Phillies try to extend season-best win streak against D-Backs
Baseball Betting Lines
07/28/2010 - (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Roy Halladay tries to extend the Philadelphia Phillies' season-high win streak to seven games this evening when they continue their three-game set at Citizens Bank Park against the Arizona Diamondbacks.
Halladay won for the first time in three starts on Friday against Colorado, as he held the Rockies to five hits over eight scoreless innings, while striking out nine to improve to 11-8 on the year to go along with a 2.28 earned run average.
"I thought we did a good job of mixing pitches," Halladay said. "We did a good enough job of keeping them off balance."
Halladay, who has completed at least six innings in all but one of his starts this season, had tossed nine scoreless innings without getting a decision in his previous start at home, where he is 7-4 on the year with a 1.71 ERA in 12 starts.
He has beaten the Diamondbacks both times he has faced them, while pitching to a 3.86 ERA.
The Phillies continued to gain ground in the National League East on Tuesday, as Ryan Howard finished 2-for-4 with a two-run homer, three RBI and two runs scored in a 9-5 win in the opener with Arizona.
"It was a see-saw game, but we felt pretty good," said Howard. "We just felt like we'd win this game."
Cody Ransom and Jayson Werth also both hit two-run blasts for the Phillies, who have also won nine straight at home. With Atlanta's loss to Washington the Phils now trail the Braves by 3 1/2 games in the division.
David Herndon (1-2) gave up two runs and coughed up a lead during the sixth inning in relief of starter Cole Hamels but picked up his first major-league win.
Philadelphia played the game without Jimmy Rollins, who fouled a pitch off his foot on Monday, and then lost Shane Victorino to a strained oblique. Rollins may miss this series, while Victorino could be headed towards the disabled list, paving the way for top-prospect Domonic Brown to be called up from Triple-A Lehigh Valley.
Mark Reynolds homered and drove in a pair, while Adam LaRoche and Stephen Drew knocked in a run apiece for the Diamondbacks, who have dropped five in a row.
Jordan Norberto (0-1) took the loss after being charged with two runs and two hits while not recording an out.
"We know we are playing a good club, a club that is hot," said Diamondbacks manager Kirk Gibson. "We had opportunities, just didn't convert them."
Heading to the hill for the Diamondbacks this evening will be righty Edwin Jackson, who has lost his last three starts. Jackson was defeated by San Francisco on Friday, allowing six runs (four earned) and eight hits in six innings to fall to 6-9 on the season, while raising his ERA to 5.01.
Jackson has faced the Phillies nine times and is 3-4 against them with a 4.25 ERA.
The Diamondbacks took two of three from Philly earlier in the year, but the Phils are 8-3 in their last 11 against Arizona and 26-16 against the D-backs since the 2004 season.
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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).
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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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