Yanks sting Devil Rays in first game of doubleheader

Baseball Betting Lines

07/21/2007 - Bronx, NY (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Hideki Matsui and Shelley Duncan each hit two- run homers as the New York Yankees defeated the Tampa Bay Devil Rays, 7-3, in the first game of a doubleheader.

Robinson Cano went 2-for-4 with an RBI and run scored for the Yankees, who avoided losing three straight. Bobby Abreu and Andy Phillips each had two hits in the victory.

New York starter Kei Igawa pitched five frames, allowing two runs on seven hits. Igawa also fanned six and walked three. Luis Vizcaino (7-2) was credited with the victory after pitching a scoreless sixth.

Jason Hammel came out of the bullpen to start for Tampa Bay and pitched just four innings, giving up two runs on three hits. He was then optioned down to Triple-A Durham after the game.

"Today I felt real good," said Hammel. "My rhythm was good and everything just felt real good on the mound. It was a great line-up (to face) and I thought I did pretty well. I felt like I had a few more (innings) in me, but I don't want to get hurt on something silly. Definitely, I'd like to be a starter but I'll take any role if I can help the club. It's bittersweet (being sent to the minors), but hopefully I'll be back real soon."

Jae Kuk Ryu (1-2) absorbed the loss after allowing five runs on four hits in only 1 2/3 innings.

B.J. Upton, Ty Wigginton and Raul Casanova all hit solo home runs for the Devil Rays, who have lost two of their last three games.

With the game tied at 2-2, the Yankees plated five runs with two outs in the sixth to take control. Abreu singled to start things and Alex Rodriguez was hit by a pitch. Matsui and Jorge Posada followed with strikeouts before Cano picked them up and singled home Abreu. A base hit by Phillips brought two more runs in and Duncan's two-run homer made it 7-2.

"It was a changeup, and the ball started in my zone and I committed to it," said Duncan, who was pushed from the dugout by his Yankee teammates in response to a curtain call from the fans. "I just really made sure I wanted to stay on it, because the at-bat before I came off (the pitch), and I struck out. I wasn't going to let that happen again."

"It was really a special game," Duncan added. "I never really expected (the standing ovation). It was probably one of the coolest things I've ever been a part of."

Tampa Bay made it a four-run game in the eighth after Casanova hit a home run off Scott Proctor.

The D-Rays loaded the bases in the ninth with two outs, but Mariano Rivera struck out Jonny Gomes to end the game.

Home runs by Upton in the first inning and Wigginton in the second gave the Devil Rays an early 2-0 lead.

The score remained tied until Matsui launched a two-run homer in the fourth frame to even the score. Rodriguez walked with one out before Matsui belted his 15th homer of the season.

Game Notes

Duncan's home run was the first of his career...Tampa Bay outfielder Carl Crawford left the game in the fifth inning with a sprained left ankle and will not play in the second game of the doubleheader...Scheduled starting pitchers for the night cap of the doubleheader are Matt DeSalvo for the Yankees and J.P. Howell for the Devil Rays.

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In terms of sports wagering, the NFL is "the most popular game in town." The explanation behind that is easy.

It is called the "pointspread."

Many years ago, NFL games, as well as the more popular college games, used straight odds as a vehicle for betting. For example, if the Bears were playing the Giants, and it shaped up as a competitive contest, the Bears might be, say, a 7/5 favorite. If they were playing an also-ran, it might be 10/1. Well, there is a point where a line becomes prohibitive, as far as betting the favorite. And who would waste money betting an underdog that has virtually no chance? Such a setup did not contribute to promoting betting action.

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