Happ tosses shutout as Astros beat struggling Cardinals

Baseball Betting Lines

08/30/2010 - Houston, TX (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - J.A. Happ tossed a two-hit shutout to lift the Houston Astros to a 3-0 win over the St. Louis Cardinals in the opener of a three-game set.

Happ (5-2) walked just one and struck out four for the Astros, who have won seven of their last nine. Brett Wallace went 3-for-3 with an RBI and a run scored while Hunter Pence had two hits and a run scored in the win.

Jake Westbrook (1-3) went seven innings and was charged with three runs on nine hits and a walk for the reeling Cardinals, who have dropped six of their last seven and, coupled with Cincinnati's 10th-inning win over Milwaukee, fell to six games back of the Reds for first place in the NL Central.

Houston struck in the first inning, as Pence hit a two-out single and came home to score on a Carlos Lee double for a 1-0 lead.

After Randy Winn hit a one-out single in the first, Happ dominated the Cardinals. He allowed only one more baserunner over the next six innings, a leadoff walk to Colby Rasmus in the third inning.

Happ retired 15 straight batters through the seventh inning, including striking out Matt Holliday to end the seventh.

Houston then solidified its lead in the bottom of the seventh. Chris Johnson led off with a single and Wallace followed with an RBI double. After an infield single from Tommy Manzella, Jason Castro hit into a double play that plated Wallace for a 3-0 lead.

With one out in the eighth, Yadier Molina hit a single, but Colby Rasmus lined into a double play to end the inning.

Happ then set the Cardinals down in order in the ninth for his first shutout and complete game of the season.

Game Notes

Happ has tossed three shutouts and four complete games in his career. He is now 1-2 in four career starts against St. Louis...Houston has won eight of the 13 games against St. Louis this season...Westbrook fell to 0-2 in three career starts against Houston...Houston center fielder Michael Bourn went 1-for-4 to extend his hitting streak to nine games...Holliday had his 11-game hitting streak broken with an 0-for-3 performance.

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Mens NCAA Basketball Tournament odds  
As of February 9, MySportsbook.com has released its coveted 2007 Mens NCAA Basketball Tournament betting odds. “March Madness betting ” only a month away, the top ranked Florida Gators are favorite at 7-2 to win it all. The defending champs have not disappointed at all this season and currently have a 22-2 record and are undefeated (9-0) in SEC play. The Gators’ thrive off of their extremely balanced, experienced and versatile attack. All five starters started in last seasons National Championship game. What is most impressive with this group is their balance; the five starters all average between 10.7 and 13.6 PPG. The Gators have been on an absolute roll having won 15 straight by an average of 16.4 PPG.

Right behind the Gators are the 5th ranked UNC Tar Heels at 9-2. The Heels (21-3, 7-2) are absolutely loaded with top notch talent and are as deep as any team in the country. A concern for the Tar Heels might be inexperience. Of their top four scorers/ minute earners, three are freshmen and the other is a sophomore. The rest of the regular season, the Tar Heels play only one team that is currently ranked (Duke). Their remaining opponents do combine for an impressive 107-58 record though.

Other teams that the MySportsbook.com members seem to believe will win it all include the west coasts’ top team #2 UCLA (6-1), #3 OSU behind man-child Greg Oden (8-1), and #4 Wisconsin (10-1) behind their defense which has given up 70+ points only three times all season.

Below is a list of some of the favorites to win the 2007 Men’s NCAA Basketball Championship lines. For the full list of teams and March Madness odds be sure to log onto MySportsbook.com. If you want to use your credit card to bet on college hoops or any other event, MySportsbook.com has the highest credit card acceptance rate in the industry.

Arizona 20-1

Butler 20-1

Duke 30-1

Florida 7-2

Georgetown 30-1

Indiana 35-1

Kansas 15-1

Marquette 25-1

Maryland 40-1

Memphis 50-1

Nevada 50-1

UNC 9-2

OSU 8-1

Oregon 30-1

Pittsburgh 15-1

Texas 30-1

Texas A&M 18-1

UCLA 6-1

Wisconsin 10-1

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