Giambi's pinch-hit HR in ninth lifts Yankees past Blue Jays

Baseball Betting Lines

06/05/2008 - Bronx, NY (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Jason Giambi's two-out, two-run pinch-hit home run in the ninth inning sent the New York Yankees to a dramatic 9-8 win over the Toronto Blue Jays in the finale of a three-game set from Yankee Stadium.

Wilson Betemit also had a two-run homer for the Yankees, who won the final two games of the series to reverse a three-game losing streak. Bobby Abreu and Alex Rodriguez also knocked in a pair while Hideki Matsui added a key RBI in the victory. Johnny Damon went 2-for-3 with a pair of runs scored.

Kyle Farnsworth (1-2) gave up one run and three hits in one inning of relief for New York but notched the win.

Matt Stairs finished 3-for-5 with a two-run homer and five RBI and Lyle Overbay drove in the other runs for the Blue Jays, who lost for the fourth time in five contests. Scott Rolen added two hits and scored twice while Alex Rios singled and scored two runs.

B.J. Ryan (1-2) took the loss and was saddled with a blown save after allowing the deciding homer.

Already ahead by one, Toronto added an insurance run in the ninth with an RBI ground-rule double from Stairs. Against Ryan, Rodriguez singled with two down and moved to second on defensive indifference. Matsui then singled him home to make it 8-7.

That set the stage for pinch-hitter Giambi, who was sent to the plate for catcher Jose Molina. He drilled an 0-2 pitch into the upper deck just inside the right-field foul line for the game-winner.

The comeback was necessary because things unraveled for New York in the fifth. Joe Inglett led off with a walk and moved to second on a ground out. Rodriguez misplayed a grounder from David Eckstein, then Melky Cabrera dropped an easy fly from Rios, allowing Inglett to score and put Toronto up 3-2.

Yanks starter Chien-Ming Wang plunked Rolen to load the bases, then Stairs plated two with a single to right. Overbay followed with a two-run double to the gap in left-center to make it 7-2, and Wang was replaced by Ross Ohlendorf. He retired the final two batters to keep it a five-run game.

However, the Bombers loaded the sacks in the home half on a Cabrera single, Damon walk and Derek Jeter hit-by-pitch. Overbay made a great play to haul in Abreu's grounder and threw to first for an out, but a run scored. Rodriguez then popped out to right field along the foul line, but Damon raced home to score as Jays catcher Rod Barajas dropped the relay throw.

Betemit's one-out, two-run homer in the sixth brought the Yankees within 7-6, and New York could have tied or gone ahead with runners on second and third in the eighth before Scott Downs induced a rally-killing fly out from Damon.

The Yanks picked up a pair of runs in the first on an Abreu groundout and a Rodriguez sacrifice fly.

Toronto loaded the bases with one out in the third, but failed to score as Eckstein struck out and Rios grounded into a force out at third.

The Jays knotted the score in the fourth on a Rolen walk and a two-run homer by Stairs which the top of the wall in right before bounding into the stands.

Game Notes

Giambi's only other pinch-hit blast occurred August 11, 2007 vs Cleveland...It was his fourth career walk-off home run, the last one came on June 15, 2005 against Jose Mesa and Pittsburgh...Wang allowed five hits and seven runs -- six earned -- over 4 1/3 innings...Jays starter Dustin McGowan yielded seven hits and five runs over 5 1/3 frames...Rios has a 26-game hit streak against New York, tying Ichiro Suzuki of Seattle who has an equal streak against Kansas City, for the longest active hit streak against one team in the majors.

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Eastern Conference Playoff Betting Trends

We all know by now that the “public” loves to put their money on the FAVORITES and the OVERS.  Just by taking a quick glance at Sportsbook.com’s “Betting Trends” it appears as is this tendency will continue as far as the Eastern Conference games are concerned.  For the inaugural games of the first round, 69% of the early money is on Toronto -4.5; 59% of bettors prefer Chicago -4.5; 84% are backing Detroit -9; and 56% think Cleveland -11.5 is the way to go.  As far as TOTALS are concerned, the only UNDER the “public” is backing is the Cleveland/ Washington game in which 83% are pounding the UNDER (190).  Remember, there is no better way to predict a possible line change than by monitoring MySportsbook.com’s “Betting Trends”.   By determining who the “public” is backing, you can get the most ideal line for your bet.  For example, if you are siding with the public you better place your bet before the line moves in the wrong direction.  On the other side of the coin, if you prefer the team that the “public” is betting against; you might be able to get and extra ½ or even more by placing your bet a bit later.  Under the “Betting Trends” section, Sportsbook.com also provides plenty of statistical data and trends in order for the bettor to make the most informed pick.  Below are some extremely important trends for the first round opponents of the Eastern Conference match-ups, more can be found at MySportsbook.com

New Jersey Nets vs. Toronto Raptors

Toronto was the most reliable covering team this season with a 48-33-1 ATS record but covered the OVER only 41.5% of the time.
The last 20 times these teams have played, the TOTAL has gone UNDER 16 times.
Versus Eastern Conference teams, Toronto is 33-19 ATS including 17-9 at home.
 New Jersey has covered four games in a row while Toronto has failed to cover their last four games.
When playing a team with a winning record during the second half of the season, New Jersey was just 5-13 ATS this season.
After scoring 105 points or more, Toronto has covered the OVER only 28% of the time this season. 
 
Miami Heat @ Chicago Bulls

Miami has failed to cover their last 7 games whereas Chicago has covered 6 out of their last 8 games.
Miami has covered the UNDER in four of their last five games whereas Chicago has covered the UNDER in five out of their last six.
When playing on Saturdays, Miami covered 80% of their games this season.
Away from home, Chicago is just 16-25 ATS this season.
At home, Miami covered the UNDER about 66% of the time whereas Chicago covered the UNDER about 61% of the time.
The last 13 times these teams have played each other, Chicago has covered 9 times.
In Miami’s last 11 road games, the UNDER covered 9 times. 
 
Orlando Magic @ Detroit Pistons

Detroit has covered 5 out of their last 6 games.
Away from home, Detroit is 28-13 ATS but just 14-26-1 ATS at home.
At home, Orlando covered the UNDER 64% of the time while Detroit covered the UNDER in 63% of their away games.
The last five times these teams have played in Detroit, the OVER covered each time.
Versus Eastern Conference teams, Detroit is 8-17-1 ATS at home but 17-9 ATS away.
Detroit covered the spread 5 out of the last 6 times they played Orlando.
After a Division game, Orlando covered the UNDER 87% of the time this season. 
 
Washington Wizards @ Cleveland Cavaliers

In a home game where the TOTAL is between 190 and 194.5 points, Cleveland is 9-1 ATS this season.
Washington has covered the UNDER in their last 6 games and in 8 of their last 9 games.
The last 6 times these teams have played each other, the UNDER covered each time.
When playing on 3 or more days of rest, Washington is just 18-37 ATS since 1996.
Since 1996, Washington is 28-16 ATS versus Cleveland including 11-5 over the last 3 seasons.
In their last 7 road games, Washington is 6-1 ATS.
Versus Eastern Conference teams at home, Washington is just 6-18-2 ATS. 
 
For even more betting trends for not just the NBA but for all of the major sports, log on to Sportsbook.com and click on “Trends”.  With only two months left in the NBA betting season it is important to be as well informed as possible in order to maximize your profit.  Also for all of you poker players, check out MySportsbook.com’s “WSOP Low Bid Auction”. You could be on your way to Vegas to play against the world’s best poker players for under a buck.

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