Hoffpauir's first career hit, Pujols' slam lifts Cards over Reds

Baseball Betting Lines

07/03/2009 - Cincinnati, OH (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Jarrett Hoffpauir came through in a big way in his major league debut, hitting the go-ahead two-run single in the ninth inning, lifting St. Louis to a 7-4 win over Cincinnati, in the opener of a three-game series.

Albert Pujols continued his incredible season, belting his club record fourth grand slam of the season in the eighth inning and knocking in five runs over the final two frames, as the Cardinals began a 10-game road trip with their third straight win. Fresh off being named NL Player of the Month, Pujols upped his major league-leading totals to 31 homers and 82 RBI.

Jerry Hairston Jr. had three hits and an RBI for the Reds, who had won four of five coming into the weekend.

Reds starter Homer Bailey had a spectacular outing, yielding three hits and two runs over 7 1/3 innings, while St. Louis' Joel Pineiro allowed eight hits and three runs -- two earned -- in seven frames.

Nick Masset was on the mound for the top of the ninth, but left after taking a ball of his arm. Danny Herrera (1-4) then relieved Masset and retired Joe Thurston on a pop-up, but Colby Rasmus and Brendan Ryan singled and Skip Schumaker was safe on an error by shortstop Paul Janish, a ball that he couldn't handle on a short hop.

Then, in his first official big league at-bat, Hoffpauir smacked a soft liner to left field. Hoffpauir, a sixth-round draft pick by the Cardinals in 2004, was called up Wednesday from Triple-A Memphis and became the 15th rookie to appear with St. Louis this year.

Pujols then greeted reliever Carlos Fisher with an RBI double down the left- field line.

It was a tenuous bottom of the ninth, but Ryan Franklin was able to pick up his 20th save of the year. Edwin Encarnacion doubled with one out, and Willy Taveras walked with two down, putting runners at the corners. Joey Votto walked before Brandon Phillips struck out to end the game.

The win also moved the Cardinals into sole possession of first place in the National League Central Division, one game ahead of Milwaukee.

Chris Dickerson doubled leading off the bottom of the first. Taveras bunted for a hit and Dickerson scored on a throwing error from third baseman Thurston.

After Schumaker singled and Chris Duncan walked to start the game, Bailey retired 13 consecutive hitters hitting pegging Thurston with a pitch in the fifth.

There was also a scare for Hairston, who slid into a slab of cement at the bottom of the padded fence trying to chase a foul ball near the dugout in the third inning. Hairston then robbed Pujols of a hit with a diving grab in the fourth.

Cincinnati expanded the margin to 3-0 in the sixth. Phillips doubled in Taveras and scored on a Hairston base hit to center.

The Cardinals finally pushed ahead in the eighth after getting Bailey out of the game. Rasmus led off with a single and Schumaker walked with one out. Arthur Rhodes came in from the bullpen and threw four consecutive balls to pinch-hitter Hoffpauir.

David Weathers came in to face Pujols, who creamed a 2-2 pitch over the wall on a line drive to left-center field. The hit came just after a foul ball went out of the reach of Votto.

It was the 350th homer of his career and 10th career grand slam. He's also now 10-for-19 with three homers and nine RBI lifetime against Weathers.

Before this game, the Reds bullpen hadn't allowed a run since last Friday and a homer since June 20, a stretch of 31 2/3 innings.

Votto and Phillips singled off Josh Kinney to start the bottom of the eighth. Dennys Reyes entered to face Jay Bruce, who put down his first career sacrifice bunt, and Ramon Hernandez tied the game with a sacrifice fly to center off reliever Jason Motte (3-2). Phillips made it to third on the play, but was left stranded when Hairston struck out.

Game Notes

Encarnacion was activated from the 60-day disabled list. He had been on the DL since late April due to a chip fracture in his left wrist. The Reds opened a roster spot for Encarnacion by placing infielder Danny Richar on the 15-day DL with a torn labrum in his left shoulder...This was Bailey's longest outing of his career...It was Pineiro's first no-decision of the season.

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Will Ohio State continue to run the table in College Football betting odds?
MySportsbook.com favors Buckeyes, Fighting Irish and Golden Bears in this weekend's big games.

NEW YORK, NY, Sept. 21 - My Sportsbook NCAA football fans: things are beginning to get really interesting on college football's national stage. Following last weekend's "Separation Saturday", which included five teams ranked in the top 15 dropping games, the BCS Championship picture is beginning to take shape - with Ohio State leading the charge. And, according to odds makers at MySportsbook.com, the number-one-ranked Buckeyes will continue their winning ways this weekend.

Revenge will be the name of the game in Columbus this Saturday, as Ohio State looks to even the score following last season's loss to Joe Paterno's Nittany Lions. Although Penn State are listed as 16.5 point underdogs, they are 11-10 all-time versus the Buckeyes. Paterno and the Lions, however, will have to shut down Heisman Trophy favorite Troy Smith who has thrown for 769 yards and seven touchdowns this season.

Speaking of revenge, Notre Dame will be out for some against Michigan State, following last year's 44 - 41 overtime loss to the Spartans in South Bend. The thirteenth-ranked Irish, listed as a 3-point favorite, will also be looking to avenge last Saturday's thrashing from the Michigan Wolverines. The Spartans, meanwhile, have won seven of the last nine match-ups against Notre Dame and are coming off an impressive 38-23 victory over Pittsburgh.

Out west, 22nd-ranked Arizona State will be battling for their first victory over 21st-ranked California since 2000. Although the Golden Bears are listed as 7.5-point favorites, the Sun Devils are 3-0, lead the nation in sacks with 18 and possess the Pac-10's leading passer in sophomore quarterback Rudy Carpenter.

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NCAA Football betting lines (home team in CAPS)
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Date Favorite Opponent Point Spread
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Sept 21 GEORGIA TECH Virginia 17
Sept 22 NEVADA Northwestern 6.5
Sept 23 MICHIGAN Wisconsin 14
Sept 23 Minnesota PURDUE 3
Sept 23 SYRACUSE Miami (Ohio) 6.5
Sept 23 MISSOURI Ohio 21.5
Sept 23 Louisville KANSAS STATE 14
Sept 23 TENNESSEE Marshall 22
Sept 23 CLEMSON North Carolina 16.5
Sept 23 FLORIDA Kentucky 24
Sept 23 Iowa ILLINOIS 20.5
Sept 23 FLORIDA STATE Rice 30.5
Sept 23 AUBURN Buffalo 41.5
Sept 23 BOWLING GREEN Kent 7
Sept 23 NAVY Tulsa 4.5
Sept 23 VIRGINIA TECH Cincinnati 27
Sept 23 BYU Utah State 29
Sept 23 OHIO STATE Penn State 16.5
Sept 23 TEXAS Iowa State 25
Sept 23 Washington State STANFORD 10
Sept 23 CALIFORNIA Arizona State 7.5
Sept 23 UCLA WASHINGTON 3
Sept 23 INDIANA Connecticut 1.5
Sept 23 Central Michigan EASTERN MICHIGAN 4
Sept 23 WYOMING Air Force 1
Sept 23 UTEP NEW MEXICO 9.5
Sept 23 West Virginia EAST CAROLINA 21
Sept 23 Boston College NORTH CAROLINA STATE 7
Sept 23 GEORGIA Colorado 27
Sept 23 ARKANSAS Alabama 1.5
Sept 23 BAYLOR Army 11
Sept 23 WESTERN MICHIGAN Temple 28
Sept 23 MISSISSIPPI Wake Forest 2.5
Sept 23 KANSAS South Florida 5.5
Sept 23 TEXAS A&amp;M Louisiana Tech 23.5
Sept 23 UAB Mississippi State 9.5
Sept 23 LSU Tulane 36
Sept 23 Utah SAN DIEGO STATE 6.5
Sept 23 BOISE STATE Hawaii 15
Sept 23 Notre Dame MICHIGAN STATE 3
Sept 23 USC ARIZONA U 22
Sept 23 Oklahoma State HOUSTON 1
Sept 23 OREGON STATE Idaho 23
Sept 23 OKLAHOMA Middle Tennessee State 29
Sept 23 MARYLAND Florida International 18.5
Sept 23 AKRON North Texas 17.5
Sept 23 SOUTH CAROLINA Florida Atlantic 29.5
Sept 23 NEBRASKA Troy 23
Sept 23 SMU Arkansas State 6

For complete NCAA football odds and World Series odds please visit MySportsbook.com