Howard, Schneider power Phils past Dodgers

Baseball Betting Lines

09/01/2010 - Los Angeles, CA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Ryan Howard and Brian Schneider each hit a three-run home run as the Philadelphia Phillies downed the Los Angeles Dodgers, 8-4, in the second of three games.

Carlos Ruiz added a two-run single for the Phillies, who have won four of their last five. Kyle Kendrick (9-7) got the win as he was charged with four runs on seven hits over five-plus innings of work.

Philadelphia remained three games behind Atlanta for first place in the NL East as the Braves defeated the Mets on Tuesday. The Phils did stay 1 1/2 games ahead of San Francisco for the NL Wild Card spot as the Giants defeated Colorado on Tuesday.

James Loney hit a two-run home run and finished the game with three RBI and Jamey Carroll drove in the other run for the Dodgers, who have dropped three of four. Carlos Monasterios (3-5) was tagged for five runs on five hits in just two-plus innings of work to take the loss.

"Monasterios is still learning," said Dodgers manager Joe Torre. "We crept back into it, but we just couldn't keep the pressure on them when they scored those last two runs."

The Dodgers struck in the first inning as a bases loaded walk by Loney forced home Scott Podsednik for a 1-0 lead.

It was short-lived, though, as Jayson Werth doubled to start the second, Shane Victorino later walked and Schneider crushed the first pitch he saw over the right field wall for a 3-1 lead.

The Phils added to their lead in the third. Placido Polanco started the frame with a single and Chase Utley followed with a single. That chased Monasterios from the mound, as Ramon Troncoso took over, and Howard greeted him with a shot over the center field wall for a 6-1 advantage.

"It felt good to make contact," Howard said. "It was a fastball, and I just reacted. It wasn't that I was happy I hit a home run -- I was happy to get a hit."

The Dodgers got one back in the fifth when Jamey Carroll's groundout scored Rod Barajas to make it a 6-2 game.

Los Angeles then cut its deficit in half in the sixth as Matt Kemp led off with a single and Loney followed with a shot over the right field wall to make it a 6-4 game.

Philadelphia, though, got the runs back in the seventh as Ruiz's pinch-hit, two-run single gave the team an 8-4 lead.

J.C. Romero set the Dodgers down in order in the seventh while Ryan Madson did the same in the eighth.

Brad Lidge then worked a 1-2-3 ninth to lock down the win.

Game Notes

Howard hit his first home run in the month of August and it was his first round-tripper in 13 games...It was the first time since June 29 that the Phillies hit two home runs in a game...Philadelphia has won three of the five games with Los Angeles this season...Kendrick improved to 3-3 over six career starts against LA...Monasterios has dropped his past five decisions...Los Angeles third baseman Casey Blake went 0-for-4 and had a nine-game hitting streak snapped.

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Pacific-10 Conference odds

Teams that should be in: Stanford

Oregon and USC get their tickets punched after taking care of business this weekend. Yes, the Trojans' computer numbers aren't great, but there's no way the third-place team in this league is getting nixed. Grudgingly, I added Arizona after consultation with our Bracketologist. I don't know that Arizona will lose its last three (including a Pac-10 quarterfinal game), and even if the Cats do, I still can't see how they'd be left out, given the overall profile. That said, it bears watching, as three more L's would leave them at 18-12 (9-9) and on a 6-11 skid entering the Dance. It would be nice to see the Wildcats get at least one W in the Bay Area next week, as Cincinnati (albeit without Armein Kirkland and with a worse profile) was axed after a similar slide last season. I just couldn't rationalize having some of the other teams as locks and not having Arizona in that category -- there just aren't enough good teams behind the Cats to threaten their spot, it seems. Stanford has its fate in its own hands with the Arizona schools coming to the Farm to close out the regular season next weekend.

Should be in:

Stanford [17-10 (9-7), RPI: 40, SOS: 21] No shame in not getting a win in L.A., but that makes the home game against Arizona State a must-win ahead of what could be an intriguing meeting with Arizona should the Cats lose at Cal. Getting to 11 Pac-10 wins would make Selection Sunday much more comfortable, but 10's probably more than enough this season. The Cardinal have nonconference wins over Texas Tech and at Virginia to lean on, although they also lost badly to Air Force and Santa Clara at home.

Southeastern Conference odds
Work left to do: Alabama, Georgia, Mississippi, Mississippi State

It looks more and more possible that no one from the SEC West will make the NCAAs. How weird is that? Tennessee and Vandy move into the locks category after more good work this weekend. Kentucky stays there, although it would be smart for the Cats to handle Georgia at home Wednesday ahead of a trip to the Swamp. Could a disaster scenario (two more L's and a first-round SEC tourney exit) somehow dislodge the Cats despite their incredible computer numbers? Still unlikely, but not worth chancing it.

Work left to do:

Alabama [19-9 (6-8), RPI: 43, SOS: 47] The tough L at Tennessee was understandable, and even created some hope. Unfortunately, that hope was dashed by a home loss to Auburn, which leaves the Tide in some real trouble. There's still no signature win on the profile (no, Kentucky doesn't count), and the computer profile is weakening rapidly. The Tide conceivably could beat Ole Miss and win at Miss. State to get to 8-8 and clinch at least a share of the West crown, but that's probably not enough right now. The Tide will need to do some work in the SEC tourney.

Georgia [16-10 (8-6), RPI: 52, SOS: 23] This is the team with the best chance to make it from this section right now. The Bulldogs rebounded from a terrible performance at Ole Miss to beat down Miss. State. Now they are at Kentucky (king of the RPI 51-100 win) and home to Tennessee. That would be worth a lot of computer points to get both (which is doable), as both teams are in the top 11 in RPI. Finishing at least 9-7 is an absolute must, and I would feel much better about the Dawgs' chances if they got both to get to 10 SEC wins. They also beat Gonzaga, but lost to ACC bubblers Georgia Tech and Clemson.

Mississippi [18-10 (7-7), RPI: 63, SOS: 79] Like everyone else in this division, Ole Miss gacked up a chance to stake a claim, losing by double figures at South Carolina. Even 9-7 likely is not nearly enough with a nonconference profile devoid of anything notable.

Mississippi State [16-11 (7-7), RPI: 66, SOS: 37] With a chance to get in the mix, these Bulldogs were leashed by their Georgia counterparts. Could they get to 9-7? I guess -- although winning at Arkansas, then beating Alabama is no lock -- but would that mean all that much for a team with this overall profile? Probably not. There's nothing of note (on the good side) in the nonconference profile.

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