Utley leads Phillies past Astros

Baseball Betting Lines

04/15/2007 - Philadelphia, PA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Chase Utley went 3-for-5 with two doubles, a home run and two RBI, knocking in the go-ahead run in the sixth inning, as the Philadelphia Phillies defeated the Houston Astros, 8-5, at Citizens Bank Park.

Utley also scored a pair of runs and Jimmy Rollins added a two-run homer in the win.

Cole Hamels (1-0) allowed five runs on eight hits, while striking out three. He did not walk a batter. Tom Gordon recorded his second save of the season, despite walking two batters in the ninth inning.

Jason Lane was 1-for-4 with a three-run homer and four RBI, while Morgan Ensberg added three hits for Houston.

Woody Williams (0-2) gave up six runs -- five earned -- on eight hits over 5 1/3 innings. He walked three and struck out four.

The Phillies went ahead for good in the sixth inning. Jayson Werth led off with a pinch-hit single, and three batters later Utley doubled off Trever Miller to score a run, making it 6-5. After Ryan Howard was intentionally walked, Pat Burrell came through with an RBI single off Brad Lidge to increase the lead to 7-5.

The Phillies added an insurance run in the seventh on an RBI single by Shane Victorino.

Gordon walked Adam Everett and Orlando Palmeiro, leaving runners on first and second with two down in the ninth, but he got Craig Biggio to ground into a double-play to end the game.

The Phillies got on the board in the first when Utley hit a solo home run to right field to give Philadelphia the early advantage.

Houston tied the game in the third inning when Humberto Quintero hit a one-out double and two batters later Biggio singled to center to even the contest.

The Astros put three more on the board in the fourth. After Lance Berkman led off the frame with a single, Carlos Lee flied out to center and Ensberg followed with a single, putting runners on the corners with one out. Lane then hit a three-run homer to left field to give the visitors a 4-1 lead.

However, the Phils answered with three of their own in the bottom of the fourth inning. Aaron Rowand got things going with a single and after Abraham Nunez popped out to the catcher, Carlos Ruiz then doubled to right scoring Rowand to make it 4-2. Two batters later Rollins hit a two-run homer to right to knot the game.

Nunez gave the Phils a 5-4 lead in the fifth with an RBI single, but Houston tied it in the sixth when Berkman scored on a groundout by Lane.

Game Notes

Jason Jennings, who was scheduled to start the game, was scratched with right elbow flexor tendinitis. According to an MRI released by the team, there is no ligament damage and he is scheduled to miss his next two or three starts while undergoing rehabilitation of rest, medication and treatment. Jennings will be placed on the DL within the next week, according to the Astros...Rollins has reached base safely in all 11 games this season and has scored in 10 of 11...Hamels improved to 5-0 with a 2.39 ERA in his last seven starts at Citizens Bank Park...Howard walked four times in the contest and now leads the National League in bases on balls with 16...Williams fell to 3-6 lifetime versus Philadelphia.

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Academy Award Betting Odds for Best Picture Offer Great Value

If there is any category that is not an obvious win for any one nominee in this year's Academy Awards, it would be for Best Picture.  Sure the Departed is a 5/7 favorite, but that's hardly anything when we look at Helen Mirren and her "out-of-reach" 1 to 40 odds (which means you would win a whopping $1 for every $40 bet).

For value, take a look at MySportsbook.com Oscars betting odds on my personal favorite, The Queen - a remarkable 12 to 1 long shot.  The film hasn't won any pre-awards for Best Picture (compared to The Departed and Little Miss Sunshine), but there is a tremendous following and it is a strong enough film to warrant a surprise win.

TV Guide advises Oscar watchers should be cautioned not to discount the  drama "Babel" with its strong social themes about overcoming communication gaps among people of different cultures.

"While 'Babel' lost several guild awards to 'Sunshine' and 'Departed,'  it still enjoys loyal support, and historically Oscar voters favor dramas with social messages over comedies like 'Sunshine' and violent crime movies like 'Departed'."

"It hasn't done well in the guilds, which means there isn't much industry support," said Tom O'Neil of awards site TheEnvelope.com, "But several critics are expecting it to win, and that gets my attention." Babel had 7 to 2 odds at press time.

Who is to say independently produced Little Miss Sunshine won't be this year's Crash.  Last year, Crash won for Best Motion Picture, shocking those who bet on gay cowboy flick, Brokeback Mountain, as the favorite to win. 

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