A's rout Tigers to finish sweep

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06/04/2008 - Oakland, CA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Carlos Gonzalez belted a three-run double to spark a six-run seventh inning, as the Oakland Athletics beat Detroit, 10-2, to complete a three-game sweep.

Bobby Crosby had two hits and two runs batted in, and Travis Buck homered and scored twice for Oakland, which is riding a four-game winning streak after dropping four straight.

Justin Duchscherer (5-4) allowed only two baserunners over the first five innings including a stretch that saw him retire nine straight and 12 of 13 batters for the win. His outing was finished after 6 2/3 innings, giving up two runs on three hits and five walks after running into trouble in the later innings.

Tigers starter Nate Robertson (3-6) surrendered five runs on eight hits and three walks while striking out five through 6 1/3 innings in taking the loss.

Magglio Ordonez and Carlos Guillen knocked in the runs for Detroit, which finished 3-6 on its road trip.

The Athletics got to Robertson in the fourth for the first run of the game. Emil Brown and Daric Barton started the frame with singles, and Brown scored on Buck's double-play groundout.

Oakland padded its lead one inning later. Jack Hannahan worked a one-out walk and Jack Cust roped a two-out double to right two batters later. Crosby then smacked a double to left, plating both runners.

Detroit had back-to-back one-out walks in the sixth and Guillen put the Tigers on the board with a single up the middle. Marcus Thames then worked a walk to load the bases and Duchscherer hit Ordonez with a pitch, forcing in a run. Duchscherer induced Jeff Larish into an inning-ending double play to stop the bleeding.

Buck gave Oakland back a two-run cushion, leading off the home half with a blast to right-center.

The A's batted around for six runs in the seventh, breaking open an otherwise close game. Robertson started the inning, but was removed in favor of Freddy Dolsi after walking a batter and recording an out. Dolsi struck out the first batter he faced, Crosby, and issued a walk to Brown before giving way to Casey Fossum.

Barton ripped an RBI single and Buck singled to load the bases before Gonzalez doubled to left, clearing the bases. Rob Bowen then singled back up the middle to plate Gonzalez. Aquilino Lopez came on for Fossum and gave up a Hannahan double to right-center that scored Bowen and capped the scoring.

Game Notes

This was the first series between the teams this season. Oakland took six of 10 matchups from Detroit last year....The A's continue a nine-game homestand, hosting the Angels for a three-game set beginning Friday, before the New York Yankees come to town...Detroit begins a 10-game homestand on Friday, hosting the Indians, White Sox and Dodgers...Tigers infielder Ramon Santiago left Wednesday's contest after injuring his shoulder while diving for a ground ball in the seventh inning. He was replaced by Edgar Renteria.

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After all the trouble that’s ensued since Braylon Edwards allegedly punched one of LeBron James’ homeboys in the face at a club, the Cleveland Browns have sent away their last remaining player of worth to the New York Jets. This is a great move for Dirty Sanchez and all, but it’s even better for the Knicks. Now Donnie Walsh can say, “You get to haunt Braylon Edwards with your posse if you sign here!” next summer.

Putting that aside for a moment, the move is a clear indication that the new-look Jets are gunning for the Super Bowl this year. I don’t think that New York thought that Dirty Sanchez was going to be such a rock star. With a 75.2 passer rating that was killed against the Jets, Sanchez is doing an admirable job of managing games and putting the Jets in a position to win. The defense has been the major story in New York thus far, but the acquisition of Braylon Edwards makes this offense loaded with talent that can dent any defense…as long as Dirty Sanchez continues his meteoric rise.

Thus far, Edwards has been a non-factor in the NFL piling up just 139 receiving yards on 10 catches. He has yet to find the endzone, and with the Browns mired in the most unsexy quarterback controversy of all time (Anderson vs. Quinn...yawn), there going nowhere fast. Edwards is two seasons removed from a career year which saw him catch 80 passes for 1,289 yards and 16 touchdowns when the Browns were the spread killing monsters of 2007. In 2008, injuries slowed the receiver down to just 873 yards and three touchdowns though he played in all 16 games.

So that being said, we really don’t know if Braylon Edwards is just a flash in the pan, or a legit threat. At 6-foot-3 and 215 pounds, he is a prototypical receiver. But he’s also shown a strange, and unwarranted, talent for dropping passes. Lining up opposite Jericho Cotchery, a speed demon with 23 catches, 356 yards and a single touchdown, may give Braylon the open looks he needs. A change of scenery may also rejuvenate the star receiver.

In return, the Browns will receive Chansi Stuckey, online football betting a special teams player you’ve never heard of and a pair of draft picks. That’s a tall order for a guy whose only real value right now is in his name, and it shows no promise to the Browns that they can rebuild around those acquisitions. Braylon was the only reason to hope for the Browns to go 3-14 SU this year. Without him, they don’t have a single guy on offense that can scare any team.

For the Jets, it’s a response to the pounding that they took at the hand of the Saints. Thomas Jones and Leon Washington have averaged around 4.0 yards per carry each on the ground, but striking a fair balance between the passing and rushing attacks in New York has been a struggle. You have to believe that the trio of Dustin Keller, Jericho Cotchery and Braylon Edwards will give Sanchez the weapons he needs to unleash through the air. Theoretically, that would open up holes for the rushing game. But the proposed public option health care plan works in theory too. We need to see the proof in the pudding before we start loading up mega bucks on the New York Jets to take the AFC.

The one wrinkle in this whole thing is that Braylon could very well be suspended by the league for disciplinary action due to his “brawl” with LeBron’s friend. If that’s the case, the Jets may have to bench him for a few games leaving them with a somewhat depleted receiving corps for a few games. Also, this is a guy who gets in fights with people at clubs. New York may not be the best place for him. Just sayin’.

The Jets have a long week before they meet the Miami Dolphins on Monday Night Football Betting in a virtual pick ‘em game. Braylon’s excess baggage may be a distraction, and his curiously low production may be what we should be expecting of him overall, but for the Jets, taking a chance to strike gold is well worth it. At the end of the year, they can simply just blame it on their rookie quarterback.

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