08/27/2008 - (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Toronto has had little luck offensively when facing Tampa Bay's Matt Garza this year. The Blue Jays will try to plate some runs against the Rays young gun tonight in the middle portion of three-game series at Tropicana Field.
Garza has allowed just one earned run in 23 1/3 innings versus the Blue Jays this year, though he is 2-1 against them. He tossed a shutout versus Toronto on July 29, the first of his career, and also threw 7 2/3 scoreless innings in a victory versus the Blue Jays on July 19. The loss came on May 7 in Toronto, when he allowed just a run over 6 2/3 innings of a 6-2 setback.
The 24-year-old righty hurled his second career shutout versus Texas on August 15, but then got a no-decision on Wednesday versus the Angels after allowing four runs on seven hits over 6 2/3 innings. On the season, Garza is 10-7 with a 3.71 earned run average.
He has been better at home, going 6-2 with a 2.72 ERA in 12 starts.
Garza will try to halt Tampa Bay's two-game skid tonight, as the Rays dropped the opener of this set, 6-2, on Tuesday. Vernon Wells homered and drove in three runs for the Blue Jays, giving him four homers and nine RBI over his last three games.
Roy Halladay defeated Tampa Bay for the first time this year thanks to six strong innings, while Lyle Overbay added two RBI in Toronto's ninth win in its last 13 games. The Blue Jays are eight back of Boston for the American League wild card.
Toronto got a little healthier prior to the game, activating third baseman Scott Rolen from the 15-day disabled list. Rolen, who had been struggling with a left shoulder injury, did not play in last night's win and is unlikely to start tonight as well.
Tampa Bay, meanwhile, saw starting catcher Dioner Navarro leave yesterday's game due to cramping in his hamstrings. He is day-to-day and his status for tonight's game is unknown. The Rays are already without star outfielder Carl Crawford (finger surgery), rookie Evan Longoria (wrist) and closer Troy Percival (knee) due to injury.
Eric Hinske drove in both runs last night for Tampa Bay, which saw its lead over Boston in the AL East shrink to 3 1/2 games. The setback was also just the Rays' third in their last 11 home games.
Tampa Bay takes its swings tonight against rookie David Purcey for the first time in his career. The lefty is 2-3 with a 5.33 ERA in five starts since returning from the minors, losing to the Yankees on Wednesday. Purcey allowed five runs on seven hits over just four innings in what was the seventh start of his career.
Tampa Bay has won nine of 13 versus Toronto this year, winning two of three at home in mid-July. The Rays also swept a three-game set in Orlando from April 22-24.
<< Report: Red Sox close to getting Kotsay from Braves
Atlanta, GA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Boston Red Sox are reportedly close to a
deal that will land outfielder Mark Kotsay from the Atlanta Braves.
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported Wednesday that the Braves will
continue the
<< Cardinals place OF Barton on DL
St. Louis, MO (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The St. Louis Cardinals placed outfielder
Brian Barton on the 15-day disabled list Tuesday, retroactive to Monday, with
a strained right oblique.
In 69 games this season, the rookie Barton is hitting .26
<< Angels' Anderson has tendinitis in knee
Anaheim, CA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Angels left fielder Garret Anderson underwent
an MRI on Tuesday that revealed tendinitis in his left knee.
Anderson injured the knee when he made an outfield assist in the first inning
of Sunday's 5-3 win ov
<< Lackey and Angels cruise past A's
Anaheim, CA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - John Lackey recorded his 13th career complete
game to help the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim down the Oakland Athletics in a
5-1 victory in the second of a three-game set.
Lackey (11-2) scattered seven hits
Chiefs cut K Jay Feely >>
Kansas City, MO (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Chiefs have released kicker Jay Feely,
ending his stint with Kansas City after only two days of practice.
Feely was released by the Miami Dolphins earlier this month after losing his
job to rookie
Verlander hopes to slow down red-hot Indians >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Hard-throwing but inconsistent righty Justin Verlander
tries for a third straight win tonight when the Detroit Tigers host the
Cleveland Indians in the third and final game of a three-game series at
Comerica Park.
Verlan
White Sox, O's close set in Baltimore >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Right-hander Radhames Liz makes his second start since
returning from a stint in the minors tonight when the Baltimore Orioles
entertain the visiting Chicago White Sox in the finale of a three-game series
at Camden Yards.
Phils try to extend NL East lead over Mets >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Phillies' rally last year to overtake the Mets for the
National League East crown was pretty impressive. Last night's comeback to
recapture first place in the division wasn't too bad either.
After rallying from
Terrell Owens will address the media at a 3:15 p.m. ET news conference outside the Cowboys' practice facility after an internal police report indicated he tried to kill himself by overdosing on prescription pain medication, even putting two more pills into his mouth after a friend intervened.
The Dallas police report said Owens was asked by rescue workers "if he was attempting to harm himself, at which time [he] stated, 'Yes.'"
Owens left the hospital late Wednesday morning, giving reporters a "thumbs up" but making no comment as he was driven away in an SUV.
Michael Irvin said that Owens denied he attempted suicide and said he was rushed to the hospital as a result of an adverse reaction to medication. And a source close to Owens told Michael A. Smith that Owens wasn't attempting suicide.
NFL Network analyst Deion Sanders said he spoke with Owens shortly before his release from the hospital and that Owens was in good spirits.
"The fact that it has been reported a suicide attempt, he's laughed at that notion. It was a case that medication that was taken wasn't accepted well in his system with the other vitamins he's on," Sanders said.
The series of events began a little before 8 p.m. Tuesday.
Owens' publicist, Kim Etheredge, said she was at Owens' home when he took pain medicine for his broken right hand. Concerned by how he began acting, Etheredge said in various interviews Wednesday with Dallas-area media that she called 911. Owens was taken to a hospital, with Etheredge saying it was an allergic reaction to the medicine.
But early Wednesday, several media outlets received a police report -- that had yet to be released by the authorities -- saying Owens had attempted suicide by overdosing on the painkillers, even putting two more pills into his mouth after an unidentified friend intervened.
The police document, first reported by WFAA-TV, said Owens was asked by rescue workers "if he was attempting to harm himself, at which time [he] stated, 'Yes.'"
When officially released by police, about half the document was blacked out, including the phrases "attempting suicide by prescription pain medication" and "a drug overdose," as well as the details of Owens having two pills pried from his mouth and Owens saying "Yes" when asked if he intended to harm himself.
Etheredge, who said she was the friend cited in the police document, told Dallas-area media Wednesday that the police got the story wrong.
The tape of the 911 call could help clear things up. The Associated Press filed a request under the Freedom of Information Act to get its contents, but fire department officials said it would not be available before late Wednesday.
The police report said the 32-year-old Owens told his friend "that he was depressed." Details of the police report were first reported by WFAA-TV.
The friend, who is not identified in the report, "noticed that [his] prescription pain medication was empty and observed [Owens] putting two pills in his mouth," the police report said.
Using her fingers, the friend attempted to pry them out of Owens' mouth. Owens told police he had taken only five of the 40 pain pills in the bottle he'd emptied before the incident.
Etheredge told the Star-Telegram that Owens was "fine."
Etheredge said she called 911 because Owens was groggy and lethargic. After taking some supplements "it kicked in a reaction" with the painkillers, she told the Star-Telegram.
"Here's a person whose body is so clean, it really had a negative reaction to the medication and supplements he was taking," Etheridge told The Morning News. "Thank goodness someone was there to call an ambulance."
Police Lt. Rick Watson said he could only confirm that paramedics called police to say they were taking Owens to the hospital. He said no more details would come from the police because no laws were broken.
It is not a crime in Texas for a person to attempt suicide.
"This is a high-profile person. We looked into it and we determined it is not a criminal offense," Watson said. "This a medical type of situation that occurred."
Watson and fire department spokesman Joel Lavender cited privacy laws for the lack of information they could provide. Lavender said more details could come from the 911 call. The Associated Press filed a request under the Freedom of Information Act to get the contents of the call.
"Let's just look at the tape, review the tape," Lavender said. "I'll give you an honest answer once I know something."
At the police news conference, Watson released a version of the police narrative with certain sections blacked out. The full report was obtained by several news outlets and reported first by WFAA. The AP received the full version from WFAA.
According to the police report, Dallas Fire and Rescue was called regarding someone "attempting suicide by prescription pain medication." Officers arrived to find Owens being stabilized by ambulance workers, who then took him to Baylor University Medical Center.
Owens was hospitalized late Tuesday because of what his publicist said was an allergic reaction to pain medicine he was taking for a broken hand. Doctors reportedly tried to induce vomiting.
Owens, one of the league's top receivers during his 11-year NFL career, is best known for wild stunts on the field and other publicity-seeking antics off it.
When the Cowboys signed him to a $25 million, three-year deal in March, they said their background checks indicated no red flags. In fact, team consultant Calvin Hill -- who mostly deals with troubled players -- said during training camp that his department was not involved with Owens because he didn't have a history of those kinds of problems.
He missed most of training camp, and three of four preseason games, because of a hamstring injury. He was late for work during his recovery and was fined for it, but Owens laughed it off, saying he overslept. He said it had happened before, though not with Dallas, and would probably happen again.
Owens broke the bone leading to his right ring finger during a game a week ago Sunday. The next day, doctors screwed in a plate so the bone could heal without fear of further damage. Cowboys coach Bill Parcells said last week that the pain medicine made Owens ill.
Owens had not practiced since the injury, but because Dallas had a bye this past weekend he did not miss a game. He was expected to practice Wednesday, and Parcells had said there was a chance Owens could play Sunday against Tennessee.
Owens had been especially looking forward to the Cowboys' game after that -- Oct. 8, in Philadelphia, against the team that dumped him midway through last season only months after he helped them nearly win the Super Bowl.
Owens was seen laughing and joking on the practice field Tuesday morning. He chatted briefly with reporters in the locker room in the afternoon and seemed fine. A 2-inch scar on the top of his hand was puffy but not wrapped, and he said the swelling was doing down.
While in the locker room, he took a pill from a white paper bag and looked at another medicine bottle that was in the bag. He also called a business partner about a towel-wrap venture they're starting and joked to TV cameras that he wasn't talking until Wednesday and it was only Tuesday.
"My little boy knows better than that," he said, laughing, as he plopped onto a sofa in the middle of the locker room.
Also Tuesday, Owens was involved in launching a national campaign for the National Alliance to End Abuse, an organization aimed at helping at-risk youngsters. He appeared at a high school Tuesday morning and was scheduled to visit others but had to cancel because of changes in the team's practice schedule.
Owens has played two games for the Cowboys, catching nine passes for 99 yards and a touchdown. For updated football betting lines and Dallas Cowboy Superbowl odds visit online sportsbook MySportsbook.com
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MySportsbook.com favors Bears, Bengals, Chargers and Colts to remain perfect
LAS VEGAS , Sept. 28 - Two big match-ups of undefeated teams have fans salivating at the Week Four schedule in the NFL. The Chicago Bears stifling defense looks to provide a less than hospitable welcome to the Seattle Seahawks on Sunday night in a battle of two 3-0 teams in the NFC conference. In the AFC, the San Diego Chargers (2-0) head to Maryland to face the surprising Baltimore Ravens (3-0) as both try to keep pace atop the conference standings. Betting Lines makers at MySportsbook.com, online sportsbook and casino, have set the Bears as 3.5 point favorites while the Chargers are a 2.5 point bet.
Of the three remaining undefeated teams, only one, New Orleans, enters this week's game as an underdog. Despite an emotional and resounding win over Atlanta on Monday night, the Saints are a 7.5 point underdog against the struggling Carolina Panthers. Indianapolis looks to stay perfect when they face the New York Jets as a 9 point road favorite while the Cincinnati Bengals are a 6 point favorite at home to the New England Patriots.
Six teams enter the week still looking for their first win, with a seventh, Tampa Bay, on a bye week. The prospect of dropping another game would not bode well for a potential playoff run. Since 1990, just three teams -- the 1992 Chargers, 1995 Detroit Lions and 1998 Buffalo Bills -- have overcome losing their first three games of the season to earn a postseason berth. And only the Chargers managed to accomplish the feat after starting 0-4.
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