Butler's late homer lifts Royals over O's

Baseball Betting Lines

07/31/2010 - Kansas City, MO (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Billy Butler's go-ahead, two-run homer in the eighth proved to be the difference, lifting the Kansas City Royals to a 4-3 win over the lowly Baltimore Orioles.

Butler's 10th home run of the season gave the Royals their second win in the first three games of this series. Mitch Maier added a solo homer and two RBI in the victory.

Zack Greinke (7-10) went eight innings, allowing three runs on seven hits and three walks while fanning six to earn the win. Joakim Soria pitched a scoreless ninth for his 28th save.

Nick Markakis notched a two-run double for the Orioles, who have lost seven of eight. Adam Jones had two hits and an RBI in defeat.

Brad Bergesen lasted seven innings, yielding just two runs, five hits and a walk. He was in line for the win before David Hernandez (5-8) allowed Butler's homer in the eighth.

Hernandez came on to pitch the bottom of the eighth for Baltimore, but couldn't protect a 3-2 lead.

Chris Getz lead off with what looked to be an extra-base hit in the right- center field gap, but Markakis dove for an outstanding catch. It proved to save a run, as Butler followed a Jason Kendall single with a blast to left, putting Kansas City ahead, 4-3.

Soria pitched around a two-out single in the ninth to preserve the victory.

Maier's leadoff blast in the third gave the Royals a lead, but Bergesen shut down Kansas City's offense from there.

Bergesen didn't allow a baserunner -- other than Maier -- to advance past first base in any of the first five innings, and the Orioles finally provided some run support in the sixth.

Julio Lugo began the inning with an infield single and quickly scampered to third on Brian Roberts' base hit to right. Markakis sent a 1-0 pitch to left for a two-run double and a Baltimore lead, and Markakis later scored on Adam Jones' single for a 3-1 advantage.

The Royals cut their deficit in half in the seventh.

After Bergesen retired Jose Guillen, Alex Gordon, Mike Aviles and Maier all singled in succession, with Maier's hit driving in a run. With two runners still on base, Bergesen was able to get out of the jam by striking out Willie Bloomquist and getting Yuniesky Betancourt to ground out.

Game Notes

Kansas City leads the season series, 3-2...The Royals acquired pitchers Jesse Chavez and Tim Collins and outfielder Gregor Blanco from Atlanta in exchange for outfielder Rick Ankiel and pitcher Kyle Farnsworth...The Orioles acquired pitcher Rick Vanden Hurk from Florida in exchange for pitcher Will Ohman...The Orioles fell to 17-15 in one-run games and had as many hits with runners in scoring position (two) as they did in the previous five games combined.

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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.

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