07/06/2008 - Atlanta, GA (Baseball Betting) - Mark Loretta finished 3-for-4 with three doubles and four RBI as Houston pounded Atlanta, 6-1, in the middle contest of a three-game set at Turner Field.
Carlos Lee and Miguel Tejada knocked in the other runs for the Astros, who snapped a four-game losing streak.
Chris Sampson (4-3), who predominantly works out of the bullpen, limited Atlanta to two hits and one run over five innings in his first start since May 25.
Brian McCann homered for the Braves, who have dropped six of seven. Jo-Jo Reyes (3-7) lost for the third consecutive start. He was charged with six hits and four runs, all earned, in just 4 1/3 frames.
"This has been a weird season. We can't seem to get anything going," lamented McCann. "Our goal now is to start winning every series. We've still got tomorrow."
The Astros didn't waste time against Reyes, touching him for a pair of runs in the first on back-to-back RBI singles from Lee and Tejada.
It was 4-0 in Houston's next turn at the plate on Loretta's two-run double, and in the fifth Loretta doubled and Lee was given a free pass with one out -- ending Reyes' night for Manny Acosta.
However, Loretta was thrown out at the plate trying to score on a wild pitch that sailed off the backstop and all the way to Teixeira at first. Tejada then lined out to keep the visitors off the board.
McCann led off the home half with a solo shot just over the wall in right- center but the Braves were unable to muster anything else off Sampson.
Tim Byrdak held Atlanta at bay in the sixth and seventh, giving way to Doug Brocail for a scoreless eighth.
Houston picked up two more runs off Jeff Bennett in the ninth. Pinch-hitter David Newhan worked a one-out walk, then Darin Erstad singled with two down. Ty Wigginton was almost drilled on the fourth ball of his walk which loaded the bases, and Loretta doubled to left to score a pair.
Jose Valverde closed out the game by sending down the home team in order.
"We're not looking at that," Loretta said when asked if his club is concentrating on reaching the .500 mark. "It would be nice. We're taking it a game at a time. If we play well in the next week or so we might get there, but it's not a magic number right now."
Game Notes
Sampson's last start was an eventual 15-6 loss to the Phillies -- after 13 straight relief appearances... It was also his first career win against Atlanta...No Braves runner reached scoring position in the contest...Each club has won four of the last eight meetings.
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Wimbledon men's final under way >>
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Brandon Roy Favorite to Win 2007 NBA Rookie of the Year
Portland TrailBlazer’s guard, Brandon Roy, is MySportsbook.com’s overwhelming favorite to win the NBA Rookie of the Year odds.
Despite missing 20 games due to an injury earlier this season, Roy has definitely put up the best numbers of his 1st year peers. In 32 games, Roy is averaging 15.3 PPG, 4.2 boards and 3.5 assists in over 33 minutes of play per game. While most rookies breakdown as the season progresses (see Morrison), Roy is only getting stronger as his playing time and scoring average has increased each month.
With 30 or so games left in the regular season, Roy isn’t a lock for the award by any means. Other rookies are putting together some pretty impressive campaigns and a few could give Roy a run for the award with increased playing time. Heading the list is first pick, Andrea Bargnani of the Toronto Raptors. Even though he has started only two games all season, Bargnani is averaging 10.3 PPPG while shooting 35% from deep.
Randy Foye of the Minnesota Timberwolves could be set to give Roy the best competition NBA Rookie of the Year betting lines. With the benching of Mike James, Foye looks like he could be the starter in the T-Wolves backcourt for the rest of the season. So far, Foye has averaged 9 PPG and 2.4 assists in just under 21 minutes per game. With his new role of starter, Foye’s numbers will definitely increase. In his first game as the new starting guard this past Sunday, Foye had 10 points; five rebounds and 8 assists. More importantly, he logged 34 minutes of playing time; his third highest run of the season.
Adam Morrison, of the Charlotte Bobcats, was the favorite early on in the season after averaging 15+ PPG through the first month of the season. Ever since his torrid start, Morrison’s point production has declined each month. This really isn’t surprising, considering at 6’8” he only weighs 205 lbs. Obviously he will need to hit the weights big time during the off-season in order to keep from breaking down in the future.
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