Lopez solid on the mound as Phils handle Mets

Baseball Betting Lines

07/03/2009 - Philadelphia, PA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Phillies recalled Rodrigo Lopez from Triple-A Lehigh Valley to start the opener of a three-game series with the rival Mets, and the right-hander responded with a quality outing in a 7-2 Philadelphia win.

Lopez (1-0), who had not started a game in the majors since undergoing Tommy John surgery in 2007, held New York to two runs on six hits and a walk in 6 1/3 frames for the Phils, who were coming off a 3-6 road trip.

Jimmy Rollins, trying to put a season-long slump behind him, recorded two doubles and two RBI, while Chase Utley and Greg Dobbs each drove in a pair for Philly, which also received a solo homer from Jayson Werth.

Livan Hernandez (5-4) dropped his third straight start, as the veteran was pelted for seven runs on 10 hits and four walks in a season-low three-plus innings for the Mets, who have dropped six of eight.

Nick Evans and Brian Schneider each knocked in a run in defeat.

The Phillies' first four hitters reached base, with Rollins doubling and Shane Victorino and Utley following with base hits, the latter knocking in a run. Ryan Howard walked, and after a Werth strikeout, Dobbs singled in front of a diving Evans in left field to give the Phils a 3-0 lead.

Victorino tripled to center in the second and Utley chased him home with a sacrifice fly.

Werth homered to left to open the third, and Rollins drove in a pair later in the inning after Pedro Feliz and Paul Bako singled and doubled, respectively.

The Phillies wasted a bases-loaded, no-out opportunity in the fourth, but Lopez kept the Mets silent until the seventh. Ryan Church led off with a double, while Evans and Schneider answered with one-out, RBI two-baggers.

Chan Ho Park recorded the final two outs of the seventh and worked a scoreless eighth, and Ryan Madson hurled a 1-2-3 ninth to cap the win.

Game Notes

To make room for Lopez, a two-time 15-game winner for the Baltimore Orioles, the Phillies designated pitcher Jack Taschner for assignment...Victorino and Church each finished with three hits...The Phillies improved to just 14-22 this season at home, where they will play their next nine games...The season series is tied, 4-4.

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Football Betting Lines

The 2009 AP NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year odds have been released and Denver Broncos' running back Knowshon Moreno has been made the opening favorite.

Bet NFL Sports Lines

Moreno was selected in the first round of April's NFL draft and is expected to carry the rushing load for the Broncos this season. And with Jay Cutler now in Chicago, Moreno might be expected to be Denver's entire offense.

Betting Lines from sports betting lines have made Moreno a 5/2 favorite to win this year's Offensive Rookie of the Year Award. Fellow running back Chris “Beanie” Wells (Arizona Cardinals) is right behind Moreno at 7/2, while Donald Brown (Indianapolis Colts) and receiver Michael Crabtree (San Francisco 49ers) are 5/1 to win. Quarterbacks Mark Sanchez (New York Jets) and Matthew Stafford (Detroit Lions) are 7/1 and 8/1, respectively.

A couple of players who present some value are Josh Freeman, Shonn Green and Darrius Heyward-Bey.

Freeman needs to beat out Byron Leftwich to become the starting quarterback of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers but if he does, he has a lot or raw talent and could use the weapons around him (i.e. Kellen Winslow Jr. and Antonio Bryant) to be very successful in his first season.

Green enters a crowded backfield in New York, but considering both Thomas Jones and Leon Washington are unhappy about their contract situations and might holdout, the former Iowa product could become the Jets' primary back.

Everyone was shocked when Al Davis took Heyward-Bey with the eighth overall pick in April's draft, but the kid has a tremendous amount of talent and if quarterback JaMarcus Russell takes the next step this year, the former Maryland product could blossom. Plus, Heyward-Bey will be looking to prove the people wrong who said Oakland should have taken Michael Crabtree with the No. 8 pick.

And if you're looking for a deep sleeper, check out Pat White at 30/1. He enters the Miami Dolphins vaunted “Wild Cat” offense and could be a big time playmaker.

For complete odds on the 2009 AP NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year odds, see below.

2009 AP NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year Odds to Win

Ramses Barden (NYG) 40/1

Andre Brown (NYG) 20/1

Donald Brown (IND) 5/1

Kenny Britt (TEN) 20/1

Glenn Coffee (SFO) 30/1

Chase Coffman (CIN) 50/1

Michael Crabtree (SFO) 5/1

Josh Freeman (TB) 14/1

Shonn Green (NYJ) 14/1

Percy Harvin (MIN) 10/1

Darrius Heyward-Bay (OAK) 18/1

Juaquan Iglesias (CHI) 30/1

Cornelius Ingram (PHI) 50/1

Rashad Jennings (JAC) 30/1

Johnny Knox (CHI) 40/1

Jeremy Maclin (PHI) 18/1

Mohamed Massaquoi (CLE) 30/1

LeSean McCoy (PHI) 12/1

Knowshon Moreno (DEN) 5/2

Hakeem Nicks (NYG) 18/1

Brandon Pettigrew (DET) 30/1

Brian Robiskie (CLE) 20/1

Mark Sanchez (NYJ) 7/1

Matthew Stafford (DET) 8/1

Jason Smith (STL) 40/1

Mike Thomas (JAC) 25/1

Patrick Turner (MIA) 50/1

Mike Wallace (PIT) 50/1

Chris Wells (ARI) 7/2

Pat White (MIA) 30/1

Field (Any Other Player) 9/1

Betting Line

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