Berkman leads Astros over Pirates in Houston

Baseball Betting Lines

07/06/2010 - Houston, TX (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Lance Berkman homered and drove in three runs to back seven sturdy innings from Wandy Rodriguez in Houston's 6-2 win over Pittsburgh in the opener of a three-game set.

Michael Bourn had two hits and scored twice and Jeff Keppinger added three hits and drove in a run as the Astros snapped a three-game slide.

Rodriguez (6-10) struck out a season-high 10 and yielded just a single run on four hits and a pair of walks for Houston, which has won all four meetings between the teams this season.

Houston area-native Brad Lincoln (1-3) suffered the loss in his homecoming after being charged with five runs on seven hits and a walk over five frames for the Pirates, who lost for just the second time in their last six games.

Bourn used his speed to create the first of two runs in the first for the Astros. He led off with an infield single off the glove of Lincoln, stole second, moved to third on a fly out and scored on a Berkman ground out. Carlos Lee then clubbed a solo home run to left-center to make it 2-0.

Bourn started a three-run rally in the third with a one-out single and came in to score on a Keppinger double that was followed by Berkman's two-run blast to left for a 5-0 game.

The Pirates dented the scoreboard in the next half inning when Ryan Doumit singled home Andrew McCutchen, who started the frame with a base hit and went to third on a one-out single by Pedro Alvarez. A base hit by Lastings Milledge then loaded the bases but the Pirates could not produce any more runs after Bobby Crosby fouled out and Lincoln struck out.

Hunter Pence doubled home Lee in the seventh off Javy Lopez to extend the lead to 6-1.

Wilton Lopez took over for Rodriguez in the eighth and was lifted with one out and a runner on second and followed by Tim Byrdak, who gave up a base hit to Garrett Jones that cut the Astros' lead to 6-2. The veteran southpaw then retired Alvarez and Doumit to end the threat.

Game Notes

Lincoln grew up in Clute, TX and lives in Pearland, TX...He was expecting somewhere between 150-200 family and friends to be at the game...His first career start for the University of Houston came in the College Classic at Minute Maid Park on February 15, 2004 against nationally-ranked Texas...He played in the same tournament a year later against then 10th-ranked Baylor and had three hits and drove in a run...The Astros improved to 20-6 against the Pirates since September 8, 2008...Keppinger extended his hitting streak to eight games and has 26 multi-hit games on the season...Rodriguez is 6-4 in 13 career starts against the Buccos...Alvarez extended his hitting streak to eight games...The Pirates fell to 12-42 when scoring fewer than four runs.

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Super Bowl XLIV Odds

Super Bowl XLIII isn't even a week old yet and oddsmakers have already released Super Bowl XLIV odds.

Despite the Pittsburgh Steelers winning Super Bowl 43, the New England Patriots are 8/1 favorites to win Super Bowl 44.

Bet Super Bowl XLIV Future Odds

With their 27-23 victory over the Arizona Cardinals in Super Bowl XLIII, the Steelers became the latest NFL champion. But believe it or not, oddsmakers from online sports book MySportsbook.com don't have the Steelers the favorites to win Super Bowl XLIV next season.

That honor belongs to the New England Patriots, who are 8/1 favorites to win despite not even qualify for the postseason in 2008. The Pats also have a major decision to make regarding what to do with Matt Cassel, who played well in Tom Brady's (knee surgery) absence last year but is also a free agent this offseason.

Ironically, the Steelers aren't even oddsmakers second choice to win Super Bowl 44, as the Dallas Cowboys are listed right behind the Patriots at 9/1 despite not making the playoffs themselves. Clearly oddsmakers think the public will hop back on the Cowboys' bandwagon considering the immense talent they have and the opening of a brand new stadium.

After Dallas, then comes Pittsburgh at 10/1, but they share those odds with the New York Giants, who won Super Bowl XLII. The Indianapolis Colts and San Diego Chargers round out the top six teams at 12/1, while the Baltimore Ravens (14/1), Tennessee Titans (16/1), Carolina Panthers (18/1) and Philadelphia Eagles (18/1) complete the top 10.

The NFC Champion Arizona Cardinals got no love from oddsmakers as they were established as a 30/1 long shot to win next year's Super Bowl. They share those same odds with the Chicago Bears and Tampa Bay Buccaneers – two teams that didn't even qualify for the postseason. Other long shots are the Kansas City Chiefs (100/1), Detroit Lions (100/1), St. Louis Rams (75/1) and Oakland Raiders (75/1).

To see a complete list of all the team's odds to win Super Bowl XLIV, check below.

NFL TEAM FUTURE ODDS TO WIN SUPER BOWL XLIV

New England Patriots 8/1

Dallas Cowboys 9/1

New York Giants 10/1

Pittsburgh Steelers 10/1

Indianapolis Colts 12/1

San Diego Chargers 12/1

Baltimore Ravens 14/1

Tennessee Titans 16/1

Carolina Panthers 18/1

Philadelphia Eagles 18/1

New Orleans Saints 20/1

Atlanta Falcons 25/1

Denver Broncos 25/1

Green Bay Packers 25/1

Jacksonville Jaguars 25/1

Minnesota Vikings 25/1

New York Jets 25/1

Arizona Cardinals 30/1

Chicago BearS 30/1

Tampa Bay Buccaneers 30/1

Buffalo Bills 35/1

Houston TexaNS 35/1

Miami Dolphins 35/1

Washington Redskins 35/1

Seattle SeahawkS 50/1

Cleveland Browns 55/1

Cincinnati Bengals 60/1

San Francisco 49ers 60/1

Oakland Raiders 75/1

St. Louis Rams 75/1

Detroit Lions 100/1

Kansas City Chiefs 100/1

Odds as of: 2/2/09

Bet Super Bowl XLIV Future Odds

To visit this online sportsbook go to MySportsbook.com for all your NFL football betting needs.

Chiefs' Treen Green out for Sunday's game

How long Trent Green will remain sidelined is unknown. Coach Herm Edwards said Monday he will miss a second straight start Sunday when the Chiefs host the San Francisco 49ers.

A two-time Pro Bowler, Green was going into a feet-first hook slide when he was knocked unconscious by a thunderous, head-snapping hit from Cincinnati's Robert Geathers.

Oddsmakers at online sportsbook MySportsbook.com currently have the Chiefs listed as 7-point favorites versus the 49ers.

The 49ers got beat by Philadelphia 38-24 as a 6.5-point underdog last week. The combined score went OVER the posted over/under total (42.5).

Alex Smith completed 27-of-46 passes for 293 yards with a touchdown. Michael Robinson rushed for 29 yards and a pair of touchdowns on five carries.

The Chiefs lost 9-6 to Denver last week as an 11-point underdog. The combined score was well UNDER the posted over/under total (38).

Larry Johnson rushed for 126 yards on 27 carries. Damon Huard completed 17-of-23 passes for 133 yards with no touchdowns and no interceptions.

To visit this online sports book got to MySportsbook.com for all your football betting needs.