Follow Us on Facebook Follow Us on Twitter VI Mobile College Basketball March Mayhem Picks College Basketball March Mayhem Picks VegasInsider.com VegasInsider.com
Handicapper Bios Sports Picks Free Odds Contests Sportsbook
Sports Betting Home NFL NBANHLMLBNCAA FBNCAA BKGolfAutoHorsesBoxingVI More Sports
 
MLB Scores Matchups Teams Standings
 
 · Regular Season
Schedules Injuries News
 
 · Latest News
 · Player Updates
 · Transactions
Buy Picks Vegas Odds
 
 · Vegas Odds
 · Offshore Odds
 · Future Odds
 
Recap: Braves 5, Rays 3
Boxscores  •  Line Movements  •  BT Movements
Game: 1
Venue: Tropicana Field
Date: May 18, 2012 7:10 PM EDT
  

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) - James Shields blamed himself for Tampa Bay's loss to the Atlanta Braves.

Tommy Hanson pitched seven effective innings, Freddie Freeman drove in two runs and Atlanta beat Shields and the Rays 5-3 on Friday night.

``I've got to do a better job,' Shields said. ``I definitely put that loss on me.'

Advertisement

Shields (6-2) gave up four runs and seven hits over six innings. Luke Scott had two RBIs for Tampa Bay.

``I felt like I was making good pitches up to the fifth inning,' Shields said. ``They have good hitters one through nine. You look at them and you definitely know why they are at the top of their division.'

Hanson (5-3) allowed two runs and six hits. Freeman had a run-scoring double and Brian McCann hit an RBI single that put the Braves up 4-2 in the fifth.

Chipper Jones left after seven innings because of a bruised left calf. The Braves' third baseman stayed in the game after B.J. Upton's hard one-hop infield single hit his leg in the third. Juan Francisco pinch-hit for Jones in the eighth.

``My career in Tampa is over,' said Jones, who showed reporters a nasty, ball-size bruise just above the ankle while sitting at his locker. ``That really hurt. If you're standing 85 feet from home plate and somebody hits a rocket at you, you better get a glove on it. I didn't.'

Jones, who is retiring after this season, received a partial standing ovation before his first at-bat leading off the second. After he tipped his helmet to the crowd, Jones singled to center. The Florida native later scored from third to make it 2-0 on a wild pitch by Shields.

``We'll check it, but he'll have a tough time playing (Saturday),' Atlanta manager Fredi Gonzalez said.

Jonny Venters gave up Scott's RBI single in the eighth before Craig Kimbrel got three outs for his 12th save.

``We had guys out there (on base),' Rays manager Joe Maddon said. ``Getting that big hit a little more consistently would be nice, but we just need to continue to attack.'

Martin Prado doubled and scored on Freeman's single as the Braves took a 1-0 lead in the first. Prado extended Atlanta's advantage to 5-2 on a solo homer off J.P. Howell in the seventh.

Tampa Bay got within 2-1 on Elliot Johnson's RBI bunt single in the second. Scott tied it 2-all on a bases-loaded sacrifice fly in the third, when right fielder Jason Heyward made a nice running catch.

NOTES: Jones, who went 1 for 3, enjoys playing in domed stadiums like Tropicana Field. ``You don't have wind, you don't have rain,' Jones said. ``Most baseball players like the conditions perfect.' ... The Rays recalled RHP Alex Cobb from Triple-A Durham to start Saturday's game. He is taking the spot of RHP Jeff Niemann, who is on the 60-day DL with a right leg injury. To make room for Cobb, Tampa Bay optioned RHP Josh Lueke to Durham. ... Hanson struck out Rays 1B Carlos Pena on a 14-pitch at-bat in the sixth. Pena is hitting .131 (8 for 61) with 24 strikeouts this month.

AP NEWS
The Associated Press News Service

Copyright 2013
The Associated Press
All Rights Reserved

 SERIES AT A GLANCE
GAME 1
Braves at Rays
Fri, May 18 Final 5 to 3
 Boxscores  •  Recaps
GAME 2
Braves at Rays
Sat, May 19 Final 2 to 5
 Boxscores  •  Recaps
GAME 3
Braves at Rays
Sun, May 20 Final 2 to 0
 Boxscores  •  Recaps

 CLOSING LAS VEGAS LINE
 Team  ML   RUN   O/U 
 ATL  +110   -200   7 
 TAM  -120   +170   
LAS VEGAS LINE MOVEMENTS

 CLOSING SPORTSBOOK LINE
 Team  ML   RUN   O/U 
 ATL  +108   -200   7 
 TAM  -118   +170   
OFFSHORE LINE MOVEMENTS

 BETTING TRENDS
 Team  ML   RUN   O/U 
 ATL  45%   1%   75% 
 TAM  55%   99%   25% 
BT MOVEMENTS

 MLB RECAPS
 Friday, May 18
 
  •  White Sox at Cubs
2:20 PM EDT
  •  Pirates at Tigers
7:05 PM EDT
  •  Reds at Yankees
7:05 PM EDT
  •  Mets at Blue Jays
7:05 PM EDT
  •  Marlins at Indians
7:05 PM EDT
  •  Orioles at Nationals
7:05 PM EDT
  •  Red Sox at Phillies
7:05 PM EDT
  •  Braves at Rays
7:10 PM EDT
  •  Rangers at Astros
8:05 PM EDT
  •  Diamondbacks at Royals
8:10 PM EDT
  •  Twins at Brewers
8:10 PM EDT
  •  Mariners at Rockies
8:40 PM EDT
  •  Angels at Padres
10:05 PM EDT
  •  Cardinals at Dodgers
10:10 PM EDT
  •  Athletics at Giants
10:15 PM EDT
 
 
 
  
GOLD Membership
Over 150 Member Plays free each month. Signup Today!
 
 

NFL
NFL Sports Picks
NFL Vegas Odds
NFL Online Odds
NFL Matchups
NFL Scores

More Sports
Golf
Auto Racing
Horse Racing
Boxing
WNBA

MLB
MLB Sports Picks
MLB Vegas Odds
MLB Online Odds
MLB Matchups
MLB Scores

Features
Free Odds
Contests
Newsletters
VI Radio
Las Vegas Travel
Follow us on Twitter
Add us on Google+
Join us on Facebook

NBA
NBA Sports Picks
NBA Vegas Odds
NBA Online Odds
NBA Matchups
NBA Scores

Sports Betting Tools
Live Odds
Mobile Odds
Parlay Calculator
Gaming Terms
TV Listings
Handicapping Records
Sports Betting
About Sports Betting
Sportsbook Reviews

NHL
NHL Sports Picks
NHL Vegas Odds
NHL Online Odds
NHL Matchups
NHL Scores

VegasInsider Info
About Us
Help Center
Privacy Policy
Terms of Use
Refund Policy
Contact Us
User Feedback

College Football
NCAA FB Sports Picks
NCAA FB Vegas Odds
NCAA FB Online Odds
NCAA FB Matchups
NCAA FB Scores

Sportsbooks
CarbonSports · Review
SportBet · Review
Sportsbook · Review
TopBet.eu · Review

College Basketball
NCAA BK Sports Picks
NCAA BK Vegas Odds
NCAA BK Online Odds
NCAA BK Matchups
NCAA BK Scores

Rotation Schedules
Baseball: June 03 - Aug 07

Copyright © 1997-2013, VegasInsider.com Inc., The Global Leader In Sports Gaming Information. All rights reserved.
For questions or comments, please contact us at 1-800-211-4759.