Colorado rocks Hamels, Phils in home opener

Baseball Betting Lines

04/10/2009 - Denver, CO (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Garrett Atkins' first hit of the season -- a two-run homer -- highlighted a five-run third inning, as the Colorado Rockies defeated the Philadelphia Phillies, 10-3, in the home opener at Coors Field.

Ryan Spilborghs was 3-for-5 with two doubles, two RBI and two runs scored for Colorado, which took two of three in Arizona to begin the 2009 campaign. Clint Barmes had two hits and scored three times, while Todd Helton drove in three.

Jason Marquis (1-0), who was picked up from the Cubs in the offseason, continued his success at Coors Field, allowing two runs and five hits with two walks and as many strikeouts over seven solid innings. The veteran right- hander is now 4-0 in five starts in the Mile High City. Marquis also helped his cause at the plate, going 2-for-2 with a double and a run batted in.

Coming off a stellar postseason a year ago in which he emerged as an elite pitcher, punctuated by capturing MVP honors in both the NLCS and World Series, Cole Hamels struggled in his season debut for Philadelphia. The lefty was slated to start on Opening Day, but elbow issues during spring training delayed his start.

Hamels (0-1) was hit hard by Colorado, yielding seven runs on 11 hits with a walk and one strikeout in 3 2/3 innings to take the loss.

Jayson Werth went 4-for-4 with two doubles, a homer and three runs scored for the Phillies, who are off to a 1-3 start. Pedro Feliz knocked in the other two runs.

The Phillies jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the second inning when Werth led off with a double and later scored on a Feliz sacrifice fly.

Colorado then put up a crooked number in the third. Barmes doubled to lead off the frame and raced home after Marquis' grounder found a hole on the left side of the diamond. One out later, Spilborghs lined a double to right and Helton's ground out plated Marquis before Atkins stepped in and homered to left field. Brad Hawpe then hit a ground-rule double and Troy Tulowitzki followed with an RBI triple.

Philadelphia got a run back in the top of the fourth, as Werth, once again, smacked a double to begin the inning and scored following a pair of groundouts, the second one from Feliz.

The Rockies plated two more runs in the bottom half. Barmes had a leadoff single, advanced to second on a sac bunt, took third on a ground out and waltzed home on a double by Spilborghs. Helton then slapped a base hit past a diving Ryan Howard at first for a 7-2 lead.

Colorado added three more runs in the eighth off Chad Durbin on bloop singles by Dexter Fowler and Spilborghs and a sac fly from Helton.

Werth went deep to open the ninth inning.

Game Notes

Marquis became the first Rockies starter to earn a win in the home opener since Shawn Chacon in 2003...Colorado is 10-7 all-time in home openers... The Rockies have hit at least one home run in each of their first four games of the season...Philadelphia won all five of its matchups with Colorado last season after being swept (0-3) in the 2007 NLDS...Howard was hitless in four at-bats and grounded into three double plays...J.A. Happ tossed 2 1/3 scoreless frames for the Phillies.

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Big East Conference odds

Work left to do: Villanova, Syracuse, DePaul, West Virginia, Providence

Notre Dame and Louisville appear to have done enough to make the move, so we'll make them locks. The Cardinals, despite a modest RPI, are trending way up and have clinched at least a tie for third in the Big East, which should be more than enough with their pair of big road wins. Villanova got back to .500 and gets back to more solid footing. Syracuse got a very important road win and crippled a fellow contender in the process. West Virginia's fate could be in its hands Tuesday at Pitt.

Work left to do:

Villanova [18-9 (7-7), RPI: 21, SOS: 5] Pounded Rutgers to get back to .500. If Cats can get their last two (at UConn, vs. Syracuse), that should be enough with strong computer numbers and a host of wins away from The Pavilion. The Cats have beaten Texas and swept the Big 5 (never easy in Philly), but have a couple of losses to bubble teams (Xavier, Drexel), too. I still think they'll be OK, possibly even at 8-8.

Syracuse [20-8 (9-5), RPI: 53, SOS: 62] History says 10 wins will be plenty, but it might be hard for the Orange to get that last one with a final two vs. G'town, which is trying to win the league title, and at Villanova, which will be desperate for a W. The relative lack of nonconference heft and the weak computer numbers are still concerns, but the Orange have won four in a row and got a very, very big win at Providence on Saturday.

DePaul [16-12 (8-7), RPI: 54, SOS: 18] Beat Cincy and should get past South Florida to get to 9-7, but then what? They have beaten Kansas and Cal (right after the DeVon Hardin injury) earlier this season, but also have lost to Bradley and Purdue, among others. They'll likely need a couple of BE tourney wins, too, but we'll see ...

West Virginia [19-7 (8-6), RPI: 58, SOS: 125] The game at Pitt on Tuesday night could decide the Mountaineers' fate (barring a deep tournament run). They can still get to 9-7 in the Big East without it by beating Cincinnati, but the nine wins would be against UConn, Villanova, St. John's, South Florida, DePaul, Rutgers, Seton Hall twice and the Bearcats. Beating bubble foes is fine, but where's the beef? Outside of beating PG-less UCLA in nonconference play (still a top quality win), there's not a lot to fall back on (besides maybe NC State). WVU vs. Syracuse would be an interesting debate, as the teams don't play in the Big East regular season. WVU has the best win, but Cuse has played the much better schedule.

Providence [17-10 (7-7), RPI: 70, SOS: 33] The Friars likely saw their at-large hopes die at home in the four-point loss to Syracuse, barring an unexpected run to the Big East semis or more. The RPI, bad already, won't be helped by playing St. John's and South Florida in the final two league games.

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