and six runs, while Tampa Bay starter Edwin Jackson (4-15) was charged with 14 hits and seven runs -- four earned -- over 4 2/3 frames.

"It's been tough the last three or four games," Escobar said. "I've been out of sync. I'm fighting with myself to find my rhythm. Maybe it's mechanics or I'm trying to do too much. I have to find a way to fix it."

Young singled in a run in the first inning, and Navarro had an RBI base hit in the second, but the Angels went ahead in the bottom half on a Figgins RBI groundout and an Orlando Cabrera two-run single.

The teams traded two runs again in the third, as Young's groundout scored Carlos Pena. Escobar then failed to pay attention to Upton, who stole home. However, Kotchman and Haynes each singled in runs in the bottom half, and it became 6-4 the next inning on an Izturis RBI single.

Game Notes

Devil Rays manager Joe Maddon was ejected by home plate umpire Bruce Froemming for arguing balls and strikes in the top of the seventh inning...Tampa Bay has lost six straight at Anaheim and has dropped 11 of the last 14 meetings overall...At 50-25 the Angels have the best home record in majors...Vladimir Guerrero has a 10-game hitting streak for the Angels.

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MySportsbook.com: NFL draft - The NFC South


In part two of MySportsbook.com’s draft preview, we’ll take a look at a division that was extremely disappointing last season: the NFC South.  Many “experts” predicted the Panthers to represent the NFC in the Super Bowl, of course they could not even make the playoffs in an extremely weak NFC.  The Saints definitely made up for the disappointing seasons of their NFC South brethren by exploding out of no where en route to the NFC Championship game.  For the avid NFL gambler, it is imperative to pay attention to the NFL draft.  Although free agency gets a ton of publicity, the successful franchises build their teams around the draft.

1. New Orleans Saints
Who would have thought this time last year that the Saints would be the favorites to win the NFC South for the 2007 campaign?  New Orleans is loaded with firepower on the offensive side of the ball but with the exodus of Joe Horn they will most likely look to draft a WR on Day 1.  Despite having the NFL’s 3rd ranked pass defense last season, the Saints will most likely upgrade their CB’s with one of their first two picks. Other possibilities for the Saints will be TE and DT.  Because of where they will be selecting (27th), the Saints could go the “best available player” route which could net a LB.

Key additions: Eric Johnson TE, Troy Evans LB, David Patten WR
Key loses: Joe Horn WR,
Team needs: CB, WR, TE, LB, DT
Possible draftees: Aaron Ross CB Texas, Darrelle Revis CB Pitt, Ted Ginn Jr. WR OSU, Paul Posluszny LB PSU, Chris Houston CB Arkansas, Greg Olsen TE Miami

2. Carolina Panthers
Carolina was one of the biggest disappointments in the NFL last season.  With the signing of David Carr, expect the very first quarterback controversy to come out of Carolina if Jake Delhomme doesn’t rebound quickly from an average 2007 season. With veteran safety Mike Minter getting up there in age, they will look to draft a safety on Day 1 but probably not in the first round.  LB is another need with the loss of Chris Draft to go along with Dan Morgan’s concussion problems.  If TE Greg Olsen is still on the board, he might be too good to pass up despite their needs on the defensive side of the ball.

Key additions: David Carr QB
Key loses: Chris Draft LB
Team needs: LB, TE, S, OT
Possible draftees: Greg Olsen TE Miami, Patrick Willis LB Ole Miss, Paul Posluszny LB PSU, Levi Brown OT PSU

3. Atlanta Falcons
The Falcons were another NFC South team to have a disappointing 2007 season.  The Falcons have been plenty busy during the off season with plenty of players coming and going including a new head coach.  The Falcons were able to improve their draft position with the trade of coveted backup QB Matt Schaub.  High on the list of Day 1 needs will be a defensive end to replace Patrick Kerney and a hard hitting safety since Lawyer Milloy is nearing the end of his career.  With an additional 2nd round pick, the Falcons could attempt to trade up to acquire local product WR Calvin Johnson. 

Key additions: Joey Harrington QB, Toniu Fonoti OG, Joe Horn WR
Key loses: Justin Griffen RB, Patrick Kerney DE, Matt Lehr OG, Ashley Lelie WR, Matt Schaub QB
Team needs: DE, S, OT, WR, DT
Possible draftees: LaRon Landry S LSU, Amobi Okoye DT Louisville, Levi Brown OT PSU, Jamaal Anderson DE Arkansas, Alan Branch DT Michigan

4. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Age really caught up to the Bucs last season.  The Bucs still have plenty of household names on defense in Ronde Barber, Simeon Rice and Derrick Brooks but the one thing those three have in common is unfortunately age.  It is imperative for the Bucs to get much younger, especially on the defensive side of the ball. Despite having bigger needs on the defensive side of the ball, WR Calvin Johnson is the most likely pick if he is still available when the Bucs pick at the four spot.  This would suit Bucs’ faithful just fine as Johnson is widely considered the top talent in the draft and it is a position of need for the Bucs.

Key additions: Jeff Garcia QB, Kevin Carter DE, Torrie Cox CB, Cato June LB
Key loses: Dewayne White DE, Sean Mahan OG
Team needs: WR, LB, DE, CB (Youth on defense!)
Possible draftees: Calvin Johnson WR Georgia Tech, Gains Adams DE Clemson, Jamaal Anderson DE Arkansas

It is never too early to start betting on the NFL. Log on to MySportsbook.com to checkout all of the NFL futures for the upcoming season.  On the clock: the NFC North

Odds to win the NFC South:
New Orleans Saints 8-5
Carolina Panthers 2-1
Atlanta Falcons 12-5
Tampa Bay Buccaneers 9-2    

Odds to win the NFC:
New Orleans Saints 13-2
Carolina Panthers 7-1
Atlanta Falcons 20-1
Tampa Bay Buccaneers 25-1

Odds to win the Super Bowl:
New Orleans Saints 18-1
Carolina Panthers 20-1
Atlanta Falcons 50-1
Tampa Bay Buccaneers 75-1

To visit this sportsbook get to MySportsbook.com for all your online sportsbook needs. Mysportsbook.com online sportsbook accepts Visa and Mastercard credit cards.