Espinosa powers Nationals to win over Mets
Baseball Betting Lines
09/06/2010 - Washington, DC (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Danny Espinosa had the best game of his very young career as he hit a grand slam and a solo home run to lead the Washington Nationals to a 13-3 rout of the New York Mets in the opener of a three-game set.
Espinosa, playing just the fifth game of his career after joining the team on September 1, went 4-for-5 with six RBI for the Nationals, who have won three straight. Ivan Rodriguez drove in three runs, while Roger Bernadina scored three times in the win.
Jordan Zimmermann went just four innings in the start and was charged with three runs -- one earned -- on three hits with four walks and two strikeouts. Scott Olsen (4-8) worked four innings of hitless ball to pick up the win.
Josh Thole drove in two runs for the Mets, who have lost six of their last eight. Mike Pelfrey (13-9) was tagged for six runs on five hits with three walks over 3 2/3 innings.
The Mets got on the board in the first inning with a pair of runs. Angel Pagan led off with a single and promptly stole second. Two batters later, Chris Carter beat out an infield single and David Wright followed with a sacrifice fly to score Pagan. After a pair of walks loaded the bases, Thole worked a free pass to score Carter for a 2-0 lead.
The Mets added a run in the third inning on an RBI single from Thole that plated Carter for a 3-0 lead.
Washington got one back in the third when Espinosa led off the frame with a shot over the left field wall.
In the fourth, the Nationals surged ahead with a five-run frame. After consecutive one-out walks, Rodriguez doubled to chase home both runners. Mike Morse then singled to give Washington the lead. Later in the inning, Nyjer Morgan singled to bring home Morse and a walk with the bases loaded by Kevin Mench gave the team a 6-3 lead.
Washington tacked on another run in the fifth as Espinosa's single to center plated Bernadina for a 7-3 advantage.
The Nationals added another five runs in the sixth inning on a sacrifice fly from Rodriguez and a grand slam off the bat of Espinosa for a 12-3 lead.
Ryan Zimmerman's RBI single in the seventh made it a 13-3 contest.
Game Notes
Washington has taken eight of the 13 games against New York this season...Before the game, the Mets brought up pitchers Dillon Gee, Sean Green and Raul Valdes and outfielder Jesus Feliciano from Triple-A Buffalo. Gee will start Tuesday's game as Johan Santana was scratched from his scheduled start with a strained pectoral muscle...Washington right fielder Willie Harris left the game after crashing into the outfield wall in the third inning on a Carter double. Harris was replaced by Morse...Pelfrey has dropped his past two starts.
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Football Betting: Defensive Rookie of the Year Awards
Oddsmakers have released the odds for the 2009 AP NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year Award and Seattle Seahawks linebacker Aaron Curry has been made the opening favorite.
Seattle took Curry with the fourth overall pick in April's NFL draft and plan on inserting him into its starting lineup right away. The Hawks traded linebacker Julian Peterson in the offseason, so Curry is expected to have a significant role in Seattle's defense next year and that's one of the primary reasons he is the favorite to win the NFL ROY Award.
Oddsmakers from online sportsbook MySportsbook.com have made Curry a 5/1 favorite to win this year's NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year Award. Given that he was the best defensive prospect in this year's draft and how he'll have plenty of opportunities to make plays in '09, Curry offers a ton of value at 5/1.
Another thing working for Curry is the position he plays. A linebacker has won the defensive ROY award six straight times and eight of the last nine years. Jerod Mayo, Patrick Willis, DeMeco Ryans, Shawne Merriman, Jonathan Vilma, Terrell Suggs, Kendrell Bell and Brian Urlacher were the most recent linebackers to take home the award.
Following Curry at 5/1 are Tyson Jackson (Chiefs) at 7/1, James Laurinaitas (Rams) at 8/1, Brian Orakpo (Redskins) at 10/1, Rey Maualuga (Bengals) at 10/1 and Jerry Peria (Falcons) at 10/1.
All the players mentioned above are expected to start for their respective teams, but Jackson and Peria are going to have a tough time being recognized on a national level given they're both defensive linemen. D-linemen rarely put up the numbers that it takes to win an individual award like the ROY.
A couple of players with some value are Clay Matthews (Packers) at 12/1 and Larry English (Chargers) at 15/1. Matthews is expected to start at outside linebacker in Green Bay's new 3-4 defense and could rack up a ton of tackles. English, who was an impressive player at Northern Illinois, is expected to be a situational pass rusher for the Chargers and could rack up a ton of sacks.
For complete odds on the 2009 AP NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year Award, see below. And for complete odds for the 2009 AP NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year Award, click the link provided.
2009 AP NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year Award
Robert Ayers (DEN) 12/1
Ron Brace (NE) 25/1
Everette Brown (CAR) 16/1
Darius Butler (NE) 40/1
Patrick Chung (NE) 30/1
Aaron Curry (SEA) 5/1
Brian Cushing (HOU) 12/1
Vontae Davis (MIA) 30/1
Louis Delmas (DET) 30/1
Larry English (SD) 15/1
Evander Hood (PIT) 25/1
Tyson Jackson (KC) 7/1
Malcolm Jenkins (NO) 25/1
Paul Kruger (BAL) 50/1
James Laurinaitas (STL) 8/1
Sen'Derrick Marks (TEN) 20/1
Clay Matthews (GB) 12/1
Aaron Maybin (BUF) 15/1
Rey Maualuga (CIN) 10/1
Roy Miller (TB) 20/1
Michael Mitchell (OAK) 45/1
Fili Moala (IND) 30/1
Brian Orakpo (WAS) 10/1
Jerry Peria (ATL) 10/1
B J Raji (GB) 7/1
Clint Sintim (NYG) 35/1
Alphonso Smith (DEN) 40/1
David Verkune (CLE) 20/1
Jason Williams (DAL) 30/1
Field (Any Other Player) 6/1
To visit this internet sportsbook go to MySportsbook.com for all your football betting needs.