09/05/2008 - (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Houston Astros have had to put together a pair of lengthy winning streaks to stay in the National League wild-card race, while the Colorado Rockies are still in the hunt due to a weak NL West.
The Astros and Rockies, both six games back in their respective races, meet tonight at Coors Field in the opener of a three-game series.
Houston has put together its second eight-game winning streak in less than a month to get within six games of Milwaukee for the NL's final playoff spot with 22 to play. The Astros also won a season-high eight in a row from August 7-14.
The Astros enter this series having swept a three-game set against the Chicago Cubs, owners of the best record in the league. In Wednesday's 4-0 victory, Randy Wolf threw his eighth career shutout and first since 2004, while Ty Wigginton hit a two-run homer.
Michael Bourn went 3-for-4 and scored once for Houston, which will try for its first nine-game winning streak since September 20-28, 2006..
Brian Moehler takes the hill for the Astros tonight. After having a five- decision winning streak end with a loss to the Mets on August 25, the righty came back with a win over St. Louis on Saturday. Moehler allowed three runs on seven hits in that one.
The 36-year-old is 10-5 with a 4.02 earned run average in 26 games, including 21 starts, this year. He is also 1-1 with a 6.11 ERA in six games (2 starts) lifetime versus Colorado.
Moehler hasn't started against the Rockies this year, but did face them in relief on April 18. He allowed three runs over three innings on that day.
While Colorado hasn't been nearly as hot as Houston, it still finds itself six games back of first-place Arizona in the NL West despite being nine games under .500 (66-75).
The Rockies were just 32-51 heading into July, but went a combined 32-23 in July and August to creep back into the picture in the division. They took two of three from San Francisco earlier this week, failing to post a sweep after Wednesday's 9-2 loss.
Aaron Cook lasted just three innings in the setback, while Clint Barmes had a solo homer for the Rockies, who have dropped four of their last seven. Jeff Baker drove in a run and Garrett Atkins scored in defeat.
Ubaldo Jimenez gets the nod tonight for the Rockies and suffered through control problems last time out. He faced the Padres on Saturday and allowed six runs on two hits and five walks, dropping to 1-3 with a 7.36 ERA over his last five starts.
The righty is 9-12 with a 4.19 ERA on the season and has walked 87 batters in 167 2/3 innings.
Jimenez, 24, made his first career start against Houston on April 20, getting a no-decision after allowing three runs on five hits and five walks over 5 2/3 innings.
Colorado won two of three when these two clubs met in Houston from April 18-20.
<< CC tries to stop Brewers' skid in game two with Padres
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Southpaw CC Sabathia can continue a masterful streak in the
National League when the Milwaukee Brewers host the San Diego Padres tonight
in game two of a four-game series from Miller Park.
The 6-foot-7, 290-pound Sabat
<< Cubs head to Cincinnati hoping to end rough stretch
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - With two injured aces, a season-high losing streak and a
horrid homestand despite having the best record as the host in the National
League this season -- maybe the Chicago Cubs really are cursed.
Chicago will try t
<< Stakes high as Mets, Phillies renew rivalry
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The New York Mets' late collapse that cost them last year's
National League East title began with a September sweep at the hands of the
Philadelphia Phillies.
The Mets will try to avoid the same fate this season as t
<< Pirates, Giants start series at AT&T Park
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Pittsburgh Pirates head west for the second leg of a
10-game road trip this evening, where the National League Central cellar-
dwellers will play the first of three straight meetings with the San Francisco
Giants at AT&
Molik retires from tennis >>
St. Petersburg, FL (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Former Top-10 player Alicia Molik has
announced her retirement from professional tennis.
The 27-year-old Aussie had her career derailed by an inner ear infection in
the spring of 2005. The probl
Report: Rangers' Kinsler needs season-ending surgery >>
Dallas, TX (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Texas Rangers second baseman Ian Kinsler
will reportedly undergo season-ending surgery to repair a sports hernia.
The Dallas Morning News reported that Kinsler, out since August 18 with the
injury, de
Men's semis on tap for Saturday at U.S. Open >>
Flushing Meadows, NY (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The men's semifinals are scheduled
to be staged Saturday at the U.S. Open, where top-ranked Rafael Nadal will
take on sixth-seeded Andy Murray and second-seeded and reigning four-time
champion Roger Fe
U.S. names Davis Cup squad for semis >>
New York, NY (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The USTA and captain Patrick McEnroe
announced that the defending champions named world No. 8 Andy Roddick, No. 9
James Blake and the doubles team of Bob and Mike Bryan to represent the U.S.
in the 2008 Davis C
Terrell Owens could return for Cowboys next game
A bye week will allow Terrell Owens broken hand to recover just in time for the next game the Dallas Cowboys are slated to play, according to reports. MySportsbook.com, an football sportsbook, has posted football betting lines on TO playing.
Owens broke the bone leading to his right ring finger Sunday night and had a plate surgically attached to it Monday. Although Owens' hand was swollen and aching Wednesday, Dallas Cowboys coach Bill Parcells said he's optimistic the receiver will be back at work next week and catching passes a week from Sunday against the Tennessee Titans.
MySportsbook.com online sportsbook listed Terrell Owens with odds of 7-2 (or $7 paid out for every $2 bet) to return back for the game against Tennessee.
"I certainly wouldn't rule it out now," Parcells said, referring to Terrell Owens immediate return. "Maybe five days from now I might, but I wouldn't rule it out now. ... I know we're looking to try to get him moving around pretty good in the next day or so. So we'll see where we are."
Owens did not speak with reporters Wednesday, but said Sunday he'd be out two to four weeks. A return against the Titans would be 13 days after the surgery. The Cowboys were listed as an early -7 1/2 favorite vs. the Tennessee Titans for Week 4 at MySportsbook.com
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