Cabrera's homer helps Tigers complete sweep of struggling Pirates

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06/13/2010 - Detroit, MI (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Miguel Cabrera hit a three-run homer in the bottom of the eighth inning as the Detroit Tigers completed a three-game sweep of the Pittsburgh Pirates with a 4-3 win at Comerica Park.

Alex Avila added a solo shot for Detroit, which has won four of their last six and improved to 32-6 in their last 38 interleague games at home and an impressive 127-108 all-time in interleague play.

Brad Thomas (4-0) earned the win for retiring the final batter in the top of the eighth. Detroit starter Armando Galarraga allowed only two runs on six hits with one walk over 7 2/3 innings. Jose Valverde picked up his 13th save of the season despite giving up a run in the ninth inning which snapped his scoreless streak at 26 innings.

Garrett Jones hit a solo homer and knocked in a pair for the Pirates, who have dropped a major league-high eight straight games. Delwyn Young drove in a run with a sacrifice fly.

Javier Lopez (1-1) took the loss after being charged with one run in the eighth and walking the only batter he faced. Jeff Karstens got the starting nod for the Pirates and worked seven-plus innings, allowing six hits, two runs and one walk with three strikeouts.

In the bottom of the eighth and Pittsburgh clinging to a 2-1 lead, pinch- hitter Carlos Guillen got the inning started with a single and Karstens was lifted in favor of D.J. Carrasco, who set down Ryan Raburn and uncorked a wild pitch before striking out Ramon Santiago.

Lopez was summoned from the bullpen and walked Johnny Damon. The Pirates then turned to closer Octavio Dotel, who hung a 1-1 cutter to Cabrera and the power-hitting first baseman hammered it over the right-center field wall for a 4-2 Tigers advantage.

Valverde took over in the top of the ninth and surrendered a leadoff double to Ryan Doumit, who advanced to third on a groundout and crossed the plate on Young's sac fly. Pinch-hitter Akinori Iwamura flied out to center to end the game.

Jones' lead off homer to right in the second gave the Pirates the early lead. Then in the fourth, Jones' ground-rule double plated Andrew McCutchen, who reached on an infield single and went to second on a balk to make it 2-0.

Karstens kept the Tigers off the board until the seventh when Avila crushed a first-pitch sinker with two outs over the wall in straightaway center.

Galarraga issued a two-out single to McCutchen in the eighth, which signaled the end of the afternoon for the right-hander. Thomas came in and retired Jones on a groundout to second.

Game Notes

Tigers center fielder Austin Jackson (back spasms) exited the game after a half inning...Detroit was also without right fielder Magglio Ordonez (strained oblique)...Pittsburgh fell to a major league-worst 71-113 in interleague play.

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NFL Football Betting : Odds on NFL Division to Win the Super Bowl

NFL Super Bowl Betting

The AFC South and the NFC East are the favorite divisions to have the next Super Bowl champ among them in the NFL betting odds. But more down to the point, these football odds are in favor of the Indianapolis Colts, by far the strongest team in the AFC South, and the Dallas Cowboys of the NFC East.

Most sports fans would agree that these two teams top the list to win it all before the season even begins. In the BetUS Sportsbook football futures, the Colts are +800 in the odds to win the Super Bowl, while the Cowboys are sitting at +1000 and the Super Bowl XLIV champions New Orleans Saints at +900. In the AFC South, the Colts won the division for five straight years after the 2002 realignment, before the Tennessee Titans won it in 2008. But the Colts came back strong in 2009 to win the division again en route to the Super Bowl. The Cowboys are the favorite to win the NFC East, as well as to advance far into the post season. The Cowboys won the division last season before their horrendous loss in the NFC Divisional playoff to Brett Favre and the Minnesota Vikings. But the ‘Boys will take that loss humbly and be ready for the playoffs this time around.

The NFC South is also very strong, at +600 in the NFL futures, considering that it is home to the defending Super Bowl champions. However, some predictions have the Atlanta Falcons with possibilities of claiming the divisional title this season in place of the Saints, as no team has won back-to-back division championships since the division realignment took place. Let’s not overlook the AFC North at +500. As TO goes to Cincinnati to join Chad OchoCinco and Adam “Pac-Man” Jones, this team looks to claim the division title again. And it is likely they will do so. The Bengals lost in the AFC Wild Card spot in a hard-fought battle against the New York Jets last season. Lest not forget the Pittsburgh Steelers, the XLII Super Bowl Champions… All these teams present interesting odds and matchups for the upcoming season, but the safest and surest bet seems to be with the Colts in the AFC South and the Cowboys in the NFC East. Play this weekly NFL Football Contestto see if you can win.

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FOOTBALL BETTING : Cassel Signs Contract

Kansas City, MO - Kansas City has not officially named Matt Cassel its starting quarterback, but there can be no doubt now.

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After praising his leadership and work ethic through spring workouts, the Chiefs announced Tuesday they had signed the 27-year-old Cassel to a multiyear contract. Terms were not disclosed, but he will almost certainly be one of the highest-paid members of the team.
"We are excited to be able to reach a long-term agreement for Matt Cassel to be a Kansas City Chief for many years to come," owner and board chairman Clark Hunt said in a statement. "His proven leadership on and off the field will be a tremendous asset to the organization."
Patriots made him their franchise player, meaning his salary for this season will be about $15 million.
New head coach Todd Haley, taking over for Herm Edwards after a 2-14 season, refused to name a starter at any position during offseason workouts. But it was obvious to everyone the team belonged to Cassel.
"I go out there each and every day with that focus that I'm the starter," Cassel said during a June minicamp. "Competition brings out the best in everybody."
The signing will come as welcome news to Cassel's new coaches and teammates. Amiable and hardworking, online football betting he appeared to win over everyone at minicamp.
"I think he's got some unique leadership qualities. I think his teammates like him and have respect for him. I think he's doing a pretty good job on the field, too," Haley said last month. "He's doing everything that I'm asking him, that our coaches are asking him to do. I don't have one single complaint how he's carrying himself."
After one workout, wide receiver Devard Darling declared Cassel "a breath of fresh air."
"He has a lot of swagger, a lot of confidence. It's good for us," said Darling. "We trust in him that he's going to go out there and lead us all the way."
nse to accommodate his specific abilities.
Trapped on the bench behind Heisman winners Carson Palmer and Matt Leinart at USC and then unable to unseat Super Bowl MVP Brady at New England, Cassel seemed destined to be a backup all his life. As Brady was helped off the field last September, Cassel seized the opportunity he'd been waiting for since high school.
In his only sustained action since his teens, he hit 349 of 555 passes for 3,949 yards at New England. He had 23 touchdown passes and 13 interceptions as the Patriots, who had gone unbeaten through the regular season the year before, finished 11-5 and out of the playoffs.
Chiefs general manager Scott Pioli, who had been Bill Belichick's assistant in New England, engineered the trade after the Patriots became convinced that Brady would recover fully from his knee operation.
"Since Matt arrived in Kansas City, he has embraced the team and the community," Pioli said. "His work ethic, his ability and competitive presence is what we expect from our players."

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