Big Unit is big letdown in return to Arizona mound

Baseball Betting Lines

04/25/2007 - Phoenix, AZ (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Randy Johnson was pounded in his return for Arizona, as San Diego jumped on the Big Unit and handed the Diamondbacks their fifth straight setback, 10-5, to open a three-game series at Chase Field.

Johnson was brought back to the home of Cy Young Awards and World Series glory, acquired in a January trade with the New York Yankees. After two dissatisfying seasons in the Big Apple, Johnson was given a change of scenery back to familiar territory.

The flame-throwing southpaw won four of his five Cy Young Awards in a Diamondback uniform while playing an integral part in Arizona's 2001 championship team.

He had back surgery in October and wasn't ready for the beginning of the season, instead throwing three rehab starts before Tuesday's season debut.

And it wasn't vintage Johnson (0-1), who gave up six runs on six hits with four walks and seven strikeouts over five frames.

The other 43-year-old on the mound pitched just well enough for the win. David Wells (1-1) gave up five runs on eight hits with two walks and three strikeouts in five innings.

Trevor Hoffman pitched the last out for his fourth save.

Khalil Greene was the major hitting star for the Padres, finishing 4-for-5 with four runs batted in. Adrian Gonzalez hit his sixth homer as part of a 3- for-3 night with three RBI and three runs scored for San Diego, which has won four of five.

Carlos Quentin homered and Stephen Drew tripled and drove in a pair in defeat.

The Diamondbacks took an early 2-0 advantage with a pair of two-out runs in the second. Chad Tracy tripled past Mike Cameron in center and Quentin drilled his first homer of the year over the wall in left.

San Diego first got to Johnson in the top of the third. Jose Cruz, Jr. walked with one out then walked the rest of the way around the bases on Gonzalez' homer.

Chris Young's one-out double set the table for the Diamondbacks in the bottom of the third, and Drew drove him home with a single to right for a 3-2 lead.

The score remained that way until San Diego blitzed Johnson in the fifth. Cruz, Jr. clubbed a belt-high slider high in the air and over the fence in left to tie the game then Brian Giles singled, Gonzalez walked and Cameron was plunked by a pitch to load the bases.

Greene cleared them, turning on an inside fastball into the gap in right- center field for a 6-3 advantage.

Arizona cut the deficit to 6-5 during the home half of the fifth as Robby Hammock walked and scored on the first of consecutive triples. Drew tripled to right and Orlando Hudson followed with a three-bagger to nearly the same location, scoring Drew for the margin.

Dana Eveland replaced Johnson and suffered the same fate in the top of the sixth. Marcus Giles doubled and was driven home by his brother Brian's base hit to center. A passed ball moved Brian Giles to second, and he scored on Gonzalez' ground-rule double.

Brandon Medders then entered and things got worse for Arizona.

After Cameron popped up, Greene singled just in front of Eric Byrnes in left. Byrnes made a strong throw that was oddly cut off by Medders just a few feet in front of what would have been a play at the plate. The pitcher spun and fired errantly to second, and Greene came all of the way around to score the Padres' 10th run.

Game Notes

Yusmeiro Petit, who made the start in Sunday's loss to San Francisco, was sent to Triple-A Tucson to make room for Johnson on the roster...Young and Tracy each had two hits in the loss...Attendance 19,508.

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Kurt Warner to start, Matt Leinart to watch

Despite the debate that's swirling , Kurt Warner will remain the starting quarterback for the Arizona Cardinals, coach Dennis Green said today. The Arizona Cardinals are the +7 point underdog at online sportsbook MySportsbook.com for this Sunday's game.

Green's comment came in a statement released by the team following an ESPN report that Green decided that rookie Matt Leinart would replace Warner as starter for Sunday's game at Atlanta.

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Mens NCAA Basketball Tournament odds  
As of February 9, MySportsbook.com has released its coveted 2007 Mens NCAA Basketball Tournament betting odds. “March Madness betting ” only a month away, the top ranked Florida Gators are favorite at 7-2 to win it all. The defending champs have not disappointed at all this season and currently have a 22-2 record and are undefeated (9-0) in SEC play. The Gators’ thrive off of their extremely balanced, experienced and versatile attack. All five starters started in last seasons National Championship game. What is most impressive with this group is their balance; the five starters all average between 10.7 and 13.6 PPG. The Gators have been on an absolute roll having won 15 straight by an average of 16.4 PPG.

Right behind the Gators are the 5th ranked UNC Tar Heels at 9-2. The Heels (21-3, 7-2) are absolutely loaded with top notch talent and are as deep as any team in the country. A concern for the Tar Heels might be inexperience. Of their top four scorers/ minute earners, three are freshmen and the other is a sophomore. The rest of the regular season, the Tar Heels play only one team that is currently ranked (Duke). Their remaining opponents do combine for an impressive 107-58 record though.

Other teams that the MySportsbook.com members seem to believe will win it all include the west coasts’ top team #2 UCLA (6-1), #3 OSU behind man-child Greg Oden (8-1), and #4 Wisconsin (10-1) behind their defense which has given up 70+ points only three times all season.

Below is a list of some of the favorites to win the 2007 Men’s NCAA Basketball Championship lines. For the full list of teams and March Madness odds be sure to log onto MySportsbook.com. If you want to use your credit card to bet on college hoops or any other event, MySportsbook.com has the highest credit card acceptance rate in the industry.

Arizona 20-1

Butler 20-1

Duke 30-1

Florida 7-2

Georgetown 30-1

Indiana 35-1

Kansas 15-1

Marquette 25-1

Maryland 40-1

Memphis 50-1

Nevada 50-1

UNC 9-2

OSU 8-1

Oregon 30-1

Pittsburgh 15-1

Texas 30-1

Texas A&M 18-1

UCLA 6-1

Wisconsin 10-1

To visit this online sportsbook got to MySportsbook.com for all your Sportsbook betting needs.