D'backs down Nats behind Young, Hudson

Baseball Betting Lines

04/06/2007 - Washington, DC (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Chris Young knocked in a pair of runs and Orlando Hudson homered and scored twice as Arizona held on for a 4-3 win over Washington in the opener of a four-game set.

Edgar Gonzalez (1-0) carried the momentum generated from his strong spring training into the regular season for the Diamondbacks, giving up seven hits and two runs through five innings of work. He also struck out seven while walking just two.

"(Gonzalez) picked up where he left off in spring training," said Arizona manager Bob Melvin. "It was good that he got the win for us tonight."

The win did come at a cost for Arizona, as outfielder Scott Hairston left the game in the first inning when he fouled a ball off his left leg.

Dmitri Young hit his first home run of the season and Brian Schneider went 2- for-4 with an RBI for the Nationals.

Washington starter Jason Bergmann (0-1) had a rough outing, yielding five hits and four runs in 3 2/3 innings, walking six batters while striking out just one.

Trailing 4-0 after three innings, the Nationals gradually chipped away at the lead to pull within a run.

Washington got on the scoreboard in the fourth when Ryan Church led off with a double, moved to third on Ronnie Belliard's groundout and scored on Micah Bowie's groundout to second.

Dmitri Young's two-out, solo shot in the fifth made it 4-2 and Schneider grounded into a fielder's choice in the seventh, scoring Austin Kearns to bring Washington within a run.

However, that was all for the Nationals as Arizona held on for the win. Brandon Lyon worked around a two-out double in the eighth and Jose Valverde set the side down in order in the ninth for his second save of the season.

Bergmann struggled with his command from the start of the game as Arizona struck for three runs in the opening frame.

After Eric Byrnes led off the game with a single and stole second, Bergmann got Alberto Callaspo to pop out but then issued back-to-back walks to Hudson and Chad Tracy to load the bases.

Hairston then got hurt in his at-bat and Robby Hammock took over and popped out to second baseman. Bergmann, though, then walked Conor Jackson to force in a run. Chris Young followed with a single to left field that chased home two more runs and made it 3-0.

Hudson's leadoff homer to start the fourth handed Arizona a four-run advantage as Washington rallied to make it close.

Game Notes

Washington won the five of the six matchups with Arizona last season, including a perfect 3-0 record at home...The Nationals' bullpen combined to toss 5 1/3 innings of one-hit ball.

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Academy Award Betting Odds for Best Picture Offer Great Value

If there is any category that is not an obvious win for any one nominee in this year's Academy Awards, it would be for Best Picture.  Sure the Departed is a 5/7 favorite, but that's hardly anything when we look at Helen Mirren and her "out-of-reach" 1 to 40 odds (which means you would win a whopping $1 for every $40 bet).

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TV Guide advises Oscar watchers should be cautioned not to discount the  drama "Babel" with its strong social themes about overcoming communication gaps among people of different cultures.

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