Big Unit is big letdown in return to Arizona mound

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04/25/2007 - Phoenix, AZ (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Randy Johnson was pounded in his return for Arizona, as San Diego jumped on the Big Unit and handed the Diamondbacks their fifth straight setback, 10-5, to open a three-game series at Chase Field.

Johnson was brought back to the home of Cy Young Awards and World Series glory, acquired in a January trade with the New York Yankees. After two dissatisfying seasons in the Big Apple, Johnson was given a change of scenery back to familiar territory.

The flame-throwing southpaw won four of his five Cy Young Awards in a Diamondback uniform while playing an integral part in Arizona's 2001 championship team.

He had back surgery in October and wasn't ready for the beginning of the season, instead throwing three rehab starts before Tuesday's season debut.

And it wasn't vintage Johnson (0-1), who gave up six runs on six hits with four walks and seven strikeouts over five frames.

The other 43-year-old on the mound pitched just well enough for the win. David Wells (1-1) gave up five runs on eight hits with two walks and three strikeouts in five innings.

Trevor Hoffman pitched the last out for his fourth save.

Khalil Greene was the major hitting star for the Padres, finishing 4-for-5 with four runs batted in. Adrian Gonzalez hit his sixth homer as part of a 3- for-3 night with three RBI and three runs scored for San Diego, which has won four of five.

Carlos Quentin homered and Stephen Drew tripled and drove in a pair in defeat.

The Diamondbacks took an early 2-0 advantage with a pair of two-out runs in the second. Chad Tracy tripled past Mike Cameron in center and Quentin drilled his first homer of the year over the wall in left.

San Diego first got to Johnson in the top of the third. Jose Cruz, Jr. walked with one out then walked the rest of the way around the bases on Gonzalez' homer.

Chris Young's one-out double set the table for the Diamondbacks in the bottom of the third, and Drew drove him home with a single to right for a 3-2 lead.

The score remained that way until San Diego blitzed Johnson in the fifth. Cruz, Jr. clubbed a belt-high slider high in the air and over the fence in left to tie the game then Brian Giles singled, Gonzalez walked and Cameron was plunked by a pitch to load the bases.

Greene cleared them, turning on an inside fastball into the gap in right- center field for a 6-3 advantage.

Arizona cut the deficit to 6-5 during the home half of the fifth as Robby Hammock walked and scored on the first of consecutive triples. Drew tripled to right and Orlando Hudson followed with a three-bagger to nearly the same location, scoring Drew for the margin.

Dana Eveland replaced Johnson and suffered the same fate in the top of the sixth. Marcus Giles doubled and was driven home by his brother Brian's base hit to center. A passed ball moved Brian Giles to second, and he scored on Gonzalez' ground-rule double.

Brandon Medders then entered and things got worse for Arizona.

After Cameron popped up, Greene singled just in front of Eric Byrnes in left. Byrnes made a strong throw that was oddly cut off by Medders just a few feet in front of what would have been a play at the plate. The pitcher spun and fired errantly to second, and Greene came all of the way around to score the Padres' 10th run.

Game Notes

Yusmeiro Petit, who made the start in Sunday's loss to San Francisco, was sent to Triple-A Tucson to make room for Johnson on the roster...Young and Tracy each had two hits in the loss...Attendance 19,508.

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Football Betting: Defensive Rookie of the Year Awards

Oddsmakers have released the odds for the 2009 AP NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year Award and Seattle Seahawks linebacker Aaron Curry has been made the opening favorite.

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Seattle took Curry with the fourth overall pick in April's NFL draft and plan on inserting him into its starting lineup right away. The Hawks traded linebacker Julian Peterson in the offseason, so Curry is expected to have a significant role in Seattle's defense next year and that's one of the primary reasons he is the favorite to win the NFL ROY Award.

Oddsmakers from online sportsbook MySportsbook.com have made Curry a 5/1 favorite to win this year's NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year Award. Given that he was the best defensive prospect in this year's draft and how he'll have plenty of opportunities to make plays in '09, Curry offers a ton of value at 5/1.

Another thing working for Curry is the position he plays. A linebacker has won the defensive ROY award six straight times and eight of the last nine years. Jerod Mayo, Patrick Willis, DeMeco Ryans, Shawne Merriman, Jonathan Vilma, Terrell Suggs, Kendrell Bell and Brian Urlacher were the most recent linebackers to take home the award.

Following Curry at 5/1 are Tyson Jackson (Chiefs) at 7/1, James Laurinaitas (Rams) at 8/1, Brian Orakpo (Redskins) at 10/1, Rey Maualuga (Bengals) at 10/1 and Jerry Peria (Falcons) at 10/1.

All the players mentioned above are expected to start for their respective teams, but Jackson and Peria are going to have a tough time being recognized on a national level given they're both defensive linemen. D-linemen rarely put up the numbers that it takes to win an individual award like the ROY.

A couple of players with some value are Clay Matthews (Packers) at 12/1 and Larry English (Chargers) at 15/1. Matthews is expected to start at outside linebacker in Green Bay's new 3-4 defense and could rack up a ton of tackles. English, who was an impressive player at Northern Illinois, is expected to be a situational pass rusher for the Chargers and could rack up a ton of sacks.

For complete odds on the 2009 AP NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year Award, see below. And for complete odds for the 2009 AP NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year Award, click the link provided.

2009 AP NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year Award

Robert Ayers (DEN) 12/1

Ron Brace (NE) 25/1

Everette Brown (CAR) 16/1

Darius Butler (NE) 40/1

Patrick Chung (NE) 30/1

Aaron Curry (SEA) 5/1

Brian Cushing (HOU) 12/1

Vontae Davis (MIA) 30/1

Louis Delmas (DET) 30/1

Larry English (SD) 15/1

Evander Hood (PIT) 25/1

Tyson Jackson (KC) 7/1

Malcolm Jenkins (NO) 25/1

Paul Kruger (BAL) 50/1

James Laurinaitas (STL) 8/1

Sen'Derrick Marks (TEN) 20/1

Clay Matthews (GB) 12/1

Aaron Maybin (BUF) 15/1

Rey Maualuga (CIN) 10/1

Roy Miller (TB) 20/1

Michael Mitchell (OAK) 45/1

Fili Moala (IND) 30/1

Brian Orakpo (WAS) 10/1

Jerry Peria (ATL) 10/1

B J Raji (GB) 7/1

Clint Sintim (NYG) 35/1

Alphonso Smith (DEN) 40/1

David Verkune (CLE) 20/1

Jason Williams (DAL) 30/1

Field (Any Other Player) 6/1

NFL football gambling

To visit this internet sportsbook go to MySportsbook.com for all your football betting needs.