The Bum's Best Bets For Wednesday June 17th - MLB - WNBA !

[StarDust Bum]

MLB
Armadillo's Write-Up

Wednesday, June 17

Interleague-- Everything from Monday-Thursday this week is interleague. Remember, there is a DH used in AL parks, no DH in NL parks.

Pirates @ White Sox
Locke is 0-1, 6.06 in his last three starts; his last four road starts went over.

Danks is 1-3, 6.44 in his last five starts; three of his last four went over.

Pirates won last six games, allowing three runs (five shutouts)- eight of their last nine games stayed under. White Sox won eight of last 11 games with Pittsburgh; four of last five went over the total. Chicago lost last six road games, scoring 11 runs- five of their last eight games stayed under.

Tigers @ Reds
Price is 3-1, 1.38 in his last four starts, three of which stayed under.

Cueto is 1-1, 2.91 in his last five starts; under is 3-0-1 in his last four starts at home.

Detroit won five of last seven games with Cincinnati. Reds lost four of last six games- last four stayed under. Detroit won six of its last nine games overall.

Orioles @ Phillies
Jiminez is 1-0, 3.18 in his last three starts; four of his last five went over.

Veteran Correia shut Pirates out for 5.2 innings (86 PT) in his first '15 start.

Phillies lost nine of last 11 games with Baltimore; five of last seven went over. Philly lost last eight games, scoring total of 14 runs- five of their last six games stayed under. Baltimore won eight of its last nine games; four of their last six went over.

Rays @ Nationals
Andriese is 1-1, 5.51 in his four starts; last three went over.

Zimmerman is 0-2, 10.80 in his last two starts; six of his last nine went over.

Home side won eight of last ten Washington-Tampa Bay games; under is 5-3-2 in those ten games. Nationals won three of last four games; over is 5-1-1 in their last seven. Tampa Bay won five of its last seven games; over is 4-1-1 in their last six games.

Red Sox @ Braves
Kelly is 0-2, 7.71 in his last four road starts; three of those four went under.

Wood is 2-3, 5.10 in his last five starts; over is 6-2-1 in his last nine.

Boston lost seven of last eight games, allowing 51 runs; over is 4-1-1 in their last six. Red Sox won seven of last eight games with Atlanta; five of those eight games went over. Braves lost four of last six games; seven of last nine went over.

Mets @ Blue Jays
Niese is 0-4, 8.18 in his last six starts; over is 5-0-1 in those six.

Hutchison is 3-1, 2.00 in his last four home starts; over is 2-0-1 in his last three starts overall.

Toronto won 11 of last 13 games, but lost last two; over is 5-3-2 in their last ten. Mets won five of last six games; five of their last seven went over. Jays lost eight of last 11 games against the Mets.

Marlins @ Bronx
Urena is 1-1, 2.41 in his last three starts; all four of his starts stayed under.

Pineda is 2-3, 6.67 in his last five starts; over is 5-1-1 in his last seven.

Miami won five of last six games vs Bronx, which lost five of last six games overall; four of the six went over total. Marlins won five of last six games; under is 6-1-1 in their last eight.

Cubs @ Indians
Wada is 0-1, 4.84 in his five starts (under 3-2); he didn't finish 4th inning in either of his last two starts.

Marcum is 2-1, 2.41 in his last three starts; they all stayed under.

Chicago won six of their last nine games. Cleveland lost five of its last eight games- they scored 23 runs in last seven games. Cubs won four of last five vs Cleveland.

Astros @ Rockies
Oberholtzer is 1-1, 3.15 in his four starts (under 2-1-1).

Kendrick is 1-3, 4.96 in his last five starts; over is 3-2 in his home starts.

Colorado lost five of last six games with Houston; they've lost six of last seven games overall; six of their last eight stayed under total. Astros won four of last five games, all of which went over the total.

Brewers @ Royals
Fiers is 2-1, 2.60 in his last three starts; six of his last seven stayed under.

Blanton is making first '15 start; he's made 248 MLB starts (85-89, 4.49).

Royals won last six games with Milwaukee; five of last seven stayed under. KC won six of last eight games, allowing 20 runs; under is 10-3-1 in its last 14 games. Brewers lost last four games, scoring nine runs; over is 5-1 in their last six games.

Cardinals @ Twins
Martinez is 4-0, 0.80 in his last five starts; last four stayed under.

Milone is 0-1, 6.19 in his last three starts; four of his last five went over.

Minnesota lost nine of last 11 games; seven of last ten stayed under total. Cardinals won ten of last 13 games; nine of last ten stayed under- they won six of last eight games with Minnesota- under is 11-0-1 in last 12 series games.

Angels @ Diamondbacks
Santiago is 2-1, 2.66 in his last seven starts; five of the seven stayed under.

Anderson is 2-0, 2.70 in his last eight starts, six of which stayed under.

Angels won eight of last 11 games with Arizona; five of last seven stayed under. D'backs won four of last five games, allowing nine runs- five of their last seven stayed under. Halos won four of their last six games overall.

Padres @ A's
Despaigne is 1-1, 2.36 in his last four starts; over is 5-3 in his last eight.

Chavez is 1-1, 1.23 in his last three home starts; five of his last six starts overall stayed under the total.

Oakland won its last three games overall; they've won seven of last nine games vs San Diego- eight of last ten series games went over. Padres lost six of their last eight games; they scored 13 runs in last five games and fired their long-time (8.5 years) manager Monday.

Giants @ Mariners
Bumgarner is 4-1, 3.02 in his last six starts; five of his last seven went over.

Hernandez had worst start of his career last time out; he is 1-2, 11.25 in his last three starts-- under is 8-2-1 in his last 11. Mariners are 5-2 in his home starts.

Giants lost five of their last six games, scored nine runs in last five games; they're 3-9 in last 12 games with Seattle, ten of which were played in Seattle-- six of last nine stayed under. Mariners lost four of last six games; they've been shut out in four of last 11 games, but five of last seven went over.

Rangers @ Dodgers
Rodriguez is 2-0, 2.61 in his last five starts, all of which stayed under.

Kershaw is 3-0, 0.94 in his last four starts; five of his last seven went over.

Dodgers won four of last seven games vs Texas, but lost last two nights; last six series games stayed under. LA lost three of last four games; eight of their last 11 games stayed under. Rangers won four of last five games; ten of their last twelve stayed under.

Win-loss records this year for team with this starting pitcher:
Balt-Phil-- Jiminez 6-6; Correia 0-1
TB-Wsh-- Andreise 3-1; Zimmerman 7-6
Mia-NY-- Urena 2-2; Pineda 8-4
NY-Tor-- Niese 4-8; Hutchison 8-5
Chi-Clev-- Wada 3-2; Marcum 3-2
Bos-Atl-- Kelly 5-7; Wood 4-9
Det-Cin-- Price 11-2; Cueto 7-5

Mil-KC-- Fiers 6-7; Blanton 0-0
Pitt-Chi-- Locke 6-6; Danks 5-7
StL-Min-- Martinez 10-2; Milone 3-3
Hst-Col-- Oberholtzer 3-1; Kendrick 3-10
LA-Az-- Santiago 6-6; Anderson 4-8
SD-A's-- Despaigne 4-5; Chavez 2-8
SF-Sea-- Bumgarner 8-5; Hernandez 10-3
Tex-LA-- Rodriguez 7-3; Kershaw 8-5

Times this starting pitcher allowed a run in first inning:
Balt-Phil-- Jiminez 1-12; Correia 0-1
TB-Wsh-- Andreise 1-4; Zimmerman 6-13
Mia-NY-- Urena 2-4; Pineda 4-12
NY-Tor-- Niese 5-12; Hutchison 4-13
Chi-Clev-- Wada 1-5; Marcum 1-5
Bos-Atl-- Kelly 6-12; Wood 4-13
Det-Cin-- Price 3-13; Cueto 4-12

Mil-KC-- Fiers 1-13; Blanton 0-0
Pitt-Chi-- Locke 3-12; Danks 4-12
StL-Min-- Martinez 1-12; Milone 2-6
Hst-Col-- Oberholtzer 2-4; Kendrick 7-13
LA-Az-- Santiago 2-12; Anderson 4-12
SD-A's-- Despaigne 3-9; Chavez 2-10
SF-Sea-- Bumgarner 2-13; Hernandez 3-13
Tex-LA-- Rodriguez 5-10; Kershaw 3-13

[StarDust Bum]

MLB

Wednesday, June 17

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Trend Report
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7:05 PM
MIAMI vs. NY YANKEES
Miami is 1-4 SU in its last 5 games on the road
The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Miami's last 7 games when playing NY Yankees
The total has gone UNDER in 5 of NY Yankees's last 7 games when playing Miami
The total has gone UNDER in 6 of NY Yankees's last 7 games when playing at home against Miami

7:05 PM
TAMPA BAY vs. WASHINGTON
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Tampa Bay's last 6 games
Tampa Bay is 4-1 SU in its last 5 games
Washington is 6-12 SU in its last 18 games
Washington is 1-5 SU in its last 6 games at home

7:05 PM
BALTIMORE vs. PHILADELPHIA
Baltimore is 7-1 SU in its last 8 games when playing Philadelphia
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Baltimore's last 5 games when playing Philadelphia
The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Philadelphia's last 6 games
Philadelphia is 3-6 SU in its last 9 games at home

7:07 PM
NY METS vs. TORONTO
The total has gone OVER in 5 of NY Mets's last 7 games
NY Mets are 10-3 SU in its last 13 games when playing Toronto
Toronto is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games at home
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Toronto's last 5 games when playing at home against NY Mets

7:10 PM
DETROIT vs. CINCINNATI
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Detroit's last 6 games when playing Cincinnati
Detroit is 6-3 SU in its last 9 games
The total has gone OVER in 6 of Cincinnati's last 8 games at home
Cincinnati is 4-1 SU in its last 5 games at home

7:10 PM
CHI CUBS vs. CLEVELAND
Chi Cubs are 4-2 SU in their last 6 games on the road
Chi Cubs are 4-1 SU in their last 5 games when playing Cleveland
Cleveland is 2-4 SU in its last 6 games at home
Cleveland is 1-4 SU in their last 5 games when playing Chi Cubs

7:10 PM
BOSTON vs. ATLANTA
Boston is 0-5 SU in its last 5 games on the road
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Boston's last 5 games on the road
The total has gone OVER in 5 of Atlanta's last 7 games at home
The total has gone OVER in 5 of Atlanta's last 6 games

8:10 PM
PITTSBURGH vs. CHI WHITE SOX
Pittsburgh is 1-7 SU in their last 8 games when playing on the road against Chi White Sox
Pittsburgh is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games
The total has gone UNDER in 11 of Chi White Sox's last 14 games at home
Chi White Sox are 4-2 SU in their last 6 games at home

8:10 PM
MILWAUKEE vs. KANSAS CITY
Milwaukee is 0-5 SU in its last 5 games when playing Kansas City
The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Milwaukee's last 5 games on the road
Kansas City is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games when playing Milwaukee
Kansas City is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games when playing at home against Milwaukee

8:10 PM
ST. LOUIS vs. MINNESOTA
St. Louis is 6-2 SU in its last 8 games when playing Minnesota
The total has gone UNDER in 5 of St. Louis's last 5 games when playing Minnesota
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Minnesota's last 5 games
Minnesota is 1-7 SU in its last 8 games

8:40 PM
HOUSTON vs. COLORADO
The total has gone OVER in 5 of Houston's last 5 games
Houston is 5-1 SU in its last 6 games when playing Colorado
Colorado is 1-5 SU in its last 6 games when playing Houston
Colorado is 7-2 SU in its last 9 games when playing at home against Houston

9:40 PM
LA ANGELS vs. ARIZONA
The total has gone OVER in 5 of LA Angels's last 6 games when playing on the road against Arizona
LA Angels are 5-1 SU in their last 6 games when playing on the road against Arizona
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Arizona's last 5 games when playing LA Angels
Arizona is 1-5 SU in their last 6 games when playing at home against LA Angels

10:05 PM
SAN DIEGO vs. OAKLAND
The total has gone OVER in 6 of San Diego's last 8 games on the road
San Diego is 1-4 SU in its last 5 games when playing Oakland
Oakland is 5-1 SU in its last 6 games when playing at home against San Diego
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Oakland's last 5 games

10:10 PM
SAN FRANCISCO vs. SEATTLE
The total has gone UNDER in 6 of San Francisco's last 9 games when playing Seattle
San Francisco is 7-2 SU in its last 9 games on the road
The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Seattle's last 5 games at home
Seattle is 1-8 SU in its last 9 games at home

10:10 PM
TEXAS vs. LA DODGERS
The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Texas's last 6 games
Texas is 4-1 SU in its last 5 games
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of LA Dodgers's last 6 games at home
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of LA Dodgers's last 5 games

[StarDust Bum]

MLB

Wednesday, June 17



MLB roundup: Orioles pound Phillies 19-3

BALTIMORE -- Manny Machado and Chris Parmelee each homered twice as the Baltimore Orioles set a team record with eight homers in a 19-3 victory on Tuesday night that extended the Philadelphia Phillies' losing streak to eight games.

Machado hit solo homers in the first and second innings as the Orioles belted four round-trippers in those first two innings. Parmelee also hit two solo homers and Jimmy Paredes, Chris Davis and Ryan Flaherty each helped with a solo shot. David Lough hit a three-run homer as the Orioles finished with 17 hits and scored runs in all but one inning.

Machado's first homer came off Phillies starter Jerome Williams (3-7), who gave up six runs in just two-thirds of an inning before leaving.

Mets 3, Blue Jays 2

NEW YORK -- Matt Harvey snapped out of the longest slump of his career when he threw seven shutout innings and helped his own cause with an RBI double for New York against Toronto.

The Mets swept the two-game series from the Jays and finished 5-3 on a homestand that began June 9. Harvey had a 7.20 ERA in his previous four starts, but he was in complete command when he gave up just four hits and walked none while striking out six and throwing 75 of his 107 pitches for strikes.

Ruben Tejada and Harvey each had RBI hits in the second for the Mets and shortstop Wilmer Flores had a sacrifice fly in the third.

Nationals 16, Rays 4

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. -- Washington set season highs with 23 hits and 16 runs to end Tampa Bay's four-game winning streak in a big way.

Bryce Harper and Clint Robinson each finished a triple shy of hitting for the cycle. Danny Espinosa set a career high with five hits and Robinson topped his high mark with four hits.

The Nationals jumped out to a 10-1 lead after five innings, tagging Rays pitchers for 12 hits, with all the scoring coming in the second and fifth.

Marlins 12, Yankees 2

MIAMI -- Miami scored a franchise-record eight runs in the first inning and went on to defeat New York at Marlins Park.

Marlins right fielder Giancarlo Stanton hit a three-run, opposite-field homer in the fifth inning. He leads the majors with 24 homers and 62 RBIs.

Yankees slugger Alex Rodriguez, who is five hits short of 3,000, did not play.

Cardinals 3, Twins 2

ST. LOUIS -- Hours after it was learned they were being investigated by the FBI and the Justice Department, St. Louis tackled a less strenuous opponent to wrap up a perfect homestand.

Michael Wacha allowed three hits in 6 1/3 innings and Mark Reynolds delivered a key hit for the third consecutive game.

Wacha (9-2) fanned five and walked one, throwing 60 of his 86 pitches for strikes. He came back to the mound after a 45-minute rain delay in the bottom of the first inning but departed with one out in the top of the seventh when rain interrupted the game again for 47 minutes.

The game was overshadowed by a story in The New York Times that accused the Cardinals of hacking into the Houston Astros' internal network to steal personnel information.

Rangers 3, Dodgers 2

ARLINGTON, Texas -- Robinson Chirinos led off the bottom of the ninth inning with a homer, giving Texas a walk-off win over Los Angeles.

Chirinos drilled the third pitch he saw off Josh Ravin (2-1) into the Los Angeles bullpen in left-center field for his sixth homer of the season.

Texas rookie Chi Chi Gonzalez was just two outs from his second shutout in his fourth major league start before Dodgers third baseman Justin Turner tied the score with a two-run homer.

Astros 6, Rockies 5

HOUSTON -- Luis Valbuena belted two home runs to pace another power-laden offensive attack as the Houston defeated Colorado.

Valbuena homered twice off Chris Rusin to increase his team-leading total to 16.

The Astros claimed the first two games of this split four-game set, with both teams set to resume the series in Denver on Wednesday.

Giants 6, Mariners 2

SAN FRANCISCO -- Matt Duffy went 3-for-4 with a two-run homer and three RBIs and San Francisco ended its nine-game home losing streak.

The Giants' nine-game skid was tied for the second longest home losing streak in franchise history since 1912, just two shy of the 11-game streak in 1940 at the Polo Grounds in New York.

Tim Lincecum allowed two runs and five hits in 5 2/3 innings to earn the win.

Athletics 6, Padres 5

SAN DIEGO -- Eric Sogard bounced a run-scoring single through the middle of the San Diego infield with two out in the top of the ninth to give Oakland the win and a sweep of the clubs' two-game interleague series.

It was the third straight loss for the Padres and their first under Pat Murphy, who was named the club's interim manager Tuesday morning.

With two out in the ninth, Padres closer Craig Kimbrel walked Billy Burns, who stole second. Sogard, a former second-round draft pick of the Padres, rolled a single past shortstop Clint Barmes allowing Burns to score from second.

Red Sox 9, Braves 4

BOSTON -- Brock Holt became the first Red Sox to hit for the cycle since John Valentin on June 6, 1996, tripling in the eighth to cap the rare feat as Boston snapped a season-high seven game losing streak.

The second baseman singled in the first, doubled in the fifth, and hit a solo home run in the seventh to set himself up for the historic three-bagger with two outs in the frame for the Red Sox, who avoided their longest losing streak since last summer’s eight-game skid.

Boston broke open a tie game with three runs in the sixth, sparked by Mookie Betts' leadoff triple. Betts tied a career high in hits for the second straight game, going 3-for-5.

Pirates 3, White Sox 0

PITTSBURGH -- Charlie Morton pitched seven shutout innings and Pittsburgh completed a two-game sweep of Chicago at PNC Park.

Pittsburgh moved to a season-high 10 games abo above .500 with the team's sixth consecutive win.

The Pirates have thrown three consecutive shutouts for the first time since Oct. 2-3, 1976, when they blanked the St. Louis Cardinals on Oct. 2 and in both games of a doubleheader the following day. Morton (5-0) gave up four hits and walked only one batter. He struck out three and retired 11 batters in a row during the middle innings.

Reds 5, Tigers 2

DETROIT -- Todd Frazier blasted two solo home runs and Cincinnati snapped a three-game losing streak.

Frazier reached 20 homers for the second time in his career with leadoff shots in the fifth and seventh innings. Designated hitter Jay Bruce also homered for Cincinnati (29-35) in the second game of the home-and-home series.

Royals 7, Brewers 2

MILWAUKEE — Chris Young threw seven scoreless innings and also added two hits and three RBIs as Kansas City cruised past Milwaukee at Miller Park.

Young (6-2) struck out three and scattered five hits while not walking a batter.

Home runs by Lorenzo Cain and Mike Moustaskas and an RBI triple by pinch-hitter Jarrod Dyson fueled a 15-hit outburst by the Kansas City offense.

Milwaukee starter Matt Garza gave up 13 hits, setting a career high, and was charged with six of the Royals' runs in 6 2/3 innings.

Indians 6, Cubs 0

CHICAGO -- Carlos Santana launched a three-run homer and reached base four times, leading Cleveland past Chicago.

Santana, who went 2-for-3 with two walks and four RBIs, provided three early runs for Trevor Bauer (6-3) and added a run-scoring double in the ninth inning.

Bauer worked seven scoreless innings before being lifted for a pinch hitter. He allowed up four hits while walking three and striking out seven. Zach McAllister and Marc Rzepczynski each threw an inning to complete the shutout.

Angels 4, Diamondbacks 1

ANAHEIM, Calif. -- Albert Pujols hit his American League-leading 19th home run, propelling Los Angeles to a win over Arizona.

Pujols hit in the cleanup spot for the first time in five years after 735 consecutive starts as the No. 3 hitter, an effort by manager Mike Scioscia to put a little life in the Angels' anemic offense.

Pujols hit a homer to center in the sixth inning, turning a 1-0 deficit into a 2-1 lead and eventually a win that ended Arizona's winning streak at four games. David Freese gave the Angels a cushion with a two-run homer in the eighth, his 10th of the season.

[StarDust Bum]

MLB
Dunkel

Wednesday, June 17


Baltimore @ Philadelphia

Game 901-902
June 17, 2015 @ 7:05 pm

Dunkel Rating:
Baltimore
(Jimenez) 15.697
Philadelphia
(Correia) 13.979
Dunkel Team:
Dunkel Line:
Dunkel Total:
Baltimore
by 1 1/2
7
Vegas Team:
Vegas Line:
Vegas Total:
Baltimore
-170
8
Dunkel Pick:
Baltimore
(-170); Under

Tampa Bay @ Washington

Game 903-904
June 17, 2015 @ 7:05 pm

Dunkel Rating:
Tampa Bay
(Andriese) 15.098
Washington
(Zimmrmnn) 16.597
Dunkel Team:
Dunkel Line:
Dunkel Total:
Washington
by 1 1/2
9
Vegas Team:
Vegas Line:
Vegas Total:
Washington
-155
7 1/2
Dunkel Pick:
Washington
(-155); Over

Miami @ NY Yankees

Game 905-906
June 17, 2015 @ 7:05 pm

Dunkel Rating:
Miami
(Urena) 13.553
NY Yankees
(Pineda) 17.345
Dunkel Team:
Dunkel Line:
Dunkel Total:
NY Yankees
by 4
9 1/2
Vegas Team:
Vegas Line:
Vegas Total:
NY Yankees
-200
8
Dunkel Pick:
NY Yankees
(-200); Over

NY Mets @ Toronto

Game 907-908
June 17, 2015 @ 7:07 pm

Dunkel Rating:
NY Mets
(Niese) 14.990
Toronto
(Hutchison) 16.580
Dunkel Team:
Dunkel Line:
Dunkel Total:
Toronto
by 1 1/2
10
Vegas Team:
Vegas Line:
Vegas Total:
Toronto
-195
9
Dunkel Pick:
Toronto
(-195); Over

Chicago Cubs @ Cleveland

Game 909-910
June 17, 2015 @ 7:10 pm

Dunkel Rating:
Chicago Cubs
(Wada) 16.013
Cleveland
(Marcum) 14.442
Dunkel Team:
Dunkel Line:
Dunkel Total:
Chicago Cubs
by 1 1/2
9
Vegas Team:
Vegas Line:
Vegas Total:
Cleveland
No Line
N/A
Dunkel Pick:
Chicago Cubs
N/A

Boston @ Atlanta

Game 911-912
June 17, 2015 @ 7:10 pm

Dunkel Rating:
Boston
(Kelly) 16.316
Atlanta
(Wood) 13.479
Dunkel Team:
Dunkel Line:
Dunkel Total:
Boston
by 3
7
Vegas Team:
Vegas Line:
Vegas Total:
Atlanta
-115
8
Dunkel Pick:
Boston
(-105); Under

Detroit @ Cincinnati

Game 913-914
June 17, 2015 @ 7:10 pm

Dunkel Rating:
Detroit
(Price) 17.272
Cincinnati
(Cueto) 13.742
Dunkel Team:
Dunkel Line:
Dunkel Total:
Detroit
by 3 1/2
5 1/2
Vegas Team:
Vegas Line:
Vegas Total:
Cincinnati
-115
7
Dunkel Pick:
Detroit
(-105); Under

Milwaukee @ Kansas City

Game 915-916
June 17, 2015 @ 8:10 pm

Dunkel Rating:
Milwaukee
(Fiers) 16.086
Kansas City
(Blanton) 15.180
Dunkel Team:
Dunkel Line:
Dunkel Total:
Milwaukee
by 1
10
Vegas Team:
Vegas Line:
Vegas Total:
Kansas City
-130
8 1/2
Dunkel Pick:
Milwaukee
(+110); Over

Pittsburgh @ Chicago White Sox

Game 917-918
June 17, 2015 @ 8:10 pm

Dunkel Rating:
Pittsburgh
(Locke) 15.934
Chicago White Sox
(Danks) 14.354
Dunkel Team:
Dunkel Line:
Dunkel Total:
Pittsburgh
by 1 1/2
9
Vegas Team:
Vegas Line:
Vegas Total:
Pittsburgh
-120
8 1/2
Dunkel Pick:
Pittsburgh
(-120); Over

St. Louis @ Minnesota

Game 919-920
June 17, 2015 @ 8:10 pm

Dunkel Rating:
St. Louis
(Martinez) 15.867
Minnesota
(Milone) 14.470
Dunkel Team:
Dunkel Line:
Dunkel Total:
St. Louis
by 1 1/2
9
Vegas Team:
Vegas Line:
Vegas Total:
St. Louis
-130
8
Dunkel Pick:
St. Louis
(-130); Over

Houston @ Colorado

Game 921-922
June 17, 2015 @ 8:40 pm

Dunkel Rating:
Houston
(Obrhltzer) 14.288
Colorado
(Kendrick) 15.647
Dunkel Team:
Dunkel Line:
Dunkel Total:
Colorado
by 1 1/2
12
Vegas Team:
Vegas Line:
Vegas Total:
Houston
-120
10 1/2
Dunkel Pick:
Colorado
(+100); Over

LA Angels @ Arizona

Game 923-924
June 17, 2015 @ 9:40 pm

Dunkel Rating:
LA Angels
(Santiago) 16.551
Arizona
(Anderson) 13.564
Dunkel Team:
Dunkel Line:
Dunkel Total:
LA Angels
by 3
10
Vegas Team:
Vegas Line:
Vegas Total:
Arizona
-115
8 1/2
Dunkel Pick:
LA Angels
(-105); Over

San Diego @ Oakland

Game 925-926
June 17, 2015 @ 10:05 pm

Dunkel Rating:
San Diego
(Despaigne) 15.286
Oakland
(Chavez) 16.689
Dunkel Team:
Dunkel Line:
Dunkel Total:
Oakland
by 1 1/2
9
Vegas Team:
Vegas Line:
Vegas Total:
Oakland
-165
7 1/2
Dunkel Pick:
Oakland
(-165); Over

San Francisco @ Seattle

Game 927-928
June 17, 2015 @ 10:10 pm

Dunkel Rating:
San Francisco
(Bumgarner) 11.873
Seattle
(Hernandez) 15.497
Dunkel Team:
Dunkel Line:
Dunkel Total:
Seattle
by 3 1/2
5
Vegas Team:
Vegas Line:
Vegas Total:
Seattle
-140
6
Dunkel Pick:
Seattle
(-140); Under

Texas @ LA Dodgers

Game 929-930
June 17, 2015 @ 10:10 pm

Dunkel Rating:
Texas
(Rodriguez) 16.685
LA Dodgers
(Kershaw) 15.549
Dunkel Team:
Dunkel Line:
Dunkel Total:
Texas
by 1
5
Vegas Team:
Vegas Line:
Vegas Total:
LA Dodgers
-270
6
Dunkel Pick:
Texas
(+225); Under

[StarDust Bum]

Tigers' Verlander looking forward to batting

Jun 17, 2015

DETROIT -- Justin Verlander wants to help his own cause in a big way Thursday.

The Detroit Tiger flame thrower makes his second start of the season in a National League park, which means he'll be coming to bat. He got the first two hits of his major league career last season, both of them singles. Now, he's dreaming of going for extra-bases at Cincinnati.

"I've gotten the hit," he said. "Now we're looking on to bigger and better things."

Verlander and David Price, who pitches on Wednesday, have been taking batting practice over the past week to prepare for their plate appearances. Neither has done much damage in their careers. Verlander is 2-for-32 with 10 sacrifices. Price is 2-for-31 and hasn't had a hit since 2010.

Getting his first victory of the season would be a more meaningful accomplishment for Verlander, who was activated from the disabled list last week after recovering from a right triceps strain. His first outing was promising, as he allowed two runs on three hits in five innings against Cleveland on Saturday. He even felt his four-seam fastball had more life on it than in past seasons.

Now, he's got to get used to pitching every five days. He made two rehab starts with Triple-A Toledo before returning to the rotation.

"It's gotten better after each start," he said. "After my first rehab start, I was pretty doggone sore. After the second one, a little bit better, after this one, a little bit better. It's all trending in the right direction, so I don't think that's a mental hurdle to get over. That's a physical hurdle, especially going back on five days for the first time. The first start I had six days, the second I had seven days."

Verlander has a 3.30 career ERA when he's had four days' rest. He's also thrown five of his six career shutouts on four days' rest. He has a 3.91 ERA with one extra day of rest and 3.33 ERA going on at least six days' rest.

"I feel I've always pitched my best once I get back in the rhythm of things and pitch on five days and occasionally, six days," he said. "But I like the feeling of going out there every five days. Historically, I've pitched my best baseball on regular rest."

[StarDust Bum]

Nationals' offense busts out in 16-run explosion

Jun 16, 2015

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. -- For a Washington Nationals team that hovered around the .500 mark much of this season, a 16-4 win over the Tampa Bay Rays on Tuesday was a chance to enjoy the gluttony of a 23-hit offensive explosion.

"I feel like we looked like an American League team tonight," said right fielder Bryce Harper, who had three hits, including his 22nd home run, before being pulled for a pinch hitter in the seventh inning. "We had a lot of fun as a team. ... We were able to put some runs up on the board for (starter Tanner Roark) early, and I think that was huge for us tonight."

Washington hit four home runs -- three of them monster blasts longer than 440 feet, including first baseman Clint Robinson's 449-foot blast off one of support rings in the roof of Tropicana Field.

"That was a bomb," Harper said. "Being able to put something up there, a little 'Natural'-esque with the thunder and lightning on the outside. That was truly incredible. I went up to him and told him congrats and you know, 'You punished the ball.' It was good to see."

Second baseman Danny Espinosa set a career high with five hits, and Robinson set a career best with four, while catcher Wilson Ramos had two home runs and four RBIs. The bottom four in the Nationals' lineup went a combined 13-for-20, and every starter had at least one hit.

[StarDust Bum]

Orioles cashing interleague matchups as favorites

The Baltimore Orioles have won their last six interleague matchups as favorites heading into Wednesday's meeting with the Philadelphia Phillies.

In the first two games against the Phillies, the O's were pegged as favorites of -235 and -193 and won 4-0 and 19-3 respectively.

The O's are presently -165 road favorites with Ubaldo Jimenez probable to get the start. Kevin Correia is the expected to get the ball for the Phils.

[StarDust Bum]

A pair of low totals on Wednesday's board

Both the matchup between the San Francisco Giants and Seattle Mariners and the meeting between the Los Angeles Dodgers and Texas Rangers feature a total of 6 Wednesday.

The Giants-Mariners game features Madison Bumgarner toeing the rubber for the Giants and Felix Hernandez expected to get the ball for Mariners.

In Los Angeles, ace Clayton Kershaw gets the ball for the Ddgers while Wandy Rodriguez is scheduled to start for the visiting Rangers.

[StarDust Bum]

Tolleson officially anointed as Rangers' closer

Jun 17, 2015


ARLINGTON, Texas -- Jeff Banister spent the past three weeks saying there are no set roles in the Texas Rangers' bullpen.

That changed Tuesday when instead of referring to Shawn Tolleson as his ninth-inning man he called him his closer.

"He's closed enough games out for us to be called a closer," Banister said. "No one else has gone out in that situation. I'm comfortable with giving Tolly the closer's position."

Tolleson has converted all nine of his save opportunities since recording his first career save May 20.

Tolleson, who has a 2.67 ERA on the season, was used as the setup man earlier this year before Neftali Feliz faltered in the ninth-inning role. While Tolleson is fine with having the title of closer, it is not something he is getting worked up about.

"It's fun just to win," said Tolleson, who came on in the ninth and picked up a victory as Texas beat the Los Angeles Dodgers 3-2. "Yeah, it's fun to close, but part of that is just winning in general."

[StarDust Bum]

Dodgers demote Rollins to No. 9 in batting order

Jun 17, 2015

ARLINGTON, Texas -- The offensive struggles plaguing Jimmy Rollins resulted in a first of the shortstop's career Tuesday night.

The Los Angeles Dodgers veteran, a career National Leaguer, batted ninth for the first time in the majors. While batting ninth normally isn't an option in NL games because the pitcher occupies that slot, his place at the bottom of the order Tuesday has everything to do with the way Rollins is playing right now.

"He's hit seventh, he's hit eighth, Jimmy's struggled," manager Don Mattingly said. "I felt like he was swinging the bat good a couple of weeks ago, but he's kind of hit another skid. If a guy's hitting .200, he's probably not adapting that much."

The move didn't help Rollins get out of his slump, though. He went 0-for-3 but did reach base on a fifth-inning walk in Los Angeles' 3-2 loss to the Texas Rangers.

Rollins batted leadoff for the Dodgers 11 times this season and has also hit in the second, sixth, seventh and eighth spots in the batting order.

Rollins has just seven hits in his last 35 at-bats and is batting .198 on the season. And while hitting ninth didn't work out for him or the Dodgers on Tuesday, Mattingly was trying to put a positive spin on the spot.

"Second leadoff," Mattingly said. "In the American League, you use it a lot like that. You'll put a guy there that's kind of a leadoff guy in the ninth spot. Hopefully he's another guy getting on base."

[StarDust Bum]

NBA Finals Game 6 Recap

J.R. Smith kept making heroic 3-point heaves to provide a false glimmer of hope.

That’s how 68 points came to be scored in the final quarter of the 2015 NBA Finals, where the Golden State Warriors asserted their season-long superiority one last time. The Cavs racked up 36 points in a never-say-die showing that speaks volumes about their own resilience, but it was sad because the last gasp ended up misrepresenting what really went down in the Game 6 clincher.

Never mind that the 105-97 final killed my UNDER play. Although it was a particularly painful beat, it’s basketball posterity we’re most concerned with here. The Warriors ended a 40-year championship drought because they balanced having an explosive, wonderfully dynamic offense that combined forces with a stingy resistance. They were historic. Not only did they become the first team in nearly a quarter century to win an NBA title without a single player with previous Finals experience on the roster, they also joined the 1995-‘96 and ’96-’97 Bulls as the only teams to win 83 combined games on their championship journey. You could never write this group off as a team that won it all by employing gimmicks.

Yes, they shoot a ton of 3-pointers, but these newly crowned champs aren’t the 7-seconds-or-less Suns. At best, the Warriors are a distant cousin of that group. Although Mike D’Antoni got some post-game love from both Steve Kerr and Alvin Gentry as a pioneer for smallball and the idea that the unconventional could indeed yield a title, their team has been a hybrid. Somehow, they’ve been able to impose their will on both ends of the floor despite Draymond Green and Harrison Barnes often running into bigger forwards almost nightly.

“There’s a lot of different styles that can work. You have to base it on your own personnel, but I think what was probably overlooked all year long was that what really wins is a combination of great offense and great defense,” Kerr said. “We had the No. 1 defense in the league. We had the highest-scoring team in the league. We were No. 1 in assists. We were No. 1 in field goal percentage defense.”

The balance was the key.

Golden State was controlling the Cavs through three quarters, surrendering just 61 points and leading by a dozen despite being grossly outrebounded. Game 6 appeared headed for the 100-88 result the Warriors deserved, a delicious showing that highlighted their scoring punch and still held Cleveland under 90. Then Smith stepped in, draining three 3-pointers in a 41-second span that actually trimmed the score to 101-97 with 33 ticks left.

Considering J.R. so often came up short when the Cavs needed perimeter firepower in the series, it was an unbecoming and completely misleading way for the Finals to culminate. Andre Iguodala struggled at the free-throw line all quarter to leave the door just slightly ajar, enticing Cleveland to keep fighting and extending the game while the Warriors simply tried to run out the clock.

So, yeah, the ending wasn’t perfect, which, frankly, this bunch deserved. The UNDER didn’t make it. Those of us in that camp deserved that, too. Smith and his wild 3-pointers attempted to play Grinch on Christmas night, but it was hard to dwell too much on that disappointment because the surprise announcement soon came down that Iguodala had been named Finals MVP.

For posterity’s sake, that was a saving grace. He won the accolade by a 7-4 vote over LeBron James. Regular-season MVP Stephen Curry, Golden State’s leading scorer in the series, didn’t receive a single first-place nod.

Since we didn’t get a Game 6 score indicative of what the Warriors overcame in turning around a 2-1 deficit, the fact a 100-to-1 shot to be named Finals MVP when the series began ended up receiving the trophy named for the legendary Bill Russell rescued the day.

Inserting Iguodala into the starting lineup in Game 4 changed the series. The Cavs never won after that tweak. He defended James better than anyone. He made shots that Cleveland was daring him to take.

“Their plan was to take Steph away taken Klay away and force Draymond and Andre to beat them,” said Kerr. “And Andre did.”

In Game 5, with the result still hanging in the balance with 3:48 to play, Iguodala tracked a Klay Thompson 3-pointer from his own vantage point at the top of the key. James, Tristan Thompson and Iman Shumpert were all physically in the paint as he took off, bolting in ahead of everybody and winding up with possession after Barnes knocked the rebound loose. He muscled in the board over Thompson and the Warriors really weren’t threatened again the entire series.

In Game 6, he tied Curry with a team-high 25 points, adding five rebounds and five assists. He took 20 shots because the Cavs left him open and ended up making three huge 3-pointers. For the series, he wound up with averages of 16.3 points, 5.8 rebounds, 4.0 assists and 37.0 minutes, becoming the first player in NBA history to win the Finals MVP after not having started a regular-season game.

“It could’ve gone to Steph, it could’ve gone to LeBron, but for us, it’s really fitting that the award went to Andre because he sacrificed his starting role from the first game of the season. He had never come off the bench once in his entire career and he sacrificed that job to make Harrison better, to make our bench better and that set the tone for our whole season,” said Kerr. “An All-Star, an Olympian, saying ‘ok, I’ll come off the bench.’ It set the tone for everything we were able to accomplish, so it feels like full circle to me that Andre received the award.”

Iguoldala wasn't exactly selfless. He didn't love the move, but he accepted it. He bought in. In that sense, the fact that regular-season defensive anchor Andrew Bogut didn't even play in Game 6 and David Lee got just one minute speaks volumes. Festus Ezeli played ahead of both and delivered 10 big points. Barnes could play a larger role anywhere else. Klay Thompson struggled most of the series. It didn't matter. Everyone happily doused one another with champagne when it was over. Everyone will get their first championship ring.

LeBron said he wasn’t out chasing individual accolades when chasing basketball’s greatest team prize, but he was obviously brilliant. His averages in the series, 35.8 points, 13.3 rebounds and 8.8 assists, will be recited for the rest of time. His work getting a team that lost Kyrie Irving, Kevin Love and Anderson Varejao along the way will never be forgotten. He’s 2-4 in NBA Finals, but this loss joins his first back in ’07 as one that can’t really be held against him. Based on what they had left, Cleveland overachieved.

“If I could’ve gave more I would’ve done it. I gave everything I had,” said James. “It was a great series up until they blew the game open in the fourth in Game 5, but we had our chance there. Tonight, we had our chances, but, you know, we ran out of talent. We ran out of talent tonight. We gave everything we had. The guys played as hard as they could for as long as we could, but that team across the way, you tip your hats to them.”

If not for Smith’s flurry, it would’ve been the perfect evening. Somehow, I think the Warriors will survive despite the late near-collapse. A parade is scheduled for Friday. A banner is set to hang at ORACLE Arena in late October. Come to think of it, Golden State’s place in history is going to be just fine.

As for the UNDER bettors? Mourning is allowed. So bitter.

Game 6 Betting Notes
1st Quarter: Warriors covered as a 1-point favorite, total went under 48.5 (28-15)

1st Half: Warriors covered as 1.5-point favorite or pushed, depending on when you got it. Total stayed under 97 (45-43)

2nd Half: Warriors covered as 1.5-point favorites, total went over 96.5 (60-54)

Team Totals: The Warriors (98.5) and Cavs (95.5) each went over their posted total (105-97)

Series Update
(Opening Odds per Sportsbook.ag before Game 1 in parentheses)

NBA Finals
Golden State vs. Cleveland (Warriors win 4-2)
Warriors (-205) -390 before Game 6
Cavaliers (+175) +310 before Game 6

Odds to win 2015-16 NBA Finals
Per Sportsbook.ag

Cleveland Cavaliers 5/2
Golden State Warriors 6/1
Oklahoma City Thunder 8/1
Chicago Bulls 15/1
Los Angeles Clippers 15/1
San Antonio Spurs 15/1
Houston Rockets 25/1
Atlanta Hawks 30/1
New Orleans Pelicans 30/1
Dallas Mavericks 40/1
Indiana Pacers 40/1
Memphis Grizzlies 40/1
Miami Heat 40/1
Washington Wizards 40/1
Portland Blazers 50/1
Toronto Raptors 50/1
Los Angeles Lakers 75/1
Boston Celtics 80/1
Denver Nuggets 100/1
Detroit Pistons 100/1
Milwaukee Bucks 100/1
New York Knicks 100/1
Phoenix Suns 100/1
Sacramento Kings 100/1
Utah Jazz 100/1
Brooklyn Nets 150/1
Charlotte Hornets 300/1
Minnesota Timberwolves 300/1
Orlando Magic 300/1
Philadelphia 76ers 300/1

[StarDust Bum]

LeBron can't deliver title to Cleveland

June 16, 2015

CLEVELAND (AP) - LeBron James pulled off his sunglasses, and there was no hiding the hurt in his eyes.

He had given everything he had, the best player turning into a better teammate, and it wasn't enough.

''If I could have gave more, I would have done it, but I gave everything I had,'' he said Tuesday after Cleveland's 105-97 loss to Golden State in Game 6 of the NBA Finals.

And that's more than just points, rebounds and assists. Throughout the year he had proven what it meant not just to be the star but to be the leader, even more during the NBA Finals.

''Well, I think that what's evident to everyone is what a spectacular basketball player that LeBron is. But he has become a great leader of his team,'' coach David Blatt said. ''He's become a guy that has evolved in terms of his role within the team and within the whole concept of what it is that we want to be about.''

James believed he could will Cleveland to a championship, with a confidence that turned almost defiance. Even as the Golden State Warriors had asserted themselves as the series went on, James said he didn't doubt the Cavaliers could win until the clock reached zero.

He was on the bench by then, walking off the court for the final time this season with a booming sound following.

''MVP! MVP!''

He didn't win the award, and he didn't win the championship.

But Cleveland fans made it clear just how much they love the player who had once broken their hearts.

James finished with 32 points, 18 rebounds and nine assists in another tremendous individual effort, but his outmanned Cavaliers lost the final three games.

His fourth loss in six NBA Finals trips left him wondering briefly if he'd be better off just missing the playoffs entirely, so it would hurt less. But eventually he acknowledged that things weren't so bad.

''I didn't win a championship,'' he said, ''but I've done a lot of good things in this first year back and hopefully I can continue it.''

No, he couldn't end Cleveland pro sports' lengthy title drought, a 51-year stretch that's been so tough even some local fans believe in the so-called Cleveland Curse.

But they also believe in James, the 30-year-old Northeast Ohio son who came home from Miami last summer and brought life back to the Cavaliers franchise.

He couldn't bring them their first title, not with what he had left around him in these NBA Finals. Kevin Love had been lost to a dislocated left shoulder in the first round. Then Kyrie Irving went down with a fractured left kneecap in Game 1 of this series.

James still willed the Cavaliers to a 2-1 lead and was so good there was even talk that he could join Jerry West as the only NBA Finals MVPs from losing teams.

Cavaliers fans sure believed he should have, the ones who remained to watch the award celebration booing loudly when Golden State's Andre Iguodala was announced as the winner.

Yes, things have changed.

His departure for Miami in 2010 had turned the locals against him, led them to burn his jerseys in the streets. There was anger, hurt, even hatred in their voices when they jeered him when he came back for the first time with the Heat.

He became a two-time champion in Miami, but more importantly grew up, learned what it would take to lead a team. He returned last summer much more mature than when he left, announcing his decision with a thoughtful essay, a sharp contrast to his widely criticized TV special in 2010.

He became a more assertive leader. He was already the best player.

It was a little surprising to hear him call himself that after Game 5, when he said he was still confident because he was the best player in the world. He usually leaves talking about his greatness to others.

But having belief is one thing; having sufficient help is another.

James didn't, and the effort in trying to carry a team was too much even for one of sports' most gifted athletes. He stood with his hands on his hips often in the second half, trying desperately to catch his breath while playing nearly 47 minutes.

The effort took its toll but there wasn't much more he could do in these finals. He had two triple-doubles, tied for most ever, and averaged 35.8 points, 13.3 rebounds and 8.8 assists.

He checked out with 10.6 seconds remaining, not before first shaking hands with the Warriors players on the floor and walking over to their bench to offer his congratulations.

James - and the Cavaliers - will have to wait for their turn.

''For me, it's never a success if you go out losing,'' James said. ''But I think we put ourselves back where this franchise needs to be, being a contender. But we've still got a lot of work to do.''

[StarDust Bum]

Warriors show how to build a champion

June 17, 2015

CLEVELAND (AP) - Andre Iguodala was more than just a key player on a team that beat LeBron James and Cleveland.

Turns out he used to beat up on Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson.

''We beat the first unit more times than they beat us, and I think it was by a landslide,'' Iguodala said.

So good, so deep that the MVP of the NBA Finals never started a game all season, the Warriors built the kind of squad that can compete for many NBA titles.

And when they were in trouble trying to win this one, down 2-1 in the series, they inserted Iguodala into the lineup. He responded with the same defensive effort he had been providing against James along with unsuspected offense, including 25 points Tuesday in the Game 6 clincher.

''He was great the entire series. But he saved this season for us,'' Warriors forward Draymond Green said. ''I always say Andre's a pro's pro. He's a professional guy, and it showed, and that's why he's the MVP of this series, and that's why we're champions.''

One of the reasons, anyway.

There's also Curry, the regular-season MVP who delivered a couple of big 3-pointers in the fourth quarter that helped the Warriors build a big enough lead to withstand Cleveland's late comeback. And there was Green, the Defensive Player of the Year runner-up who bounced back from a poor start to the series to finish with 16 points, 11 rebounds and 10 assists Tuesday.

Throw in 10 points apiece off the bench from Shaun Livingston and Festus Ezeli, or David Lee re-emerging earlier in the series after falling out of the rotation, and the Warriors still had plenty of firepower off the bench even once Iguodala was no longer part of it.

Iguodala was the primary defender on James, but as James said, ''It's never 1-on-1.''

''But I think his ability to play multiple positions for their team along with some of those other guys allowed their team to be so dynamic,'' James added.

Iguodala was a former No. 1 option in Philadelphia who won gold with the U.S. Olympic team in 2012. Lee has made multiple All-Star teams. Livingston was a one-time No. 4 pick in the draft who has become a valuable and versatile player after overcoming a devastating knee injury earlier in his career.

''Well, it speaks to the character of the players more than anything. (General manager) Bob Myers and his staff have done an incredible job of putting together this roster,'' coach Steve Kerr said. ''I was well aware of the versatility that the roster had, but as I got to know the players I realized they had what it took spiritually, emotionally. They were united. They wanted to win.''

They are good enough to do it again, provided they keep Green and Harrison Barnes once they are eligible for free agency, and if they can find a way to overcome the rugged Western Conference. Plenty of teams that looked great one year couldn't do it the next on the stronger side of the NBA bracket.

But not many of those teams had what these Warriors had, a team that ultimately won 83 games, more than any team other than Michael Jordan's Bulls.

''I think we definitely are a great team, and a team that should go down in history as one of the best teams from top to bottom,'' Curry said. ''We have a lot of things to be proud of this season.''

Including, perhaps, showing how the NBA is won nowadays. The old ideas about teams that play small and rely on outside shooting not being able to win an NBA title - the ones Charles Barkley has promoted for years - are gone now. Golden State shot them down with 67 wins in the regular season and a powerful run through the postseason.

Maybe now a team built in that style will show other teams how they have to construct their rosters.

''Well, I mean, we'll see,'' Curry said. ''We found a recipe for success, and that's the most important thing for us.''

[StarDust Bum]

Cavs fans must wait again for next year

June 17, 2015

CLEVELAND (AP) - Frustration and disappointment could be heard in the murmurs and shouts from Cleveland Cavaliers fans who watched the decisive Game 6 of the NBA finals until the bitter end in a plaza outside the city's downtown arena.

But even as their long-held hopes for a title in any major professional sport once again slipped away Tuesday night, this time to the ultra-talented Golden State Warriors, fans clung to the belief that with the Cavaliers' LeBron James leading the way, next year - next season - that a shiny championship trophy might find a home in Cleveland after five decades of futility.

''I believe next year they'll have a better chance,'' said Jeff Bentley, 46, who added with a chuckle: ''We're used to next year anyway.''

No one quite knew what to expect when James announced last summer that he would be returning to play for the Cavaliers after four seasons and two NBA titles with the Miami Heat. Yet there was an expectation that with James, the kid from Akron who grew up to become the best basketball player on the planet, that the Cavaliers would surely compete once again.

A rocky start to the season became transformative as James got the help he needed and the Cavaliers served notice that they were among the league's elite teams. Despite key injuries during the team's playoff run, James rose to the occasion and seemingly carried the Cavs on his broad shoulders. But it still wasn't enough.

''One man can't beat five guys,'' said Aaron Edwards as the final seconds of Game 6 ticked away. ''LeBron wanted this more than anybody.''

Several thousand fans gathered in the plaza between Quicken Loans Arena, where Tuesday's game was played, and Progressive Field, home of baseball's Cleveland Indians. They watched the game on giant, high-definition televisions with the smells of barbecued meat and fried foods wafting overhead.

Many in the crowd wore jerseys and T-shirts of different vintages with James' No. 23 emblazoned on the back. While James' departure to South Beach in 2007 was seen as a betrayal to some fans, others, like Denise Jackson, 49, said her admiration for James as a basketball player and a person would follow him wherever he might go.

''That's my son,'' she said with a smile.

Jackson's daughter, Shariyka, 21, said she understands how people were upset by how James handled his departure from the Cavs, but she also knows why James left. ''He had to go somewhere else to prove himself before he came back.''

Nate Nagle, 22, said he was heartbroken when James left for Miami. He said his bedroom was adorned with posters of James and the Cavaliers. The announcement of his return, Nagle said, ''meant everything in the world.'' He had no complaints Tuesday night.

''There's not much more we could have asked from LeBron,'' Nagle said. ''He gave everything he could. And we'll be back next year.''

[StarDust Bum]

GSW fans celebrate title with street party

June 17, 2015

OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) - Warriors' fans honked their horns and danced in streets throughout the San Francisco Bay Area to celebrate their team's first NBA title in 40 years.

The party began as soon as the Golden State Warriors beat the Cleveland Cavaliers to claim the title in six games Wednesday night.

A rowdy crowd gathered in an Oakland intersection and some were running through the streets of San Francisco's Mission District waving the team's blue and gold flags. There were no immediate reports of any violence, vandalism or arrests.

''Is this real? Is this real?'' said 40-year-old Peter Boyd, a fourth-generation Oakland resident who was practically a newborn when the team won its last title. On Tuesday night he celebrated in the streets outside an Oakland sports bar.

''I sat through decades of awful garbage,'' Boyd told the Los Angeles Times. ''This is for Oakland.''

The game was more than 2,000 miles away in Cleveland, but it made little difference to local fans, thousands of whom had gathered at Oracle Arena in Oakland to watch the win on a big screen.

San Francisco Bay Area fans have been able to take to the streets to celebrate multiple Super Bowl and World Series winners, but for the first time in four decades they can throw a party for basketball. The Warriors last won a title in 1975, before many of their loudest and rowdiest fans were born.

In San Francisco, the city hall building was lit blue and gold.

''The San Francisco Bay Area is awash in Blue and Gold as we congratulate our hometown heroes on their spectacular victory!'' Mayor Ed Lee said.

Oakland announced a parade and rally for the Warriors at 10 a.m. Friday.

Police hoped to avoid a scene like the one that followed the San Francisco Giants' World Series victory in October. That celebration started off peaceful but turned raucous and violent, as revelers vandalized police cars and businesses and pelted officers with bottles.

The Oakland Police Department tweeted out congratulations to the team and urged revelers to celebrate safely and responsibly.

''(hash)Believe teamwork wins championships! Let's all work to keep (hash)Oakland safe! Celebrate safely and responsibly,'' the department tweeted.