Kubel's two homers power Twins over Yankees

Baseball Betting Lines

05/28/2010 - Minneapolis, MN (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Jason Kubel slugged a pair of home runs and drove in five while Nick Blackburn worked effectively over seven innings, as the Twins avoided a three-game sweep at the hands of the Yankees with an 8-2 win at Target Field.

The combination of Kubel and Blackburn (6-1) again proved to be the right elixir for Minnesota's struggles against New York. The Yankees' lone loss to the Twins over the last two seasons came back on May 16 at Yankee Stadium when Kubel belted a go-ahead grand slam in the eighth inning off Mariano Rivera and Blackburn hurled seven strong innings in the eventual 6-3 triumph.

On Thursday, Blackburn limited New York to two runs on nine hits and did not issue a walk, while Kubel added an RBI double and scored three times. Justin Morneau went 2-for-2 with a walk and an RBI for Minnesota, which notched only its second win in the series in the last 15 meetings -- including a New York sweep of last year's AL Divisional matchup.

"It's always good to scratch out any wins against these guys. We lost a couple close games (this series), and we have the last two years. It's a good way to end the series," Blackburn said.

Javier Vazquez (3-5) labored through 5 2/3 innings, giving up five runs on eight hits and three walks while reaching 112 pitches. Robinson Cano knocked in both Yankee runs with a double and a single.

New York had posted one-run victories in each of the first two matchups after dropping five of six coming into this set.

"We won two games, I don't want to overlook that. We beat a very good Minnesota team two out of three," said Yankees manager Joe Girardi.

The Twins had dropped three in a row and six of their last eight tilts as the game got underway, but got to Vazquez for an early 3-0 edge.

The Twins manufactured a first-inning run when Orlando Hudson worked a one-out walk, took third on a Joe Mauer single and scored on Morneau's sacrifice fly.

Michael Cuddyer led off the second frame with a double into the gap in right center and Kubel followed suit to make it 2-0. J.J. Hardy then singled to put runners at the corners and Alexi Casilla brought in Kubel with a double- play ball.

Blackburn, meanwhile, retired seven in a row beginning with a double-play ball off the bat of Alex Rodriguez to end the first. Brett Gardner began the fourth with a base hit, moved up on an error and crossed home on Cano's single to center.

Hudson tripled leading off the home fifth and later scored on a Jim Thome sacrifice fly. New York countered in the sixth on doubles by Mark Teixeira and Cano for a 4-2 game.

Kubel took care of the rest, though, extending the lead to three with a leadoff blast deep to right-center in the bottom half.

"I left a couple of hangers to Kubel. The first couple of innings my command wasn't there," remarked Vazquez.

With two out in the seventh, Kubel lined a 3-2 fastball just over a set of overhanging seats in right field for a three-run homer to cap a nine- pitch at-bat against Chad Gaudin.

The Twins cruised from there behind scoreless innings from relievers Jose Mijares and Alex Burnett.

Game Notes

Blackburn has won each of his five starts this month and lasted at least seven innings in each. The right-hander also improved to 4-0 in five trips to the Target Field mound this season...Vazquez had delivered six brilliant innings to defeat the crosstown-rival Mets last Friday at Citi Field after a disappointing start to 2010. His earned-run average stands at 6.86 through eight starts and one relief appearance...Cano continues to rake for the Yanks with a .342 average and 30 runs batted in through his first 47 games...Morneau did well to lift his major league-leading average to .377...Gaudin made his first appearance for the Yankees after signing as a free agent on Wednesday. He was released by Oakland late last week. The righty fanned three, walked one and allowed a run on two hits over 1 2/3 innings of Thursday's setback.

Wwwrichsex Baseball Betting News

<< Artest beats buzzer with put back, Lakers steal Game 5
Los Angeles, CA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Ron Artest caught Kobe Bryant's air ball and put in the winning shot at the buzzer, lifting the Los Angeles Lakers to a dramatic 103-101 win over Phoenix in the pivotal Game 5 of the Western Confere

<< Report: Two UConn assistants resign
Storrs, CT (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The University of Connecticut has called a news conference for 10 a.m. (et) Friday at Gampel Pavilion, when the school is expected to disclose its review of possible recruiting violations in the men's basketb

<< DeJesus helps Royals edge BoSox
Boston, MA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - David DeJesus went 2-for-4 with a pair of RBI, including the eventual game-winner in the sixth, as the Royals slowed down the surging Red Sox, 4-3, in the opener of a four-game set. Boston came into the game

<< Langer, Freeman share Senior PGA lead
Denver, CO (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - World Golf Hall of Famer Bernhard Langer fired a six-under 66 Thursday to join Robin Freeman in the lead after the opening round of the Senior PGA Championship. Langer, who has topped the Champions Tour

<< Battle of unbeatens as Crew host Galaxy
Columbus, OH (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Columbus Crew host the Los Angeles Galaxy on Saturday night in Major League Soccer action in what very well could be a preview of MLS Cup 2010. Both teams are unbeaten just under a third of the way i

Mets whitewash Phillies again, complete rare shutout sweep >>
Flushing, NY (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Mike Pelfrey gave up just three hits in seven innings and the New York Mets blanked the Philadelphia Phillies again, 3-0, to complete a rare three-game whitewash of the NL East leaders at Citi Field. The Met

Braves outlast Marlins, rain in Florida >>
Miami, FL (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Martin Prado went 3-for-6 with two runs batted in and David Ross knocked in a pair, as the Atlanta Braves handled the Florida Marlins, 8-3, in the rubber match of a three-game series at Sun Life Stadium. Yunel

Flyers fans still bullish on their Bullies >>
PHILADELPHIA (AP) -In an era when hockey games may as well have been held inside the squared circle, the Broad Street Bullies spilled enough blood to fill a decade's worth of Stanley Cups.They embraced their moniker as the most despised team in the

Nadal, Djokovic roll into third round at French Open >>
Paris, France (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic were easy straight-set winners Friday in second-round play at the 2010 French Open. Nadal, the four-time champ and second seed, rolled to a 6-2, 6-2, 6-3 win over Horacio

Serena, Henin power into third round at French Open >>
Paris, France (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Serena Williams and Justine Henin were easy winners Friday in the second round of the 2010 French Open. Williams, the top seed and 2002 champ, needed a mere 55 minutes to dispose of Germany's Julia Goerge

It's less than a month until the NHL hockey betting season opens at MySportsbook.com and preparations are underway for another battle in the race to hoist Lord Stanley's mug in 2007.

As cup crazy fans prepare to place their bets, one online sportsbook ,MySportsbook.com, is offering hockey betting lines on the 2007/2007 Stanley Cup , who will bring it home this upcoming season.

Despite a poor showing in last season's playoffs and the loss of Steve Yzerman to retirement, the Detroit Red Wings are early favourites at this online sportsbook with wagering odds of 6-1. The Wings will look to offensive powerhouse Pavel Datsyuk and newly appointed captain Nicklas Lidstrom to lead one of the league's most prominent franchises.

Always a threat are the Ottawa Senators, with newly acquired goaltender Martin Gerber from the Stanley Cup champion ,Carolina Hurricanes. The Sens are second best in the rankings at a 7-1 bet, and odds makers at this sportsbook are optimistic that the Ottawa squad will fare better than last season's Eastern Conference semi-final upset to the Buffalo Sabres.

Also worth noting are the defending Stanley Cup champs Carolina Hurricanes, a 10-1 bet to repeat. Behind the Canes are the New Jersey Devils, Calgary Flames, Buffalo Sabres, Philadelphia Flyers, and Anaheim Mighty Ducks all sit at 12-1. In the basement are the Washington Capitals, Chicago Blackhawks, and St. Louis Blues who all have 100-1 odds to win.

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