Thome's HR in 10th pushes Twins' division lead to four

Baseball Betting Lines

08/18/2010 - Minneapolis, MN (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Jim Thome played hero against his former team, drilling a two-run homer off Matt Thornton in the 10th inning, as the Twins edged Chicago, 7-6, to widen their lead to four games over the White Sox in the AL Central.

Alexei Ramirez hit the tying homer off Matt Capps to start the ninth inning and then singled in Brent Lillibridge with the go-ahead run in the 10th for Chicago, but Thome delivered in a big spot to send Minnesota to its fifth straight win.

Delmon Young singled to center to start the bottom of the 10th and Thome, who played for nearly four full seasons (2006-09) for the White Sox, then clobbered an 0-1 pitch from Thornton (3-4) into the crowd beyond the wall in right field.

Thome's 581 career home runs rank 10th on baseball's all-time list, two behind Mark McGwire.

After the game, Thome received a celebratory shaving cream pie to the face while he was being interviewed on the field.

"With them (White Sox) you take it day-by-day, you don't get ahead of yourselves," Thome said. "Any time you can gain ground or gain a game in the standings against a team like that, they can get hot like they did and run off a win streak. Our big thing is to keep the approach we have every day and stay true to our approach. Each of us knows our role and we've done a nice job with that."

Orlando Hudson and Young both homered off starter John Danks. Thome had three hits and drove in three runs in Minnesota's biggest win yet at new Target Field. Young also had three hits as the Twins moved to 9-4 this season against the White Sox.

Ron Mahay (1-1) retired the final batter in the top of the 10th to get the win in the opener of the big three-game series.

Paul Konerko and Mark Kotsay also homered for the White Sox, who lost for the seventh time in nine games.

Young homered to left field in the fifth, putting the Twins up 5-4.

Thornton escaped a jam in the eighth by retiring Denard Span on a fly ball to center, leaving runners at the corners.

Ramirez then homered to left field, but the White Sox lost an opportunity to add to their lead after loading the bases. Konerko, though, grounded into a 4-6-3 double play with first baseman Michael Cuddyer digging a low throw out of the dirt.

Kotsay and A.J. Pierzynski each singled in the 10th. Ramirez singled beyond diving shortstop J.J. Hardy to give Chicago the short-lived lead.

Hudson homered to left-center in the first inning, Kubel added a two-run triple just after singles from Joe Mauer and Cuddyer. Thome singled in Kubel later in the frame.

Konerko and Kotsay went deep in the second for a 4-3 game.

Thome was thrown out at the plate trying to score on Danny Valencia's double to end the third, and the White Sox tied it in the fourth on Pierzynski's RBI double.

Twins starter Scott Baker loaded the bases in the fifth, but Glen Perkins got Kotsay on a ground ball to keep the game tied.

"We fought back," White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen said. "They're playing hard, they played very good. The only thing you can do is go out and get them tomorrow."

Game Notes

Hardy missed the previous four games with a sore wrist...Danks allowed 11 hits over his seven innings...Baker yielded four hits in 4 2/3 frames...Chicago left 10 men on base and Minnesota nine.

Wwwquam Baseball Betting News

<< Top seeded Jankovic falls in Montreal
Montreal, QC (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Iveta Benesova, a qualifier from the Czech Republic, upended top-seeded Jelena Jankovic, 7-6 (7-3), 6-3, Tuesday at the $2 million Rogers Cup, a U.S. Open tune-up. The event is being played on the hardcou

<< Greinke helps Royals edge Indians
Kansas City, MO (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Wilson Betemit and Yuniesky Betancourt each hit a home run to back six strong innings from Zack Greinke, as the Kansas City Royals edged the Cleveland Indians, 2-1, in opener of a three-game set. Greink

<< Pettitte, A-Rod each get MRIs
Bronx, NY (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - New York Yankees third baseman Alex Rodriguez and pitcher Andy Pettitte both had MRI exams taken on Tuesday. Rodriguez, who departed Monday's game against Detroit and sat out Tuesday's contest, underwent an

<< Garland, Padres edge Cubs
Chicago, IL (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Jon Garland threw seven scoreless innings and out-pitched Chicago starter Randy Wells to help the San Diego Padres edge the Cubs, 1-0, in a pitchers' duel at Wrigley Field. Garland (12-8) allowed four hits a

<< McGehee, Bush lead Brewers over Cardinals
St. Louis, MO (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Casey McGehee hit a two-run homer and Dave Bush was solid in six innings on the mound, as the Milwaukee Brewers held off the St. Louis Cardinals, 3-2, in the opener of a brief two-game set at Busch Stadium

Royals put Bannister on DL >>
Kansas City, MO (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Kansas City Royals have placed pitcher Brian Bannister on the 15-day disabled list because of right rotator cuff tendinitis. Bannister has not pitched since August 2. In 22 starts this season, the

Rolen, Arroyo help Reds top D'Backs >>
Phoenix, AZ (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Scott Rolen went 3-for-4 with three runs batted in to back Bronson Arroyo's solid performance on the mound, as the Cincinnati Reds rallied from an early two-run deficit to beat the Arizona Diamondbacks, 6-2, in

A's surge late to beat Jays >>
Oakland, CA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Coco Crisp went 3-for-4 with a walk and scored the go-ahead run in the seventh inning, as the Oakland Athletics rallied for a 6-2 win over the Toronto Blue Jays in the middle contest of a three-game series.

Kershaw pitches Dodgers past Rockies >>
Los Angeles, CA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Clayton Kershaw pitched seven scoreless innings to lead the Los Angeles Dodgers to a 6-0 win over the Colorado Rockies in the opener of a three-game series. Kershaw (11-7) allowed five hits and recorde

Hurricanes' Thomas granted extra year >>
Coral Gables, FL (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Miami-Florida forward Adrian Thomas was given an extra year of eligibility by the NCAA after injuries cost him nearly two full seasons. Thomas suffered back-to-back season-ending injuries four gam

Marlins could start season without No. 2 starter Johnson

JUPITER, Fla. -- The Foorida Marlins are preparing for the likelihood that right-hander
Josh Johnson won't be ready when the season starts April 2.

Grapefruit League action starts Wednesday, but Johnson, penciled in as the No. 2 starter, hasn't even thrown off a mound at full speed since September. He's experienced some soreness in his right forearm.

MySportsbook.com have the Marlins listed with baseball betting lines at +800 to win the NL East this season .

''You guys know the math. If he's not on the hill then he becomes an opening day roster issue,'' manager Fredi Gonzalez said Saturday. ''We're borderline now.''

Johnson, who finished 12-7 with a 3.10 ERA in 2007, was supposed to throw on flat ground Saturday. That was canceled when he woke up with pain.

He played catch on Wednesday with no pain but felt discomfort in a throwing session on Thursday. He's expected to try again Sunday.

''Like we always said from the very beginning, we're going to take it easy on him,'' Gonzalez said. ''He didn't feel right, so we shut him down. We're going to take it back to step one and see where we're at.''

Among the candidates to take Johnson's spot in the rotation are left-hander Chris George and right-handers Yusmeiro Petit and Jose Garcia.

Right-hander Sergio Mitre, who missed most of last season with arm and shoulder problems, also is behind.

With Johnson's status doubtful, Gonzalez said right-hander Ricky Nolasco will stay in the rotation and no longer will be considered a candidate for closer.

Additional basbeall odds can be found at: www.MySportsbook.com

To visit this online sportsbook got to MySportsbook.com - this sportsbook accepts credit cards.