09/23/2008 - Toronto, ON (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Mike Mussina was solid on the mound to post his 19th win of the year and Jason Giambi clubbed his 32nd homer on the season, though the Yankees were eliminated from playoff contention despite a 3-1 victory over the Toronto Blue Jays.
Boston edged Cleveland 5-4 on Tuesday to clinch a playoff berth, which left New York on the outside of the postseason picture looking in for the first time since the 1993 campaign.
Mussina (19-9) allowed just four hits and fanned six batters over five scoreless frames to become the first pitcher in major league history to win 19 games three times without ever winning 20. That could change, though, as Mussina is set to start the final game of the season in Boston on Sunday to go for his 20th victory. Mariano Rivera tossed a perfect ninth to record his 38th save of the year.
Robinson Cano drove in a run and scored for the Yankees, who have won six straight games. Brett Gardner went 2-for-4 in the bittersweet triumph while Giambi also scored twice.
New York was without its captain, shortstop Derek Jeter, who was not in the lineup after getting hit on his left hand Saturday by a pitch from Baltimore's Jim Miller. Cody Ransom got the start at shortstop instead, although Jeter came on as a defensive replacement in the ninth inning.
Jesse Litsch (12-9) took the loss after giving up three runs -- two earned -- on five hits over seven stanzas. He also struck out eight while walking only one.
Scott Rolen drove in the lone run for the Blue Jays, who have dropped three of four. Adam Lind went 2-for-3 and scored in defeat.
The Yankees grabbed a 1-0 lead in the second inning. Giambi worked a one-out single and moved to third as Xavier Nady followed with a double. Cano then grounded out, which scored Giambi.
Mussina took a line drive off his right elbow with one out in the third inning off the bat of Travis Snider. Pitching coach Dave Eiland came out to check on the 39-year-old righty, who was granted a few extra pitches to see if he could continue, and Mussina stayed in to get Joe Inglett to ground into a double play.
Giambi made it a 2-0 affair in the fourth inning as he launched a one-out homer into the seats in right-center field.
New York took a 3-0 lead in the seventh. Cano smacked a double to center field, moved up 90 feet on a wild pitch and slid in under the tag at home on a passed ball.
With one out in the seventh, Damaso Marte took over for Brian Bruney on the hill but yielded a single to Lind and walked Lyle Overbay before getting the hook in favor of Joba Chamberlain. Rolen greeted the young righty to the game with an RBI single, before Chamberlain struck out Gregg Zaun and Snider swinging to get out of the jam.
In the eighth, Chamberlain gave up a two-out single to Alex Rios and got Vernon Wells to ground into what looked like an easy 6-3 play. However, Ransom's throw went over the head of Giambi and into the seats to make it second and third. Lind was then intentionally walked to load the bases, but Overbay was caught looking at the third strike to end the threat.
Rivera came in to pitch the ninth and retired the side in order to get the save.
Game Notes
Litsch, a 23-year-old righty, was after a fourth straight win...Toronto has split 16 meetings with the Yankees this season...Toronto left eight men on base and New York stranded four...Mussina has 269 wins, moving past Jim Palmer into sole possession of 34th place on the all-time list.
<< Red Sox edge Tribe to clinch playoff spot
Boston, MA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Kevin Youkilis hit a two-run homer, while Jason
Bay's RBI single in the fifth inning was the difference, as the Boston
Red Sox clinched a postseason berth with a 5-4 win over the Cleveland Indians
in the
<< Santana shines as Mets draw closer in NL East
Flushing, NY (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Jose Reyes had a three-run triple to cap a
four-run sixth inning while Johan Santana pitched eight strong innings to give
the Mets a much-needed win, 6-2 win over the NL Central champion Chicago Cubs
at Shea
<< Greinke, Royals blank Tigers
Detroit, MI (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Zack Greinke threw seven shutout innings, and
the Royals barely moved ahead of Detroit into fourth place in the AL Central
with a 5-0 victory over the Tigers.
Alex Gordon belted a two-run homer, while Ry
<< Report: Mets to give GM Minaya four-year extension
New York, NY (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - New York Mets general manager Omar Minaya will
reportedly receive a four-year extension, but the team will wait until after
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According to Newsday, team ownership has be
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St. Louis, MO (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Ryan Ludwick clubbed a three-run homer and
Kyle Lohse posted his career-high 15th win as St. Louis beat the Diamondbacks,
7-4, damaging Arizona's playoff hopes.
Arizona fell 2 1/2 games behind the Dodge
Braves win behind Hampton; Phils' lead in East cut to 1 1/2 >>
Philadelphia, PA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Mike Hampton threw six solid innings and
Casey Kotchman went 2-for-4 with a homer, as the Atlanta Braves edged
Philadelphia, 3-2, in the second of three games with the Phillies.
The Phillies, w
Volquez strong as Reds edge Astros in Houston >>
Houston, TX (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Jolbert Cabrera knocked in a run and Edinson
Volquez hurled 7 1/3 strong innings as Cincinnati clipped Houston, 2-1, in the
opener of a three-game series at Minute Maid Park.
Jeff Keppinger had three hits an
Fielder gets it done at the plate to lead Brewers past Pirates >>
Milwaukee, WI (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Prince Fielder belted a game-winning, two-run
homer in the bottom of the ninth inning to lift the Milwaukee Brewers to a 7-5
victory over the Pittsburgh Pirates in the opener of a three-game series at
Miller
BILLS (+10) at Steelers SPORTSBOOK LINES
It's impossible to gauge how a team will react after something like the Steve Everett situation, and it probably doesn't matter. That being said, the Bills are going to lose several games this year where they keep things close but fall short in the end to superior teams. Ben Roethlisberger and company could have a field day against Buffalo's decimated defense, but I like the Bills to cover.
BENGALS (-7) at Browns SPORTSBOOK LINES
All you can ask out of your NFL team is that it has a plan. You may not always agree with it as a fan, but as long as it appears the organization is going in some sort of direction, you have to go with it. Which brings us to the Cleveland Browns. You flip a coin to determine whether Chuck Frye or Derek Anderson should start the preseason opener. You start Frye in Week 1, but pull him in the first half. And then you deal him to the Seahawks for a sixth-round pick? Hmm... the Bengals could get six turnovers again this week.
COLTS (-7) at Titans SPORTSBOOK LINES
Tennessee signed ex-Colts cornerback Nick Harper in the offseason so that should help slow down Peyton Manning. Just ask Jason David and the Saints. Oh wait... One of these weeks, I'm going to learn to not pick against Tennessee, which has won seven of its last eight games. But it's not happening against Indy.
TEXANS (+6.5) at Panthers SPORTSBOOK LINES
Houston's Mario Williams, the first pick in the '06 draft, has more touchdowns than Reggie Bush after one week. Somehow I don't see that lasting. Meanwhile, Carolina bottled up what was expected to be a pretty high-octane offense in St. Louis in Week 1. Could this be the Panthers' defense everyone expected last year? Maybe. This feels like a 20-16 Carolina win.
RAMS (-3) vs. 49ers SPORTSBOOKS LINES
Absolutely love this game. Everyone's favorite pick for this year's surprise team -- the 49ers -- laid an egg on Monday night (not that anyone was watching with the game ending in the middle of the night for those of us on the East Coast). St. Louis wasn't much better, delivering a lackluster effort against the Panthers that included two Steven Jackson fumbles and panic from his fantasy owners. Jackson rebounds this week, and the Rams get their first win.
PACKERS (+1.5) at Giants SPORTSBOOKS LINES
Do you really trust this guy to win an NFL game if Eli Manning can't go? I say no. I'd feel alot better about this Packers team if it had any semblance of a running game, but I still think Green Bay's defense is good enough to give it a 2-0 start.
JAGUARS (-10) vs. Falcons SPORTSBOOKS LINES
Does it scare me to pick Jacksonville to cover a double-digit spread after it scored just 10 points last week against the Titans? Absolutely. But can I bring myself to pick Atlanta under any circumstances? No. Check out this poll on ajc.com. It asks what Atlanta's most urgent deficiency is: offense, defense, specials teams or all of the above. "All of the above" has 57 percent of the votes. Ouch.
SAINTS (-3) at Buccaneers SPORTSBOOKS LINES
I'm picking way too many road teams this week. Oh well. New Orleans has had some time to reflect on its lackluster showing in the opener, and the Buccanneers just aren't a very good football team. Anyone else surprised Tampa Bay hasn't made a move to sign Byron Leftwich? I thought that's what they do.
VIKINGS (+3) at Lions SPORTS BETTING LINES
Run the ball and stop the run. Minnesota can do both, and that will keep them in a lot of games this season. Even though it was only one week, Adrian Peterson looks like he was a steal at No. 7 in last year's draft. Not only will he produce, but Peterson delivers excitement to what otherwise would be one of the league's most boring teams.
DOLPHINS (+3.5) vs. Cowboys SPORTS BETTING LINES
Lost in the Tony Romo lovefest is just how bad the Cowboys' defense was last week. I know they're banged up, but Dallas' 'D' allowed 438 yards to the Giants' offense, and backup running back Derrick Ward averaged 6.8 yards per carry. Meanwhile, Cam Cameron's decision to split carries between Ronnie Brown and Jesse Chatman sounds about as can't-miss as Larry David's plan to show up to Marty Funkhouser's party a night late. Still, gotta go with Miami to cover at home.
SEAHAWKS (-2.5) at Cardinals SPORTS BETTING LINES
I'm probably missing something, but this game seems too easy. Arizona blew Monday night's game against the 49ers in typical Cardinals fashion, and the Seahawks beat Tampa Bay by two touchdowns. Love Seattle in this one.
BRONCOS (-9.5) vs. Raiders SPORTS BETTING LINES
Special teams was a major story line in Week 1. Take a look at the Broncos. They had to rush on to the field to get a Jason Elam field goal as time expired against the Bills. Denver drove into Buffalo territory on eight of 10 drives but came away with just a pair of field goals and a touchdown. Look for more scoring from the Broncos this week against an Oakland defense that gave up 36 points to Detroit in Week 1.
BEARS (-12) vs. Chiefs SPORTS BETTING LINES
Everyone talks about Rex Grossman when dissecting the Bears' offense, but Chicago's quarterback got no help in last week's loss to the Chargers. Meanwhile, Kansas City confirmed what we all thought while watching Hard Knocks: The Chiefs are going to stink this year. It could be a rough first month for Larry Johnson fantasy owners. Kansas City's RB was limited to 43 yards on 10 carries in Week 1, and the Chiefs face the Bears, Vikings and Chargers the next three weeks, all formidable run defenses.
RAVENS (-10) vs. Jets SPORTS BETTING LINES
A big dose of Willis McGahee and a usual sound defensive effort will give the Ravens their first win. According to Football Outsiders, no team in the NFL rushed only three defenders on pass plays last year more than the Jets. And according to my special Jets correspondent Ben Stauber, New York did the same in Week 1. Whoever starts at quarterback for the Ravens should have all day to throw.
PATRIOTS (-3) vs. Chargers SPORTS TRASH TALK
Friends and I were discussing how Bill Belichick goes about paying his $500,000 fine for cheating. Does he just write one check to the NFL? Do you need some sort of clearance to make such a monstrous financial transaction? I guess I shouldn't complain about the security deposit I have to put down on my new apartment. Anyway, two of the league's best teams square off in what should be a good one Sunday night. The Patriots always respond well just when you think they're in trouble. And their offensive attack was the story in Week 1.
Note: Monday night game will be picked Monday. Lines used are from football betting.
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