Baker strong as Twins split doubleheader with O's

Baseball Betting Lines

05/08/2010 - Minneapolis, MN (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Scott Baker allowed just one run and three hits in eight superb innings, leading the Minnesota Twins to a 6-1 victory over Baltimore in the second portion of a day-night doubleheader, which was split by the two clubs.

In the opener, Nick Markakis went 2-for-4 with three RBI and a run scored to help the Orioles take a 7-3 win over the Twins.

Baker (4-2) pitched a season-high in innings and struck out eight batters while walking none for the Twins, who have won five of their last seven. Delmon Young went 3-for-4 with two RBI and two runs scored, while Drew Butera drove in a pair of runs in the win.

Injured catcher Joe Mauer, who has sat out with a sore heel since April 30, made a pinch-hit appearance in the eighth and struck out with the bases loaded.

Luke Scott homered for Baltimore, which had taken the first two games of this four-game set. Kevin Millwood (0-4) remained winless on the season after allowing three runs on seven hits and three walks in seven frames.

The first 11 batters of the game were retired in order, although Young kept Minnesota's second inning alive with a two-out double. Nick Punto followed with another two-base hit to give the Twins a 1-0 lead.

Baker held Baltimore scoreless until the fifth, when Scott blasted a one-out solo homer to tie the game at 1-1.

Minnesota, though, took the lead for good with two runs in the sixth.

The hosts quickly loaded the bases on two walks and a single to open up the frame, and the go-ahead run crossed the plate on Michael Cuddyer's double play groundout. Young followed with an RBI single to make it 3-1.

Baker set down the Orioles in order in the seventh and worked around a one-out single in the eighth to maintain Minnesota's two-run lead.

The Twins padded their lead with three runs in the home eighth. Matt Albers came in to pitch with runners on the corners and no outs and got Cuddyer to hit a ground ball to the shortstop Julio Lugo, who fired home to get the first out.

Albers, though, didn't get out of the jam unscathed. Young followed with an RBI ground-rule double, and Punto was intentionally walked to load the bases. After Mauer struck out as a pinch-hitter, Butera lined a two-run single to shallow left for a 6-1 game.

Brian Duensing threw a scoreless ninth to finish the win.

Game Notes

Baker is 4-0 lifetime against Baltimore in six starts...Millwood became the 18th pitcher in major league history to throw in 40 different ballparks. He is 0-8 in 13 career starts against Minnesota, which is one of three teams he has yet to beat in his professional tenure...Baltimore did not put a runner into scoring position throughout the game. The Twins went 4-for-11 with runners in scoring position.

Startluckcasino Baseball Betting News

<< Garland helps Padres beat slumping Astros
Houston, TX (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Jon Garland allowed just two hits over seven shutout innings, as the San Diego Padres earned a 2-1 win over the Houston Astros in the second test of a three-game set at Minute Maid Park. Garland (4-2) s

<< Fleury, Penguins handle Canadiens to take 3-2 series lead
Pittsburgh, PA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Marc-Andre Fleury stopped 32 shots to help the Pittsburgh Penguins take a 2-1 win and the series lead in Game 5 of their Eastern Conference semifinal series against Montreal. Fleury came just 29.7 seconds

<< Chicago's Peavy throws eight strong, snaps Toronto's streak
Chicago, IL (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Jake Peavy allowed two runs in eight strong innings, helping the White Sox beat the Blue Jays, 7-3, and snap Toronto's six-game win streak in the third of four games at U.S. Cellular Field. Peavy (2-2)

<< Karstens strong as Pirates blank Cards
Pittsburgh, PA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Jeff Karstens tossed six scoreless innings and four Pirates relievers finished off the shutout, as Pittsburgh clawed out a 2-0 win over St. Louis in the middle test of a three-game series. Karstens (1-1)

<< Late Rogers' goal pushes Crew past New England
Columbus, OH (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Columbus Crew earned a hard-fought three points by edging the New England Revolution 3-2 at Crew Stadium in Major League Soccer action on Saturday night. Robbie Rogers scored a stoppage-time goal

Cincy uses late offensive outburst to rout Cubs >>
Cincinnati, OH (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Ryan Hanigan hit his first-career grand slam and drove in a career-high five runs, as the Cincinnati Reds scored a total of 11 times during their final two at-bats to hand the Chicago Cubs a 14-2 d

Kinsler lifts Rangers over Royals >>
Arlington, TX (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Ian Kinsler went 2-for-3 and knocked in the go-ahead run with a single in the bottom of the eighth, as the Texas Rangers edged the Kansas City Royals, 3-2, in the third test of a four-game series at Rangers

Cunningham winner helps Hoops edge United >>
Frisco, TX (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - FC Dallas used a late Jeff Cunningham tally to edge D.C. United, 1-0, in Major League Soccer action at Pizza Hut Park on Saturday night. Cunningham, who had been thwarted numerous times earlier in the g

Fisher's late three-pointer lifts Lakers to 3-0 series lead >>
Salt Lake City, UT (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Derek Fisher hit the go-ahead three- pointer down the stretch, and the Los Angeles Lakers escaped EnergySolutions Arena with a thrilling 111-110 Game 3 victory over the Utah Jazz and a strangl

Utah's Kirilenko returns for Game 3 >>
Salt Lake City, UT (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Utah Jazz forward Andrei Kirilenko made his first appearance in the 2010 postseason in Game 3 of the Western Conference semifinals on Saturday. Kirilenko came off the bench with 6:54 remain

Chiefs' Treen Green out for Sunday's game

How long Trent Green will remain sidelined is unknown. Coach Herm Edwards said Monday he will miss a second straight start Sunday when the Chiefs host the San Francisco 49ers.

A two-time Pro Bowler, Green was going into a feet-first hook slide when he was knocked unconscious by a thunderous, head-snapping hit from Cincinnati's Robert Geathers.

Oddsmakers at online sportsbook MySportsbook.com currently have the Chiefs listed as 7-point favorites versus the 49ers.

The 49ers got beat by Philadelphia 38-24 as a 6.5-point underdog last week. The combined score went OVER the posted over/under total (42.5).

Alex Smith completed 27-of-46 passes for 293 yards with a touchdown. Michael Robinson rushed for 29 yards and a pair of touchdowns on five carries.

The Chiefs lost 9-6 to Denver last week as an 11-point underdog. The combined score was well UNDER the posted over/under total (38).

Larry Johnson rushed for 126 yards on 27 carries. Damon Huard completed 17-of-23 passes for 133 yards with no touchdowns and no interceptions.

To visit this online sports book got to MySportsbook.com for all your football betting needs.