Crosby's single sends A's past Tigers

Baseball Betting Lines

06/03/2008 - Oakland, CA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Bobby Crosby went 3-for-5 with a pair of doubles, but it was his RBI single in the bottom of the ninth that lifted the Oakland Athletics over the Detroit Tigers, 3-2, in the opener of a three-game series.

After Huston Street kept the Tigers scoreless in the top of the ninth, Francisco Cruceta was greeted by a Kurt Suzuki single in the bottom half, and Suzuki moved to second when Jack Hannahan put down a sacrifice bunt. Crosby then ripped a 1-1 fastball that reached the gap in right-center, allowing Suzuki to cross the plate with the deciding run.

"I thought he might try to throw a fastball on the first pitch byut he threw a split and I looked pretty foolish," Crosby said. "Once it was 1-1, I figured here comes the fastball."

Daric Barton went 2-for-4 with a solo homer for the A's, winners in two straight after a four-game losing skid. Suzuki went 2-for-4 in drove in a run as the A's won despite going 1-for-8 with runners in scoring position and stranding 10 men on base.

Street (1-1) picked up the win in relief of Rich Harden, who held the Tigers to two runs on five hits over 6 2/3 innings, striking out eight and walking three.

Curtis Granderson homered and Jeff Larish had an RBI single for the Tigers, who have lost two of three. Cruceta (0-3) took the loss in relief of Kenny Rogers, who allowed two runs on six hits in seven-plus frames, fanning three and walking four.

"That was quite a contrast in style," said Tigers manager Jim Leyland. "One young pitcher with great stuff and a masterful game from an old pro."

Hannahan led off the home first with a single, then moved to third when Crosby slapped a double to right. After Jack Cust struck out, Rogers plunked Emil Brown to load the bases and Mark Ellis lofted a fly ball to center that scored Hannahan. But the A's couldn't inflict any more damage in the frame.

Harden cruised through five innings, allowing just one hit, until Granderson tied the game in the top of the sixth with a leadoff homer to right. One out later, Carlos Guillen lined a double to right, and after Magglio Ordonez struck out, Harden intentionally walked Miguel Cabrera. Larish then made Harden pay by lining an RBI single to left to give Detroit the lead. But Cabrera was thrown out trying to reach third as the Tigers were denied the chance to tack on insurance runs.

Rogers, however, couldn't hold the lead, as Barton tied the game in the bottom of the seventh with a leadoff homer to right.

Cust walked to start the bottom of the seventh, ending Rogers' night. Freddy Dolsi came out of the bullpen and got Brown to ground into a force out, but Ellis lined a single to left and Dolsi was lifted for Bobby Seay. Carlos Gonzalez grounded into a force out that sent Brown to third, then Travis Buck walked to load the bases. Seay fell behind Barton, 3-0, but recovered to induce an inning-ending fly out and preserve the tie.

Game Notes

It was Crosby's third career walk-off hit...Cruceta lasted just one-third of an inning, and has allowed five runs in his last four innings ...Granderson's homer was his seventh of the year... Detroit sends Dontrelle Willis (0-0), who hasn't started since April 11, to the mound on Tuesday against Dana Eveland (4-4).

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Mayweather picked to beat De La Hoya
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA -- Golden Boy Oscar De La Hoya and his rival Floyd Mayweather Jr. arrived at the MGM Grand here Wednesday amid the pomp and pandemonium befitting two of the biggest stars in the sport who are about to duke it out for the WBC super welterweight crown this Saturday (Sunday in Manila).

As of Wednesday, MySportsbook.com closed its book with Mayweather a favorite to defeat De La Hoya at -170 (a $100 bet wins $70), while De La Hoya is a +140 underdog (a $100 bet wins $140).

Mayweather arrived at about 11:30 a.m. on a big truck with his face and a big "World's Best Pound-for-Pound" sign scribbled across the vehicle. He was accompanied by his entourage made up of rappers and his training team.

A crowd of close to 3,000 eager fans packed the MGM Grand lobby, with their cameras in tow, all trying to vie for position to get a good angle at Mayweather, who is acknowledged as the world's best fighter pound-for-pound.

Eric Gomez, Golden Boy Promotions vice-president, described the fan turnout as "amazing" and swore he had never seen anything quite like this event.

"The crowd was fantastic. Everybody was just too eager to see the two fighters," said ALA manager Michael Aldeguer, who was among those who waited at the lobby together with his ward Rey "Boom Boom" Bautista and AJ Banal.

De La Hoya made his own grand entrance at the hotel lobby at around 12:30 p.m. accompanied by GBP chief executive officer Richard Schaefer and trainer Freddie Roach.

The same group of fans who trooped to see Mayweather also lingered around to get a close look at De La Hoya, who has been secretly working out at a Las Vegas gym for days after arriving from his main training camp in Puerto Rico.

The golden boy then took part in a closed-door afternoon workout with Bautista and Banal. The two, along with Aldeguer and wife Christine, as well as an HBO crew were the only ones allowed inside the gym.

De La Hoya and Mayweather take part in today's final press conference before the official weigh-in this Friday.

Ring Magazine, the acknowledged bible of boxing, reported in its June 2007 issue that 12 out of 20 boxing experts it interviewed have favored Mayweather to defeat De la Hoya, with only 8 favoring the latter.

But Filipino ring icon Manny Pacquiao said in a recent interview with The Freeman's Emmanuel Villaruel that De La Hoya will win by unanimous decision over Mayweather.

To visit this online sportsbook got to MySportsbook.com for all your bet on boxing needs.