D-Backs edge Mets in 14 to complete rare sweep

Baseball Betting Lines

07/22/2010 - Phoenix, AZ (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Chris Snyder's hit to the gap in left-center field scored Justin Upton with the winning run in the 14th inning, boosting Arizona to a 4-3 win over the New York Mets, as the Diamondbacks completed their first three-game sweep since last August.

Upton doubled to left field leading off the inning against Fernando Nieve (2-4). Miguel Montero was intentionally walked before Mark Reynolds struck out. Snyder, the last position player on the bench, pinch-hit for Blaine Boyer (2-2) and sent the second offering barely foul, albeit home run distance to left field. Later in the count, he drilled a ball off the wall in left for the game-winner.

Chris Young, Rusty Ryal and Reynolds homered for Arizona, which hadn't swept a series of at least three games since August 28-30 against Houston. Ryal had a career-high four hits and Upton added three hits.

Angel Pagan and Rod Barajas homered for the Mets, who fell to 1-6 on their 11-game road trip. The swing ends in Los Angeles this weekend.

The Mets have been held to four or fewer runs in 12 straight games (going 3-9 during that span), the longest such stretch since they were held to four or less runs in 13 consecutive games from September 19 - October 2, 2004.

Mets starter Jonathon Niese gave up six hits and three runs while fanning six over five innings. Dan Haren started for Arizona and had eight strikeouts over six frames.

"He threw well, but unfortunately we got into a deadlock there. He went as far as I would let him go," Diamondbacks manager Kirk Gibson said of Haren.

It was another tough game for Mets left fielder Jason Bay as he was 0-for-6. Bay is 4-for-36 over his last 10 games and has no RBI in that span.

"I am somewhat surprised," Mets manager Jerry Manuel said. "I thought getting here on the west coast he would exhale and take off. I'm somewhat baffled at the struggles he's having right now."

Pagan homered to right field with one out in the opening inning, but Young went deep on a 3-2 offering leading off the bottom of the first.

Ryal sent a 1-0 Niese pitch over the wall in left-center to start the bottom of the second, but the Mets evened the game again in the third. Pagan doubled, and with one out Carlos Beltran hit an RBI single to right.

Reynolds homered to left-center with one out in the fourth, but Arizona wasted a chance with runners at second and third in the fifth when Montero fanned to end the inning.

Barajas went deep with two outs in the sixth. Left fielder Cole Gillespie nearly made a leaping catch at the wall, but ran out of real estate.

The Diamondbacks had a pair of really good opportunities in the eighth. Bobby Parnell walked Upton and Montero singled, but Reynolds lined into a double play. Ryal singled to place runners at the corners, but Tony Abreu struck out swinging.

Young reached first on David Wright's throwing error with two outs in the bottom of the ninth. Young stole second, but Augie Ojeda popped out to second.

Arizona wasted a chance with two men on in the 10th and they couldn't score despite loading the bases in the 12th. Pinch-hitter Stephen Drew popped out and Adam LaRoche flied out.

Game Notes

The game lasted 4 hours, 45 minutes...Arizona pitchers fanned a season-high 16 batters...Before Wednesday, Arizona hadn't swept a set against the Mets since taking a four-game set, August 3-5, 2002 at Shea Stadium...This was the second time the Mets were swept this year, joining a four-game series May 13-16 at Florida...New York batters drew five walks. Before Wednesday, the Mets hadn't drawn more than three walks in any of their last 12 games. It was the team's longest streak of games with no more than three walks since a 13-game stretch from July 1-16, 2005...The Mets went 1-for-8 with runners in scoring position and are 5-for-33 in those situations since the All-Star Game...Arizona left 16 men on base and went 1-for-10 with RISP.

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American Idol Betting Odds: Season 6  

The online gambling websites are in the process of deciphering each American Idol contestant and his or her chances of winning Season 6 to come up with the early American Idol betting lines.

Tim Dalton of MySportsbook.com has been locked away in a soundproof room coming up with all the latest tallies, we are told. "American Idol has become one of the most significant betting events of the year," claims Jack Black of MySportsbook.com.  "Last year, millions were bet during the season across the globe, not just in America.

It's tough early on since we really do not have a glimpse as to how well each of these individuals will perform solo on a week-to-week basis.  It's like Week 1 of the NFL.  Pre-season means nada!

We do know the 24 finalists however.

Sanjaya Malakar is the young man whose sister failed to make it into the Top 24.  He's very low key but - unless he totally flubs - will probably win over the young girlie vote for a few weeks anyway.  He's too young to go all the way, according to Payton O'Brien. 

Brandon Rogers - Who?

Phil Stacy is the military guy who missed his daughter's birth because of the Memphis audition.  He should go a good distance.

Chris Sligh - He's got the humor and in many ways he's the Anti-American Idol much like last year's winner Taylor Hicks was.  And this is why he'll probably get pretty far in this competition.  He's chubby, white with a big curly afro....but more importantly, a great voice!  People love "real", not "real cute" to go all the way. 

"Blake Lewis should go far because of his uniqueness and looks.  He's the boy next store with a twist - he beat boxes.  But on top of this, he's a great singer, and I adore him," Payton O'Brien relayed.

A talented beat-boxer Blake Lewis was a hit during the group sing in Hollywood but Simon explained that this is a singing contest just before he told him he was “in.”

Paul Kim has caught our own roving reporter, Jenny Woo's eyes. 

"I love the fact that there is a Korean American on the show and he is bound to get more Asians tuning into the show," Woo said from her Miami Beach estate.  "There has never been a major presence of Asian-Americans on American Idol in the past.  He's a hottie with a nice voice so that should help to take him far.  Expect heavy betting action from the Asian community."

Sundance Head - He's not perfect, but he's got the personality that will take him through a few weeks, plus he's got the lineage (son of Roy Head - whose 1965 single, "Treat Her Right," hit No. 5 in the charts) 

And the others:

Rudy Cardinas
AJ Tabaldo - the 5th time is the charm
Nicolas Pedro
Chris Richardson
Jared Cotter

The girls

"Melinda Doolittle has one of the best voices," says MySportsbook.com Reporter and an acclaimed dancer in her own right, Destiney Lewis.  "It is great to see a back up singer step out like she has.  The girl needs to gain more confidence but that can also be a positive.  I think she will go far."

Alena Alexander - Those tears (she never seems to stop bawling) should get her far.

"Single mom Lakisha Jones I suspect will be a pretty big favorite entering Week 1 of the competition," says Destiny Williams.  Jones is an excellent singer and down to earth.  "She'll have a wide appeal," echoed O'Brien.

Nicole Trellis - Seems to exert confidence.

Amy Krebs - a powerful singer.

Antonella Barba
Gina Glocksen
Hailey Scanardo
Jordan Sparks
Stephanie Edwards
Leslie Hunt
Sabrina Sloan

MySportsbook.com is offering a 20% signup bonus with an initial deposit (i.e. open your American Idol betting account with $300, receive another $60 in which to bet with). 

Last two contestants will be?

1 Male/1 Female +100 (a $10 bet pays $10 plus your initial $10)

2 Males +170 (a $10 bet pays $17 plus your initial $17)

2 Females +130 (a $10 bet pays $13 plus your initial $10)

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