Phils try to avoid home sweep against Astros

Baseball Betting Lines

08/26/2010 - (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Philadelphia's Citizens Bank Park has been a house of horrors for visiting clubs in recent weeks, but the Houston Astros certainly haven't seemed to be intimidated.

The Astros will attempt to produce their first four-game road sweep of the Phillies in nearly 11 years when they take the field against the two-time reigning National League champions this afternoon.

Houston has been out of the playoff race for quite some time, but the team is doing its best to spoil the Phillies' postseason hopes by coming through with narrow victories in each of the first three tests of this set. After outlasting Philadelphia in a 16-inning thriller on Tuesday, the Astros prevailed by a 3-2 count last night behind the contributions of a former Phillie.

J.A. Happ, traded by Philadelphia to Houston as part of the July 27 deal that sent standout pitcher Roy Oswalt to the Phils, burned his ex-team and outdueled All-Star Roy Halladay by delivering 6 1/3 strong innings. The left- hander yielded two runs and five hits to improve to 3-2 since coming over to the Astros.

"I'm a little relieved it's over," Happ told the Astros' official site of his start. "There were definitely some nerves going out there and I didn't know how I was going to feel. Once you get out there and get going, it's just another game ... kind of."

Houston had gone in front with a run off Halladay in the top of the seventh, when Chris Johnson doubled with one out and later scored on a Humberto Quintero single to snap a 2-2 tie.

The Astros bullpen combined for 2 2/3 scoreless innings to make the one-run lead stand, with Brandon Lyon working the final two frames to register his ninth save of the year.

Hunter Pence and Michael Bourn -- another one-time Phillie -- each had solo homers earlier in the night off Halladay (16-9), who was reached for three runs in seven innings and had a six-start winning streak snapped.

Prior to this set, Philadelphia had won 19 of its last 23 games at Citizens Bank Park and hadn't dropped a series at home since losing two of three tilts to NL East-leading Atlanta from July 5-7. The Phillies were last swept in their own building from August 7-9, 2009, when the club suffered three straight defeats to Florida.

Houston's last four-game sweep in Philadelphia took place at Veterans Stadium from September 6-9, 1999.

Philadelphia was able to remain 2 1/2 games behind the Braves in the East standings after Atlanta lost to Colorado yesterday afternoon, and is currently tied with San Francisco for the top spot in the NL Wild Card race.

The Phillies will pin their hopes this afternoon on Kyle Kendrick, a pitcher who's struggled mightily in each of his last two trips to the Citizens Bank Park mound. The inconsistent righty was tagged for five runs in 5 1/3 innings of a home loss to Washington last Saturday, two starts after surrendering six runs (five earned) and eight hits in a forgettable 3 1/3-inning stint against the Los Angeles Dodgers on August 10.

In 12 home assignments thus far in 2010, Kendrick is just 3-4 with a 5.46 earned run average and has served up 11 homers in 64 1/3 innings.

The Houston-born hurler, who celebrates his 26th birthday today, did toss three scoreless innings to beat the Astros in Philadelphia last September and is 1-1 with a 4.20 ERA over three games (two starts) against this afternoon's foe.

Wandy Rodriguez takes the ball for Houston today seeking to end a four-start winless stretch, although the left-hander has pitched rather well over the course of his drought.

After allowing just five runs -- three earned -- over a span of 20 1/3 innings in three straight no-decisions to begin the month of August, Rodriguez struck out 10 Florida hitters in six frames this past Saturday in Miami. He still wound up with a tough loss after being touched for three runs, one of which was unearned.

The 31-year-old had gone 6-1 over a seven-start sequence from June 24-July 31 prior to his winless run, but owns only a 9-12 record in 25 appearances this season. On the road, he's just 3-7 with a 5.30 ERA in 12 starts.

Rodriguez has faced the Phillies four times previously, twice as a starter, and is 1-1 with a 3.95 ERA lifetime against Philadelphia.

Houston was swept by the Phillies in a three-game set at Minute Maid Park back in April, but has won 11 of the past 18 meetings between these teams.

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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

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Last two contestants will be?

1 Male/1 Female +100 (a $10 bet pays $10 plus your initial $10)

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