Thome passes Big Mac on HR list as Twins rout Rangers

Baseball Betting Lines

09/04/2010 - Minneapolis, MN (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Jim Thome hit two homers to pass Mark McGwire for ninth place on the all-time home run list, and the Minnesota Twins pummeled the Texas Rangers, 12-4, at Target Field.

Thome now has 584 career home runs, which is one more than the former Athletics and Cardinals slugger. The powerful lefty drove in four runs and reached 20 homers for the 16th time in the last 17 seasons.

Next up for Thome is Frank Robinson, who is eighth all-time with 586 homers.

Matt Tolbert added two triples and a career-high five RBI, while J.J. Hardy hit a two-run double for the Twins, winners in four of five. Carl Pavano (16-10) helped the Twins maintain their four-game lead over the White Sox in the AL Central after allowing three runs on eight hits in eight strong innings.

Chicago captured the first game against Boston in a doubleheader that continues later Saturday.

Ian Kinsler homered, while Julio Borbon hit a two-run double for the Rangers, who have lost 10 of 14 on the road but still hold a sizeable lead in the AL West. Colby Lewis (9-12) continued his struggles, allowing nine runs, eight hits and two walks in 3 2/3 frames. Lewis is now 0-7 in his last nine starts, not having won since July 16 at Boston.

Minnesota wasted no time jumping out to a big lead, scoring five times -- all with two outs -- in the opening inning. Denard Span worked a leadoff walk, and Orlando Hudson followed with a base hit to left. Two batters later, Thome worked a walk to load the bases with one out.

Delmon Young popped out, but the Twins' two-out attack took over. Hardy doubled in a pair of runs, and Jason Repko was hit by a pitch to re-load the bases. Tolbert plated all three runners with a triple to right for a 5-0 advantage.

Thome gave the Twins a 6-0 lead with his homer leading off the third.

In the fourth, Span and Michael Cuddyer both singled ahead of Thome, who sent another blast to left-center for his 20th of the season, which gave Minnesota a commanding nine-run lead.

Mitch Moreland's RBI single in the fifth put Texas on the board, and Borbon's two-run double in the sixth got the Rangers to within 9-3.

Tolbert continued his career day with a two-run triple in the seventh and came around to score on a wild pitch for a 12-3 advantage.

Kinsler's leadoff homer in the ninth accounted for the final margin.

Game Notes

Thome recorded his 46th multi-homer game and the second this season...The Rangers still lead the season series, 5-4...Pavano snapped a three-start losing streak...Josh Hamilton (back) played for Texas after leaving Friday's game and went 0-for-2 before being replaced by Borbon...The Twins have won six straight at home over Texas...Securing at least a series victory, Minnesota improved to 16-4-2 in series at home this season, including wins in eight of its last nine.

Sartluck Baseball Betting News

<< Giants make cuts, QB Bomar among them
East Rutherford, NJ (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Quarterback Rhett Bomar was among the players released by the New York Giants on Saturday, as the team reduced its roster to the 53-player maximum. Bomar, a fifth-round 2009 draft choice out of Sam Hous

<< 25th-ranked West Virginia opens by blanking Coastal Carolina
Morgantown, WV (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Geno Smith completed 20-of-27 passes for a career-high 216 yards and two touchdowns in his first collegiate start and Noel Devine ran for 111 yards and a score to lead West Virginia to a 31-0 drubbin

<< Ducks dominate in opener against New Mexico
Eugene, OR (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Kenjon Barner rushed for 146 yards and four touchdowns on 17 carries as 11th-ranked Oregon used a powerful first half to dismantle New Mexico, 72-0, in the first-ever meeting between the schools

<< Hamlin edges Newman for Atlanta pole
Hampton, GA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Denny Hamlin earned his first pole of the season by topping Ryan Newman in Saturday's qualifying for the Emory Healthcare 500 at Atlanta Motor Speedway. Hamlin turned in a lap of 187.380 m.p.

<< Texans release 21; officially sign RB Ward
Houston, TX (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Houston Texans released 21 players, sent three others to various reserve lists, and officially signed running back Derrick Ward as part of their roster maneuvers on Saturday. The Texans released quarterback

Vikings Release WR Walker, 19 others >>
Eden Prairie, MN (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Veteran wide receiver Javon Walker was among the players released by the Minnesota Vikings on Saturday, as the team reduced its roster to the 53-player NFL maximum. Walker, who was signed in August after a

Longhorns begin post-McCoy era with win over Rice >>
Houston, TX (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Sophomore running back Tre' Newton rushed for a career-high three touchdowns, as the fifth-ranked Texas Longhorns bounced back from a slow start to defeat the Rice Owls, 34-17, in the season opener for both sc

Wood, Reds handle Cardinals >>
St. Louis, MO (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Travis Wood turned in seven solid innings and hit his first career home run to lead Cincinnati in a 6-1 victory over rival St. Louis in the middle test of a crucial three-game set at Busch Stadium. Jonny Go

Eagles send Andrews to Seattle >>
Philadelphia, PA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Philadelphia Eagles reportedly sent offensive lineman Stacy Andrews to Seattle on Saturday for an undisclosed draft pick in 2011. The move was reported on the team's website, although there

Siavii, Octavien among Cowboys' 20 cuts >>
Irving, TX (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Defensive lineman Junior Siavii and linebacker Steve Octavien were among the most recognizable names released by the Dallas Cowboys on Saturday, as the team pared its roster to the 53-player maximum. Siavii, a f

Pro Football Odds : NFC SOUTH BETTING ODDS

NFL Sports Betting

NFL betting action is back! At MySportsbook, all of the pro football odds are posted for the NFC North. Check out how we see the four teams in this cloudy division stacking up this year in the chase for the playoffs! Green Bay Packers (+125) - With QB Aaron Rodgers leading the offense and DC Dom Capers working his magic on defense, the Packers are a real force to be reckoned with.

Virtually nothing changed on this offense for Green Bay from last year to this year, save for the addition of rookie OT Brian Bulaga to the bunch. Expect more huge numbers from the Pack, and a relatively favorable schedule should get them over the hump and into the playoffs once again this season. My NFL Betting Predictions: 11-5, 1st place in NFC North Minnesota Vikings (+130) - There are still too many unknowns about the Vikes this year. There is a huge difference between QB Brett Favre and either Tarvaris Jackson or Sage Rosenfels under center. Plus, is Favre comes back, is he really going to be able to keep his pick total under double digits again? Depth at running back looked like it might have been an issue with RB Chester Taylor fleeing in free agency, but drafting RB Toby Gerhart should pick up the difference. This defense is still suitable, but with a first place schedule, making the playoffs is going to be very tough regardless of whether #4 comes back or not.

There is a huge difference between QB Brett Favre and either Tarvaris Jackson or Sage Rosenfels under center. Plus, is Favre comes back, is he really going to be able to keep his pick total under double digits again? Depth at running back looked like it might have been an issue with RB Chester Taylor fleeing in free agency, but drafting RB Toby Gerhart should pick up the difference. This defense is still suitable, but with a first place schedule, making the playoffs is going to be very tough regardless of whether #4 comes back or not. Play this weekly NFL Football Contestto see if you can win.

Chicago Bears (+350) - The Bears are probably a bit of an overhyped team once again this year.No, we don't think it is plausible for QB Jay Cutler to have as bad of a season as he did last year, and we do think the additions of RB Chester Taylor and DE Julius Peppers are going to help immensely, but there's still something in the water in the Windy City that we aren't so sure about. Maybe Chicago finds its way to .500... but then again, maybe it doesn't. If Favre comes back, Cutler might be the worst quarterback in this division this year.

Detroit Lions (+1500) - The Lions are probably once again going to be the whipping boys for the rest of the teams in the NFC North, but they aren't just going to roll over and die once again. There is some real talent amassing on this team offensively, as the combination of QB Matt Stafford, RB Jahvid Best, WR Calvin Johnson, and TE Brandon Pettigrew should put a bunch of points on the board if the offensive line can even remotely hold up. The questions really lie on defense, where it feels like DT Ndamukong Suh is going to be trying to stop opposing teams all by himself. This year should show some marked improvement in the Motor City.

The Patriots will make NFL betting fans a lot of money this season, get in early and enjoy the cash.

NFL Betting

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