Hits Detroit Salvage Smash From Victory

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Oakland, CA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Gio Gonzalez threw seven strong innings and Conor Jackson and Scott Sizemore each had two-run home runs as Oakland hammered Arizona, 7-2, in the rubber match of a three-game interleague set. Gonzalez (8-5) allowed one run on five hits and three walks while fanning seven on the day he found out he would be making his first All-Star appearance. He also tossed a career-high 119 pitches as the Athletics improved to 3-3 on a nine-game homestand.

 

Denver, CO (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Kansas City Royals put on an impressive offensive display Sunday at Coors Field, pounding out 21 hits and beating the Rockies 16-8 in the finale of a three-game interleague series. Melky Cabrera led the attack, going 4-for-5 with two home runs and five RBI while Eric Hosmer went 4-for-6 with a three-run homer and four RBI.

 

Jeff Francoeur added three hits and three RBI for the Royals, who snapped their five-game losing streak.

 

Jason Hammel (4-8) was shelled in 3 2/3 innings, giving up six runs -- five earned -- on seven hits while fanning a pair and walking one.

 

Detroit chose to promote from within, naming former bullpen coach Jeff Jones as Knapp's replacement.

 

Mike Rojas will fill Jones' vacated position. He has served as Detroit's director of player development since August 6, 2010.

 

Flushing, NY (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The New York Mets announced that shortstop Jose Reyes is day-to-day with a mild hamstring strain. Reyes left Saturday's 5-2 setback to the New York Yankees with tightness in his left hamstring. An MRI taken earlier Sunday in Manhattan revealed a Grade 1 strain, which is the mildest kind.

 

Anaheim, CA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Los Angeles Dodgers reinstated shortstop Rafael Furcal from the disabled list Sunday, while third baseman Casey Blake landed on the DL with a cervical strain. Furcal has missed the last month because of a strained left oblique, but started Sunday's game against the Angels, batting second. He was hitting .212 prior to the injury.

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Mayweather picked to beat De La Hoya
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA -- Golden Boy Oscar De La Hoya and his rival Floyd Mayweather Jr. arrived at the MGM Grand here Wednesday amid the pomp and pandemonium befitting two of the biggest stars in the sport who are about to duke it out for the WBC super welterweight crown this Saturday (Sunday in Manila).

As of Wednesday, MySportsbook.com closed its book with Mayweather a favorite to defeat De La Hoya at -170 (a $100 bet wins $70), while De La Hoya is a +140 underdog (a $100 bet wins $140).

Mayweather arrived at about 11:30 a.m. on a big truck with his face and a big "World's Best Pound-for-Pound" sign scribbled across the vehicle. He was accompanied by his entourage made up of rappers and his training team.

A crowd of close to 3,000 eager fans packed the MGM Grand lobby, with their cameras in tow, all trying to vie for position to get a good angle at Mayweather, who is acknowledged as the world's best fighter pound-for-pound.

Eric Gomez, Golden Boy Promotions vice-president, described the fan turnout as "amazing" and swore he had never seen anything quite like this event.

"The crowd was fantastic. Everybody was just too eager to see the two fighters," said ALA manager Michael Aldeguer, who was among those who waited at the lobby together with his ward Rey "Boom Boom" Bautista and AJ Banal.

De La Hoya made his own grand entrance at the hotel lobby at around 12:30 p.m. accompanied by GBP chief executive officer Richard Schaefer and trainer Freddie Roach.

The same group of fans who trooped to see Mayweather also lingered around to get a close look at De La Hoya, who has been secretly working out at a Las Vegas gym for days after arriving from his main training camp in Puerto Rico.

The golden boy then took part in a closed-door afternoon workout with Bautista and Banal. The two, along with Aldeguer and wife Christine, as well as an HBO crew were the only ones allowed inside the gym.

De La Hoya and Mayweather take part in today's final press conference before the official weigh-in this Friday.

Ring Magazine, the acknowledged bible of boxing, reported in its June 2007 issue that 12 out of 20 boxing experts it interviewed have favored Mayweather to defeat De la Hoya, with only 8 favoring the latter.

But Filipino ring icon Manny Pacquiao said in a recent interview with The Freeman's Emmanuel Villaruel that De La Hoya will win by unanimous decision over Mayweather.

To visit this online sportsbook got to MySportsbook.com for all your bet on boxing needs.

El Duque expected to throw Tuesday

PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. -- New York Mets pitcher Orlando Hernandez, sidelined at spring training because of arthritis in his neck, is expected to resume throwing on Tuesday.

Hernandez received a cortisone shot Thursday after leaving camp and returning to New York to have his neck examined. The 41-year-old right-hander is penciled in as the team's No. 2 starter behind Tom Glavine.

El Duque's health is a major issue for the Mets, who won the NL East in 2007 and came within one victory of the World Series. Their aging and unsettled rotation is a big question mark this year.

MySportsbook.com has the Mets as -110 favorites to repeat as NL East champions odds. 

Hernandez went 11-11 with a 4.66 ERA last season, including 9-7 with a 4.09 ERA in 20 starts after the Mets acquired him from Arizona in late May. But he missed the playoffs because of a torn calf muscle.

New York already is without Pedro Martinez, out until at least midseason following rotator cuff surgery. Among those competing for starting jobs are prospects Mike Pelfrey, Philip Humber and Jason Vargas, plus veterans Chan Ho Park, Jorge Sosa and Aaron Sele.

Notes: Mets manager Willie Randolph is excited about two new utility players he could have on his bench: Damion Easley and David Newhan. ''Their value is really all over the place,'' Randolph said. Easley can play anywhere in the infield and could be used as an emergency outfielder, though Randolph said he would prefer to keep the veteran in the infield. Newhan, meanwhile, can play second base, third or any outfield position for the Mets. ''I love versatility,'' Randolph said. ''I love guys that can give me options when I need them to step in.''

Additional baseball lines and World Series odds can be found at: www.MySportsbook.com

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