A's hope to slow down LaPorta in opener with Tribe

Baseball Betting Lines

07/02/2010 - (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - A big reason for Cleveland's resurgence has been the hot bat of Matt LaPorta, who has homered in three straight games and will try to make it four tonight in the opener of a three-game series versus the Oakland Athletics at Progressive Field.

Since returning to the big league club after a few weeks with Triple-A Columbus, LaPorta is batting .294 with three homers and five runs batted in over the past five contests. He helped the Indians extend their season-high winning streak to five games and complete a four-game sweep of Toronto with a three-run homer in Thursday's 6-1 victory.

"He's hitting the ball out at the front of the plate," Tribe manager Manny Acta said. "He's attacking it... It helps that he went down [to Columbus for a month] and had some success. Success builds confidence."

Shelley Duncan followed LaPorta's homer in the six-run fourth inning with a solo shot of his own, while Trevor Crowe finished with three hits and an RBI for the Indians, who have rebounded nicely since a seven-game slide. Justin Masterson allowed one run and eight hits in 8 1/3 innings and Frank Herrmann got the final two outs for his first save.

Cleveland is still last in the AL Central and will send Mitch Talbot to the hill Friday evening. The righty had lost two straight starts and was winless in three trips to the mound before beating Cincinnati on the road Sunday with seven innings of one-run ball.

Talbot, who improved to 8-6 in 15 starts to go along with a 3.88 ERA, is 3-3 in seven home starts this season and has never faced the A's in his career.

Oakland has won five of six games and is coming off Thursday's 8-1 victory over the Baltimore Orioles in the finale of a three-game series at Camden Yards. Ryan Sweeney and Cliff Pennington each had four hits and two RBI for the A's, who got two doubles, two RBI and two runs scored out of Jack Cust.

Trevor Cahill won his seventh straight decision by holding the Orioles to one run and four hits over seven innings. He has not lost since May 16, a run of nine starts.

"I made pitches when I had to (and) when guys got on base I was able to keep my sinker down and get out of it. The team helped me out a lot defensively and offensively," Cahill said.

Gio Gonzalez can use some offense when he handles pitching duties Friday for the Athletics. Gonzalez is 1-2 with a 4.10 earned run average in his last seven starts and has posted back-to-back no-decisions, including one in Sunday's 3-2 win versus Pittsburgh.

Gonzalez lasted six innings against the Pirates and held them to a run and four hits. In the start before that on June 21 against Cincinnati, Gonzalez allowed only an unearned run through seven frames. Overall, he is 6-5 with a 3.74 ERA in 16 starts and beat Cleveland this season back on April 25. The left-hander tossed seven scoreless innings in the 11-0 rout, improving to 2-0 with a 1.62 ERA in three career starts against the Indians.

Oakland won two of three matchups versus the Tribe from April 23-25 this season at the Coliseum and is 7-1 in the past eight meetings between the teams. The Indians have won six of seven as the host in this series.

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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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