Valentin's RBI single in the 12th leads Reds over Brewers

Baseball Betting Lines

07/24/2007 - Cincinnati, OH (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Pinch-hitter Javier Valentin's run-scoring single in the 12th inning gave the Cincinnati Reds a 2-1 victory over the Milwaukee Brewers in the opener of a four-game set at Great American Ball Park.

Grant Balfour started the frame for Milwaukee and immediately struggled with his control, walking Jeff Conine and Pedro Lopez. David Ross then laid down a bunt and Balfour attempted to get pinch-runner Norris Hopper at third, but his throw was not in time. Valentin then stepped up to the plate and drove the first pitch he saw from Balfour into right field to win it for the Reds.

Cincinnati starter Aaron Harang, who was activated from the bereavement list prior to the game, was brilliant, allowing just one run on seven hits through 10 innings. Harang also struck out 10 while not issuing a walk in the no decision.

Chris Capuano, who came into the game losing his last six decisions, started for Milwaukee and was just as good as Harang. The left-hander went eight strong frames, giving up only one run on seven hits to go along with seven strikeouts and no walks.

Ross finished 2-for-4 with a home run for the Reds, who ended a three-game losing streak. Jared Burton (1-1) picked up his first-career victory after retiring the only two batters he faced in the top of the 12th inning.

Ryan Braun collected three hits including a home run for the Brewers, who have three losses over their last four games. Balfour (0-2) absorbed the loss while Prince Fielder had two hits.

After two scoreless innings, Ross gave Cincinnati the lead after launching a home run over the wall in center to lead off the home half of the third.

Braun answered for the Brewers and tied things at 1-1 after hitting a lead-off homer in the fourth.

After Braun's homer, Harang retired 17 straight Milwaukee hitters before Braun poked a single to left with two outs in the ninth. Fielder followed with a base hit to right to put runners on the corners. Harang, though, kept Milwaukee off the board as he got Johnny Estrada to ground out weakly to first to end the threat.

The Brewers threatened again in the 10th as Kevin Mench and Craig Counsell hit back-to-back singles with one out. Harang battled back and got pinch-hitter Tony Graffanino to pop out to second and Corey Hart to strike out to end the inning.

David Weathers started the 11th for Cincy and quickly loaded the bases. The veteran reliever, though, got Estrada to ground into a double play with the first out coming at home to keep the game tied. Geoff Jenkins was then hit by a pitch to fill up the bases again, but Weathers managed to get out of the jam as he got Mench to fly out for the third out of the inning.

Game Notes

Harang, who threw 121 pitches, has gone 13 straight starts without a loss. He also became the second pitcher in the majors this season to throw 10 innings, joining Toronto's Roy Halladay. The last Reds pitcher to toss 10 innings was Rick Mahler, who did it August 30, 1989...Milwaukee went 0-for-6 with runners in scoring position and left nine runners on base.

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COLLEGE FOOTBALL BETTING

NCAA Football Betting

Many fans thought it was the best side in the nation by the end of last season. This year, the polls have built on Georgia's momentum and granted it the No. 1 preseason ranking, followed by Ohio State and USC. (The Associated Press has the Buckeyes at No. 2; USA Today took the Trojans.)

"To have people believing we have one of the best teams in the nation going into this thing, it's exciting for us," Bulldogs coach Mark Richt told the AP. "I don't think anything is guaranteed, but we certainly have put ourselves in position where at least the college football world thinks we're pretty good."

Georgia Bulldogs - 9.5 wins

There's no question they're good, but the Bulldogs have one of the toughest 12-game schedules in the nation, mostly because they play in the powerhouse Southeastern Conference. Away games at No. 15 Arizona State, No. 7 LSU and No. 10 Auburn loom large, with contests between the hedges versus No. 24 Alabama and No. 18 Tennessee as well as the World's Largest Cocktail Party in Jacksonville versus No.5 Florida.

Ohio State Buckeyes - 10 wins

Like the Bulldogs, the Buckeyes also have a number of tough road contests in 2008. After two scrimmages dressed up as real games versus Youngstown State and Ohio, it's off to face USC. Other tough away games include No.13 Wisconsin in October and No. 20 Illinois in November. Granted, it should be pretty easy sledding at the Horseshoe. In fact, the only ranked team that travels to Columbus is No. 22 Penn State, in October.

USC Trojans - 10.5 wins

A similarly light schedule awaits the Trojans of Southern California, which is why the oddsmakers' total is one win more and the over is currently commanding -150 odds. Pete Carroll's troops only play three ranked teams in 2008, and all of those games are at home. After what should be an easy trip to Virginia to start things off on Aug. 30, the Trojans get two weeks to prepare for Ohio State in Los Angeles. Their two other ranked opponents, No. 21 Oregon and No. 15 Arizona State, visit in consecutive weeks to start the month of October. After that, the competition eases up. Of course, this is the same highly-touted school that lost to Stanford in 2007 and Oregon State in 2006. And don't discount the fact that USC plays its biggest rivals, Notre Dame and UCLA, back-to-back to close out the regular season. On paper, the Trojans are far superior, but motivation will be high for the Irish and Bruins, especially if their historic foes are in national-title contention.

Odds to Win the Heisman Trophy

Tim Tebow, Florida - 7/2
He won it last year, so it's no surprise he's the favorite to do it again, making him just the second player to go back-to-back. Ohio State's Archie Griffin turned the trick in 1974 and 1975, and Tebow's coach, Urban Meyer, is pretty sure his star quarterback can match the Buckeyes legend.

"There has never been anyone quite like him," Meyer told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. "I am very lucky to be his coach."

Chris Wells, Ohio State - 5/1

The man they call "Beanie" was a star recruit out of high school, so it's not like nobody knew who the star tailback was before he rushed for 576 yards as a freshman in 2006 and 1,609 as a sophomore. But perhaps his finest moment came last year versus Michigan when he rumbled for 222 yards and two touchdowns in the Buckeyes' 14-3 victory over the hated Wolverines.

Knowshon Moreno, Georgia - 8/1

If the Bulldogs are to live up to expectations, they'll need a huge effort from their sophomore running back. This might be the last year of college ball for Moreno, who rushed for 1,334 yards and for 14 touchdowns as a freshman, while adding 253 receiving yards on 20 receptions, so expect big things for the man from Belford, N.J.

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