Santana departs early, but Mets hold off Braves

Baseball Betting Lines

09/02/2010 - Atlanta, GA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Johan Santana left after five innings, but limited Atlanta to just one run as the New York Mets avoided a four-game sweep at the hands of the Braves with a 4-2 win.

Santana (11-9) left the game with a strained pectoral muscle. Prior to his departure, the left-hander had given up the one run on three hits with a walk and three strikeouts to break a three-start losing streak.

David Wright hit a solo home run while Joaquin Arias also had an RBI for the Mets, who had dropped six of eight coming into the game.

Brian McCann went 3-for-4 with a solo home run while Martin Prado drove in the other run for the Braves, who had a five-game winning streak stopped.

Tim Hudson (15-6), who was named the National League Pitcher of the Month on Thursday, had a six-game winning streak snapped as he was charged with four runs -- three earned -- on eight hits with a walk and four strikeouts over seven innings.

The loss shortened Atlanta's lead in the NL East to 2 1/2 games over Philadelphia, which is currently playing Colorado.

The Mets tagged Hudson for a pair of runs in the first inning. With two outs, Carlos Beltran hit a triple to center, and he came home when Omar Infante's throw to third went into the visitor's dugout. The next three batters then reached base to set the stage for Arias, who beat out an infield single to score Chris Carter for a 2-0 lead.

The Braves got one back in the second when McCann led off the frame with a blast over the right field wall, his 20th home run of the season.

Wright's homer in the sixth extended New York's lead to 3-1.

New York tacked on another run in the seventh as Luis Castillo singled with one out, Lucas Duda reached base on an Infante error and Beltran followed with a fielder's choice to plate Castillo for a 4-1 lead.

McCann led off the seventh with a single, but Matt Diaz lined out to first which saw McCann caught off the bag for the double play. Alex Gonzalez then grounded out to end the inning.

With Bobby Parnell on the mound in the eighth, Melky Cabrera led off with a single to center for the Braves. Parnell got the next two batters out, but Jason Heyward worked a walk and a passed ball moved both runners into scoring position. Prado then hit a high chopper that Wright made a barehanded grab on, but he was unable to make a play and Cabrera scored to make it a two-run game. Derrek Lee, though, flied out to end the inning.

Hisanori Takahashi worked around a leadoff single by McCann in the ninth to pick up his third save of the season.

Game Notes

McCann eclipsed the 20-home run plateau for the third straight season and fourth time in his six-year career. His career high was 24 in 2006...Atlanta has taken eight of the 15 games with the Mets this season. These teams have one more series this season, which will take place in New York from September 17-19...Atlanta plays a three-game set in Florida starting Friday...The Mets continue their 10-game road trip in Chicago on Friday.

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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.

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