Maholm blanks Astros as Pirates bang out 19 hits

Baseball Betting Lines

07/18/2010 - Pittsburgh, PA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Paul Maholm twirled a three-hit shutout to pitch Pittsburgh past Houston, 9-0, and finish off a three-game set at PNC Park.

Maholm (6-7) did not walk a batter, struck out one and did not allow a runner to advance past first base in his second career shutout for the Pirates, who took the last two games of the series by outscoring the Astros, 21-6.

Garrett Jones belted a two-run homer, Ronny Cedeno had four hits -- three doubles -- and scored twice and Ryan Doumit added three hits, a run scored and a run batted in for Pittsburgh, which banged out a season-high 19 hits to win a third straight home series.

Roy Oswalt (6-11) took the loss after yielding two runs on seven hits while fanning five over four frames. He left the game with a left ankle contusion after being struck by a Pedro Alvarez batted ball in the second inning.

Oswalt, who threw a one-hit shutout over the Buccos in his last start against them on July 8, was touched for a pair of runs in the second inning.

Alvarez started the rally with a one-out single off the left ankle of Oswalt and scored when Doumit doubled to center field. Lastings Milledge followed with a run-scoring single and advanced to third base when Cedeno doubled. The veteran right-hander worked out of further difficulty by striking out Maholm and Andrew McCutchen.

Milledge reached second on a fielder's choice in the fourth inning and was thrown out trying to score by Carlos Lee on a Cedeno base hit to left field.

Oswalt was removed from the game after the inning ended with a left ankle contusion and was followed on the hill by Chris Sampson.

Jose Tabata singled with one out, stole second base and scored when Jones blasted his two-out, two-run home run to right field to push the lead to 4-0.

Wilton Lopez took over for Sampson in the sixth and gave up a single to Milledge and a double to Cedeno that put runners on second and third with one out. After Maholm grounded out, McCutchen singled to right to drive in both runners to extend the home team's edge to 6-0.

McCutchen then left the game after making a diving catch on a Pedro Feliz line drive for the second out in the top of the eighth inning.

The Pirates tacked on a trio of runs in the bottom of the frame on RBI doubles by Ryan Church, who replaced McCutchen, and Tabata along with a run-scoring single by Neil Walker off Casey Daigle.

Game Notes

The Pirates have won seven of their last nine at home and are now 7-6-1 in home series...Delwyn Young had hit Pittsburgh's last home run with a runner on base, off Stephen Strasburg on June 8, before Jones' long ball in Sunday's game...Alvarez has hit safely in 14 of his last 16 games, while Milledge has hit safely in six in a row...Maholm matched Zach Duke for the most wins at PNC Park with 27...He is now 9-5 in 15 starts against the Astros. Oswalt remains one win shy of Joe Niekro's franchise record 144 victories...Oswalt had gone at least six innings in all 27 career starts versus the Buccos before Sunday. Houston's Hunter Pence lost an eight-game hit streak after going 0-for-3.

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Football Betting: Defensive Rookie of the Year Awards

Oddsmakers have released the odds for the 2009 AP NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year Award and Seattle Seahawks linebacker Aaron Curry has been made the opening favorite.

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Seattle took Curry with the fourth overall pick in April's NFL draft and plan on inserting him into its starting lineup right away. The Hawks traded linebacker Julian Peterson in the offseason, so Curry is expected to have a significant role in Seattle's defense next year and that's one of the primary reasons he is the favorite to win the NFL ROY Award.

Oddsmakers from online sportsbook MySportsbook.com have made Curry a 5/1 favorite to win this year's NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year Award. Given that he was the best defensive prospect in this year's draft and how he'll have plenty of opportunities to make plays in '09, Curry offers a ton of value at 5/1.

Another thing working for Curry is the position he plays. A linebacker has won the defensive ROY award six straight times and eight of the last nine years. Jerod Mayo, Patrick Willis, DeMeco Ryans, Shawne Merriman, Jonathan Vilma, Terrell Suggs, Kendrell Bell and Brian Urlacher were the most recent linebackers to take home the award.

Following Curry at 5/1 are Tyson Jackson (Chiefs) at 7/1, James Laurinaitas (Rams) at 8/1, Brian Orakpo (Redskins) at 10/1, Rey Maualuga (Bengals) at 10/1 and Jerry Peria (Falcons) at 10/1.

All the players mentioned above are expected to start for their respective teams, but Jackson and Peria are going to have a tough time being recognized on a national level given they're both defensive linemen. D-linemen rarely put up the numbers that it takes to win an individual award like the ROY.

A couple of players with some value are Clay Matthews (Packers) at 12/1 and Larry English (Chargers) at 15/1. Matthews is expected to start at outside linebacker in Green Bay's new 3-4 defense and could rack up a ton of tackles. English, who was an impressive player at Northern Illinois, is expected to be a situational pass rusher for the Chargers and could rack up a ton of sacks.

For complete odds on the 2009 AP NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year Award, see below. And for complete odds for the 2009 AP NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year Award, click the link provided.

2009 AP NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year Award

Robert Ayers (DEN) 12/1

Ron Brace (NE) 25/1

Everette Brown (CAR) 16/1

Darius Butler (NE) 40/1

Patrick Chung (NE) 30/1

Aaron Curry (SEA) 5/1

Brian Cushing (HOU) 12/1

Vontae Davis (MIA) 30/1

Louis Delmas (DET) 30/1

Larry English (SD) 15/1

Evander Hood (PIT) 25/1

Tyson Jackson (KC) 7/1

Malcolm Jenkins (NO) 25/1

Paul Kruger (BAL) 50/1

James Laurinaitas (STL) 8/1

Sen'Derrick Marks (TEN) 20/1

Clay Matthews (GB) 12/1

Aaron Maybin (BUF) 15/1

Rey Maualuga (CIN) 10/1

Roy Miller (TB) 20/1

Michael Mitchell (OAK) 45/1

Fili Moala (IND) 30/1

Brian Orakpo (WAS) 10/1

Jerry Peria (ATL) 10/1

B J Raji (GB) 7/1

Clint Sintim (NYG) 35/1

Alphonso Smith (DEN) 40/1

David Verkune (CLE) 20/1

Jason Williams (DAL) 30/1

Field (Any Other Player) 6/1

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To visit this internet sportsbook go to MySportsbook.com for all your football betting needs.