Pirates go with Maholm in finale vs. Astros

Baseball Betting Lines

07/18/2010 - (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Lefty Paul Maholm can establish a rarity for the 2010 Pittsburgh Pirates -- a win streak -- when they host the Houston Astros in the finale of a three-game weekend series today at PNC Park.

The Pirates had lost seven straight games around the All-Star break before Saturday night, when Neil Walker collected three hits, scored three times and knocked in a pair of runs as Pittsburgh pounded out 17 hits in a 12-6 win.

Jose Tabata and Lastings Milledge each had two hits and knocked in a pair of runs, while Garrett Jones, Pedro Alvarez, Erik Kratz and Ronny Cedeno also had two hits apiece.

Javier Lopez (2-1) earned the win by recording the final out in the fifth inning.

Brendan Donnelly, Evan Meek, Joel Hanrahan and Octavio Dotel then combined to retire the final 12 Houston hitters in succession to sew up Pittsburgh's first win over Houston in eight tries this season.

Bud Norris (2-7) took the loss after being charged with seven runs -- four earned -- on nine hits while walking two and striking out four over 4 2/3 innings for Houston, which has dropped three out of five.

Maholm, a product of Mississippi State University and a first-round draft pick (eighth overall) in 2003, is 8-5 lifetime against the Astros, but dropped a 4-3 decision in an April 23 matchup at Minute Maid Park in Houston.

In that game, he allowed six hits and two earned runs in seven innings, walking two batters and striking out three in his fourth start of the season.

He's won four of nine decisions in 14 outings since, including a 12-4 loss to Philadelphia on July 3 that was followed by seven strong innings - three hits, two runs - in a no-decision at Milwaukee six days later.

Maholm is 3-5 in eight home starts and the Pirates are 8-10 in games he's pitched.

For Houston, veteran ace Roy Oswalt looks for a second defeat of Pittsburgh in as many starts.

He beat the Pirates, 2-0, on July 8, going the distance while surrendering a single hit and striking out eight batters. It raised his lifetime mark against Pittsburgh to 15-7 and lowered his earned run average against the Buccos to 2.50.

Oswalt also downed the Pirates - and Maholm - in the aforementioned April 23 game, scattering four hits and allowing a pair of earned runs in seven innings.

The 32-year-old Mississippi native has allowed just 41 earned runs in 120 innings this season and is the subject of some trade talk now that the Astros have plunged out of contention in the National League's Central Division.

Houston is 7-11 in the games Oswalt has pitched.

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Chiefs' Treen Green out for Sunday's game

How long Trent Green will remain sidelined is unknown. Coach Herm Edwards said Monday he will miss a second straight start Sunday when the Chiefs host the San Francisco 49ers.

A two-time Pro Bowler, Green was going into a feet-first hook slide when he was knocked unconscious by a thunderous, head-snapping hit from Cincinnati's Robert Geathers.

Oddsmakers at online sportsbook MySportsbook.com currently have the Chiefs listed as 7-point favorites versus the 49ers.

The 49ers got beat by Philadelphia 38-24 as a 6.5-point underdog last week. The combined score went OVER the posted over/under total (42.5).

Alex Smith completed 27-of-46 passes for 293 yards with a touchdown. Michael Robinson rushed for 29 yards and a pair of touchdowns on five carries.

The Chiefs lost 9-6 to Denver last week as an 11-point underdog. The combined score was well UNDER the posted over/under total (38).

Larry Johnson rushed for 126 yards on 27 carries. Damon Huard completed 17-of-23 passes for 133 yards with no touchdowns and no interceptions.

To visit this online sports book got to MySportsbook.com for all your football betting needs.