Twins, Rangers continue high-stakes series of division leaders

Baseball Betting Lines

09/04/2010 - (Sportsbook Betting Lines) -- Target Field has been able to provide the Minnesota Twins with a distinct advantage in its first year of existence, something the current American League Central leaders would like to have during the first round of the playoffs.

Competing with West front-runner Texas for a probable home-field edge for the AL Division Series, Minnesota will try to further its lead on the Rangers in the standings when the two teams continue an important three-game series this afternoon in Minneapolis.

With both the No. 1 seed and the Wild Card likely to come out of the AL East, the Twins and Rangers are in essence battling to see who will host the Wild Card recipient in Game 1 of next month's ALDS if both clubs manage to hold onto first place in their respective divisions. Minnesota now owns a 2 1/2- game cushion on Texas for that spot after last night's 4-3 victory, the 14th for Ron Gardenhire's squad in its last 17 home tilts.

Down 3-2 entering the bottom of the seventh inning, the Twins tied the contest on J.J. Hardy's one-out single before Denard Span greeted Texas reliever Matt Harrison with a base hit that plated Jason Repko with the go-ahead run.

Matt Capps protected the one-run lead by working out of an eighth-inning jam and tossing a scoreless ninth to record his eighth save since coming over in a late-July trade from Washington. The Minnesota closer came on to strike out Nelson Cruz with runners at the corners and one out in the top of the eighth, then retired Ian Kinsler on a fielder's choice to end the threat.

Capps got some help from his defense in the ninth, as Repko threw out Alex Cora trying to take third on a Julio Borbon single for the second out of the inning.

Alex Burnett (2-2) claimed the win with 1 1/3 scoreless innings in relief of emergency starter Matt Fox, who held Texas to two runs and four hits over the first 5 2/3 frames in a solid major league debut. Both pitchers were called up from Triple-A Rochester prior to the game.

"Just to be able to help the team out and give them a chance to win was my goal coming in, and I was able to do that," said Fox. "So it was a lot of fun."

Texas starter Derek Holland (2-3) received the loss after being charged with four runs in 6 1/3 innings of work. The Rangers had given the young lefty a 3-2 lead when Kinsler singled to lead off the seventh, moved to second on a wild pitch, and later scored on Julio Borbon's sacrifice bunt.

Minnesota is now an outstanding 43-23 at home this season and holds a four- game margin on second-place Chicago for the Central's top spot. The White Sox' game at Boston scheduled for Friday was postponed due to inclement weather.

The Twins will send out their top winner today in hopes of reeling in another victory. Carl Pavano comes into this afternoon's test with 15 victories on the season, his highest total since 2004, although the oft-injured veteran has taken a loss in each of his past three mound trips.

One of those defeats took place against the Rangers on August 24, a 4-3 setback in Arlington in which Pavano threw an eight-inning complete game. He followed up by limiting Seattle to two runs and just five hits over seven frames this past Sunday, but wound up on the wrong side of a 2-1 verdict to the Mariners.

Pavano did best the Rangers at Target Field back in May by delivering seven innings of two-run ball and is 7-4 with a 3.95 ERA in 12 starts at his home park this year. The right-hander is just 1-3 with a suspect 7.62 ERA over five career matchups with Texas, however.

Colby Lewis opposed Pavano in that August 24 clash and will do so again for the Rangers today. The well-traveled right-hander got a no-decision that night after allowing three runs on seven hits in 6 1/3 innings.

Lewis has endured some hard times during the second half of this season, though, having lost six consecutive decisions over an eight-start span after compiling a 9-5 record over the first 3 1/2 months. His last win occurred on July 16 at Boston, and the Rangers have scored two runs or fewer in all but one of those eight outings during his winless stretch.

The 31-year-old was his own worst enemy in Sunday's start against Oakland, however, as Lewis surrendered a season-high seven runs (five earned) on eight hits -- two of which were homers -- over 5 2/3 innings of an 8-2 home loss to the Athletics.

Lewis is 0-2 with a 4.35 ERA over seven career appearances (three starts) against Minnesota and was the losing pitcher in a May 28 test at Target Field, even though he did give up only two runs and five hits in six innings.

He'll be hoping to have teammate Josh Hamilton in the lineup this afternoon. The All-Star outfielder and current AL batting leader (.362) left Friday's opener in the eighth inning with back stiffness, but is expected to be okay to start today.

The Rangers did take three of four games from the Twins in a series held in Arlington last month, but Minnesota has won all four meetings between the teams held in Minneapolis this season.

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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)

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