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06/05/2008 - Washington, DC (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Todd Wellemeyer tossed six shutout innings, and Albert Pujols hit the first pinch-hit home run of his career as the St. Louis Cardinals topped the Washington Nationals, 4-1 in the opener of a day/night doubleheader at Nationals Park.
Wellemeyer (7-1) scattered five hits and racked up five strikeouts while issuing just one walk to lead the Cardinals to their second straight win and their third in four games. Troy Glaus belted a two-run homer for St. Louis, and Joe Mather added an RBI double.
"(Wellemeyer is) a complete pitcher, throws fastballs on both sides of the plate, up and down," said Cardinals manager Tony LaRussa. "He has four pitches, a nice breaking ball he throws for strikes, and an excellent off- speed pitch. He's very strong and always tough to run on."
Felipe Lopez knocked in the lone run for the Nationals, who saw their losing streak extended to four games. John Lannan (4-6) dropped the decision after allowing two runs on four hits in six innings, walking four while not recording a strikeout. Joel Hanrahan was tagged for two runs on three hits in two innings of relief.
"I had to battle," Lannan said. "I really didn't have my fastball command. It was hot. I was little thrown off with the rain delay last night."
The Cardinals got to Lannan in the top of the fourth, taking a 2-0 lead on Glaus' fifth homer of the year. Ryan Ludwick started the inning with a single to center, and Glaus hammered a 3-2 fastball over the wall in left-center.
Hanrahan replaced Lannan to start the seventh, but was greeted with a pinch- hit appearance by Pujols, who promptly crushed a 1-1 fastball for his 15th homer of the year. One out later, Brendan Ryan worked a walk, then stole second. After Brian Barton struck out, Mather ripped an RBI double to the corner in left for a 4-0 edge.
After Ron Villone and Russ Springer kept the Nats off the board in the seventh, Chris Perez ran into trouble in the eighth, as walks to Kory Casto and pinch-hitter Rob Mackowiak put two men on with two outs. Lefty Randy Flores came out of the bullpen, but couldn't preserve the shutout, as Lopez rapped a single to left that plated Castro. Flores, though, got Ryan Langerhans to ground out to end the inning.
"We couldn't get anything going with two outs, especially with runners in scoring position," said Nats manager Manny Acta. "I hope they don't give up on themselves because I haven't given up on them, and I'm not going to. They have to keep fighting and keep plugging away."
Ryan Franklin worked a perfect ninth, needing just nine pitches to lock up his seventh save.
Game Notes
The Nats were 1-for-7 with runners in scoring position and stranded 11 men on base...Cristian Guzman went 2-for-5 for Washington, while Yadier Molina went 2-for-4 for St. Louis...The Cardinals send Mike Parisi (0-2) to the hill in the nightcap against Tim Redding (6-3).
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BILLS (+10) at Steelers SPORTSBOOK LINES
It's impossible to gauge how a team will react after something like the Steve Everett situation, and it probably doesn't matter. That being said, the Bills are going to lose several games this year where they keep things close but fall short in the end to superior teams. Ben Roethlisberger and company could have a field day against Buffalo's decimated defense, but I like the Bills to cover.
BENGALS (-7) at Browns SPORTSBOOK LINES
All you can ask out of your NFL team is that it has a plan. You may not always agree with it as a fan, but as long as it appears the organization is going in some sort of direction, you have to go with it. Which brings us to the Cleveland Browns. You flip a coin to determine whether Chuck Frye or Derek Anderson should start the preseason opener. You start Frye in Week 1, but pull him in the first half. And then you deal him to the Seahawks for a sixth-round pick? Hmm... the Bengals could get six turnovers again this week.
COLTS (-7) at Titans SPORTSBOOK LINES
Tennessee signed ex-Colts cornerback Nick Harper in the offseason so that should help slow down Peyton Manning. Just ask Jason David and the Saints. Oh wait... One of these weeks, I'm going to learn to not pick against Tennessee, which has won seven of its last eight games. But it's not happening against Indy.
TEXANS (+6.5) at Panthers SPORTSBOOK LINES
Houston's Mario Williams, the first pick in the '06 draft, has more touchdowns than Reggie Bush after one week. Somehow I don't see that lasting. Meanwhile, Carolina bottled up what was expected to be a pretty high-octane offense in St. Louis in Week 1. Could this be the Panthers' defense everyone expected last year? Maybe. This feels like a 20-16 Carolina win.
RAMS (-3) vs. 49ers SPORTSBOOKS LINES
Absolutely love this game. Everyone's favorite pick for this year's surprise team -- the 49ers -- laid an egg on Monday night (not that anyone was watching with the game ending in the middle of the night for those of us on the East Coast). St. Louis wasn't much better, delivering a lackluster effort against the Panthers that included two Steven Jackson fumbles and panic from his fantasy owners. Jackson rebounds this week, and the Rams get their first win.
PACKERS (+1.5) at Giants SPORTSBOOKS LINES
Do you really trust this guy to win an NFL game if Eli Manning can't go? I say no. I'd feel alot better about this Packers team if it had any semblance of a running game, but I still think Green Bay's defense is good enough to give it a 2-0 start.
JAGUARS (-10) vs. Falcons SPORTSBOOKS LINES
Does it scare me to pick Jacksonville to cover a double-digit spread after it scored just 10 points last week against the Titans? Absolutely. But can I bring myself to pick Atlanta under any circumstances? No. Check out this poll on ajc.com. It asks what Atlanta's most urgent deficiency is: offense, defense, specials teams or all of the above. "All of the above" has 57 percent of the votes. Ouch.
SAINTS (-3) at Buccaneers SPORTSBOOKS LINES
I'm picking way too many road teams this week. Oh well. New Orleans has had some time to reflect on its lackluster showing in the opener, and the Buccanneers just aren't a very good football team. Anyone else surprised Tampa Bay hasn't made a move to sign Byron Leftwich? I thought that's what they do.
VIKINGS (+3) at Lions SPORTS BETTING LINES
Run the ball and stop the run. Minnesota can do both, and that will keep them in a lot of games this season. Even though it was only one week, Adrian Peterson looks like he was a steal at No. 7 in last year's draft. Not only will he produce, but Peterson delivers excitement to what otherwise would be one of the league's most boring teams.
DOLPHINS (+3.5) vs. Cowboys SPORTS BETTING LINES
Lost in the Tony Romo lovefest is just how bad the Cowboys' defense was last week. I know they're banged up, but Dallas' 'D' allowed 438 yards to the Giants' offense, and backup running back Derrick Ward averaged 6.8 yards per carry. Meanwhile, Cam Cameron's decision to split carries between Ronnie Brown and Jesse Chatman sounds about as can't-miss as Larry David's plan to show up to Marty Funkhouser's party a night late. Still, gotta go with Miami to cover at home.
SEAHAWKS (-2.5) at Cardinals SPORTS BETTING LINES
I'm probably missing something, but this game seems too easy. Arizona blew Monday night's game against the 49ers in typical Cardinals fashion, and the Seahawks beat Tampa Bay by two touchdowns. Love Seattle in this one.
BRONCOS (-9.5) vs. Raiders SPORTS BETTING LINES
Special teams was a major story line in Week 1. Take a look at the Broncos. They had to rush on to the field to get a Jason Elam field goal as time expired against the Bills. Denver drove into Buffalo territory on eight of 10 drives but came away with just a pair of field goals and a touchdown. Look for more scoring from the Broncos this week against an Oakland defense that gave up 36 points to Detroit in Week 1.
BEARS (-12) vs. Chiefs SPORTS BETTING LINES
Everyone talks about Rex Grossman when dissecting the Bears' offense, but Chicago's quarterback got no help in last week's loss to the Chargers. Meanwhile, Kansas City confirmed what we all thought while watching Hard Knocks: The Chiefs are going to stink this year. It could be a rough first month for Larry Johnson fantasy owners. Kansas City's RB was limited to 43 yards on 10 carries in Week 1, and the Chiefs face the Bears, Vikings and Chargers the next three weeks, all formidable run defenses.
RAVENS (-10) vs. Jets SPORTS BETTING LINES
A big dose of Willis McGahee and a usual sound defensive effort will give the Ravens their first win. According to Football Outsiders, no team in the NFL rushed only three defenders on pass plays last year more than the Jets. And according to my special Jets correspondent Ben Stauber, New York did the same in Week 1. Whoever starts at quarterback for the Ravens should have all day to throw.
PATRIOTS (-3) vs. Chargers
Friends and I were discussing how Bill Belichick goes about paying his $500,000 fine for cheating. Does he just write one check to the NFL? Do you need some sort of clearance to make such a monstrous financial transaction? I guess I shouldn't complain about the security deposit I have to put down on my new apartment. Anyway, two of the league's best teams square off in what should be a good one Sunday night. The Patriots always respond well just when you think they're in trouble. And their offensive attack was the story in Week 1.
Note: Monday night game will be picked Monday. Lines used are from football betting.
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