Gordon long ball in ninth leads Royals over Orioles

Baseball Betting Lines

07/30/2010 - Kansas City, MO (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Alex Gordon hit a game-winning three-run homer with two outs in the ninth, and the Kansas City Royals put together a fierce rally to stun the Baltimore Orioles, 7-5, in the second of four games at Kauffman Stadium.

Alfredo Simon (2-2) came on to protect Baltimore's one-run lead in the ninth, but couldn't convert the save opportunity.

The first two Kansas City batters were quickly retired, but Rick Ankiel kept the game alive with a walk. Wilson Betemit followed with a single through the infield's right side to put runners on the corners, and Gordon ended the game by belting a Simon offering well over the wall in right field.

The homer made a winner of Blake Wood (1-2), who pitched a scoreless inning of relief.

It was Gordon's first career game-ending home run. The once highly touted third baseman was playing in just his seventh game since being recalled earlier this month. He was converted to an outfielder in the minor leagues and hit just his second home run of the season in 19 games.

Betemit finished with three hits and two RBI, while Ankiel reached base three times, drove in a run and scored twice, as the Royals snapped a five-game losing streak.

Ty Wigginton had three hits and drove in two for the Orioles, who have lost six of seven. Nick Markakis added two hits and three runs scored in defeat.

The Royals grabbed the early lead, scoring three runs in the first with two away.

With runners on second and third following a Jose Guillen fly out, Ankiel plated one with a double, and Betemit brought in two more with a base hit to right.

The Orioles managed to tie the game with single runs in three separate innings.

Felix Pie's sacrifice fly in the second got Baltimore on the board, and Markakis singled with two down in the third and scored on Wigginton's double for a one-run game.

In the sixth, Markakis led off with a walk, moved to third on Wigginton's single and scored on Luke Scott's sacrifice fly for a 3-3 score.

Yuniesky Betancourt led off the home half of the inning against Jason Berken and singled to right. Mitch Maier stepped up and doubled in the runner for a 4-3 KC lead, although the hosts couldn't push Maier across to increase the advantage.

The Orioles went ahead with two runs in the eighth.

With Kyle Farnsworth on the mound, Markakis led off with a single and quickly came around to score on Wigginton's double. Luke Scott followed with another base hit to send Wigginton to third, and Wigginton scored on the next play when Betemit committed a fielding error.

Game Notes

Home plate umpire and crew chief Wally Bell exited the game in the sixth inning with heat exhaustion and dehydration. He was replaced behind the plate by second base umpire Todd Tichenor...The Orioles went 1- for-10 with runners in scoring position and are 2-for-35 in such situations in the last five games...The season series is tied, 2-2.

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Pacific-10 Conference odds

Teams that should be in: Stanford

Oregon and USC get their tickets punched after taking care of business this weekend. Yes, the Trojans' computer numbers aren't great, but there's no way the third-place team in this league is getting nixed. Grudgingly, I added Arizona after consultation with our Bracketologist. I don't know that Arizona will lose its last three (including a Pac-10 quarterfinal game), and even if the Cats do, I still can't see how they'd be left out, given the overall profile. That said, it bears watching, as three more L's would leave them at 18-12 (9-9) and on a 6-11 skid entering the Dance. It would be nice to see the Wildcats get at least one W in the Bay Area next week, as Cincinnati (albeit without Armein Kirkland and with a worse profile) was axed after a similar slide last season. I just couldn't rationalize having some of the other teams as locks and not having Arizona in that category -- there just aren't enough good teams behind the Cats to threaten their spot, it seems. Stanford has its fate in its own hands with the Arizona schools coming to the Farm to close out the regular season next weekend.

Should be in:

Stanford [17-10 (9-7), RPI: 40, SOS: 21] No shame in not getting a win in L.A., but that makes the home game against Arizona State a must-win ahead of what could be an intriguing meeting with Arizona should the Cats lose at Cal. Getting to 11 Pac-10 wins would make Selection Sunday much more comfortable, but 10's probably more than enough this season. The Cardinal have nonconference wins over Texas Tech and at Virginia to lean on, although they also lost badly to Air Force and Santa Clara at home.

Southeastern Conference odds
Work left to do: Alabama, Georgia, Mississippi, Mississippi State

It looks more and more possible that no one from the SEC West will make the NCAAs. How weird is that? Tennessee and Vandy move into the locks category after more good work this weekend. Kentucky stays there, although it would be smart for the Cats to handle Georgia at home Wednesday ahead of a trip to the Swamp. Could a disaster scenario (two more L's and a first-round SEC tourney exit) somehow dislodge the Cats despite their incredible computer numbers? Still unlikely, but not worth chancing it.

Work left to do:

Alabama [19-9 (6-8), RPI: 43, SOS: 47] The tough L at Tennessee was understandable, and even created some hope. Unfortunately, that hope was dashed by a home loss to Auburn, which leaves the Tide in some real trouble. There's still no signature win on the profile (no, Kentucky doesn't count), and the computer profile is weakening rapidly. The Tide conceivably could beat Ole Miss and win at Miss. State to get to 8-8 and clinch at least a share of the West crown, but that's probably not enough right now. The Tide will need to do some work in the SEC tourney.

Georgia [16-10 (8-6), RPI: 52, SOS: 23] This is the team with the best chance to make it from this section right now. The Bulldogs rebounded from a terrible performance at Ole Miss to beat down Miss. State. Now they are at Kentucky (king of the RPI 51-100 win) and home to Tennessee. That would be worth a lot of computer points to get both (which is doable), as both teams are in the top 11 in RPI. Finishing at least 9-7 is an absolute must, and I would feel much better about the Dawgs' chances if they got both to get to 10 SEC wins. They also beat Gonzaga, but lost to ACC bubblers Georgia Tech and Clemson.

Mississippi [18-10 (7-7), RPI: 63, SOS: 79] Like everyone else in this division, Ole Miss gacked up a chance to stake a claim, losing by double figures at South Carolina. Even 9-7 likely is not nearly enough with a nonconference profile devoid of anything notable.

Mississippi State [16-11 (7-7), RPI: 66, SOS: 37] With a chance to get in the mix, these Bulldogs were leashed by their Georgia counterparts. Could they get to 9-7? I guess -- although winning at Arkansas, then beating Alabama is no lock -- but would that mean all that much for a team with this overall profile? Probably not. There's nothing of note (on the good side) in the nonconference profile.

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Academy Award Betting Odds for Best Picture Offer Great Value

If there is any category that is not an obvious win for any one nominee in this year's Academy Awards, it would be for Best Picture.  Sure the Departed is a 5/7 favorite, but that's hardly anything when we look at Helen Mirren and her "out-of-reach" 1 to 40 odds (which means you would win a whopping $1 for every $40 bet).

For value, take a look at MySportsbook.com Oscars betting odds on my personal favorite, The Queen - a remarkable 12 to 1 long shot.  The film hasn't won any pre-awards for Best Picture (compared to The Departed and Little Miss Sunshine), but there is a tremendous following and it is a strong enough film to warrant a surprise win.

TV Guide advises Oscar watchers should be cautioned not to discount the  drama "Babel" with its strong social themes about overcoming communication gaps among people of different cultures.

"While 'Babel' lost several guild awards to 'Sunshine' and 'Departed,'  it still enjoys loyal support, and historically Oscar voters favor dramas with social messages over comedies like 'Sunshine' and violent crime movies like 'Departed'."

"It hasn't done well in the guilds, which means there isn't much industry support," said Tom O'Neil of awards site TheEnvelope.com, "But several critics are expecting it to win, and that gets my attention." Babel had 7 to 2 odds at press time.

Who is to say independently produced Little Miss Sunshine won't be this year's Crash.  Last year, Crash won for Best Motion Picture, shocking those who bet on gay cowboy flick, Brokeback Mountain, as the favorite to win. 

To visit this online sportsbook got to MySportsbook.com for all your Sportsbook accepts Visa needs.