Blackburn, Fuentes shut out M's; Twins win third straight

Baseball Betting Lines

08/28/2010 - Seattle, WA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Nick Blackburn hurled 8 2/3 scoreless innings and Denard Span drove in the lone run as Minnesota clipped Seattle, 1-0, in the middle test of three from Safeco Field.

Blackburn (8-8) yielded two hits to win for the first time since June 29, and failed to allow a run in a start for the first time since May 9 against Baltimore.

He retired 21 batters in succession from the second through the ninth and finished with a season-high six strikeouts. Brian Fuentes made his Twins debut a successful one, a four-pitch strikeout to notch his 24th save.

Delmon Young added two hits and Danny Valencia scored for the Twins, who have won three in a row and extended their lead over Chicago in the AL Central to four games. The White Sox and Yankees play later Saturday.

Russell Branyan and Jose Lopez collected the lone hits for the Mariners, who suffered their sixth loss in seven.

Doug Fister (4-10) was the hard-luck loser as he scattered six hits and one run over seven innings, fanning six with two walks.

Valencia singled to begin the Minnesota third, advanced on a J.J. Hardy double and scored when Span followed with a base hit.

Meanwhile, Blackburn mowed down the Mariners lineup. He issued a one-out walk in the second inning to Ryan Langerhans then didn't allow another baserunner until a two-out walk to Chone Figgins in the ninth.

That signaled Fuentes' entrance -- his first with the Twins since being acquired from the Angels on Friday -- against Branyan, striking him out swinging to end the game.

Game Notes

Minnesota has won six of nine meetings with Seattle this season...This was Blackburn's first road victory since May 16 at Yankee Stadium...Twins second baseman Orlando Hudson left the game in the second inning with a right ankle sprain...Minnesota DH Jim Thome left the game with back stiffness...It was Seattle's second shutout loss this week, after being blanked 10-0 by the Yankees on Sunday.

Basketvall Baseball Betting News

<< Goldberg tied for lead at Canadian Tour Champ
St. Catharines, ON (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Leading money winner Aaron Goldberg shot a four-under 66 to join Kane Hanson in the lead Saturday after the third round of the Canadian Tour Championship. Hanson, the 36-hole leader, managed only an

<< Afleet Express holds off Fly Down to win Travers
Saratoga Springs, NY (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Afleet Express, ridden by Javier Castellano, edged a late running Fly Down to capture Saturday's $1 million Travers Stakes at Saratoga Race Course. The time for the 1 1/4-miles was 2:03.28

<< Dallas, Columbus battle to scoreless draw
Columbus, OH (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - FC Dallas extended its road unbeaten run to 10 Major League Soccer games, and its overall league unbeaten run to 12 games, by earning a 0-0 draw at Columbus on Saturday afternoon at Crew Stadium. The game,

<< Laird three clear at The Barclays
Paramus, NJ (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Scotland's Martin Laird carded a six-under 65 in the third round Saturday to grab a three-stroke lead at The Barclays. Laird, who won the Justin Timberlake Shriners Hospitals for Children Open last year, comp

<< Wie, Shin share lead at Canadian Women's Open
Winnipeg, MB (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Michelle Wie shot an even-par 72 on Saturday and was joined in the lead by Jiyai Shin after three rounds of the Canadian Women's Open. Shin carded a three-under 69, bouncing back from a pair of bogeys with thr

Sevilla, Valencia win big in La Liga openers >>
Madrid, Spain (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Abdoulay Konko and Joaquin Sanchez scored twice for their respective clubs as the Spanish La Liga opened its 2010-11 campaign with three fixtures on Saturday. Konko's two goals helped Sevilla top Leva

Browns DB Sorensen leaves game >>
Detroit, MI (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Cleveland Browns defensive back Nick Sorensen left Saturday's game with an undisclosed injury. Sorensen was hurt in the second quarter when he was blocked by a pair of Lions defenders on a kickoff.

Victorino, Blanton and bullpen get Phils past Padres >>
San Diego, CA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Shane Victorino provided a much-needed offensive spark with two hits and two RBI for the Phillies, who defeated the San Diego Padres, 3-1, in the second of three games at PETCO Park. Victorino, who

Rangers put P Francisco on DL >>
Arlington, TX (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Texas Rangers placed closer Frank Francisco on the 15-day disabled list Saturday with a strained right latissimus dorsi muscle. The right-hander suffered the injury in Friday's game aga

Toulouse continues perfect with win over Nancy >>
Paris, France (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - French Ligue 1 leaders Toulouse continued its perfect start to the 2010-11 season with a 2-0 win over Nancy on Saturday. Midfielders Etienne Capoue and Franck Tabanou scored second-half goals to lead Toulouse

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)

MySportsbook.com is an online sportsbook accepts Visa Credit Cards and online sportsbook accepts Mastercard Credit Cards for easy American Idol betting lines.