Dallas, Columbus battle to scoreless draw

Soccer Betting Lines

08/28/2010 - Columbus, OH (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - FC Dallas extended its road unbeaten run to 10 Major League Soccer games, and its overall league unbeaten run to 12 games, by earning a 0-0 draw at Columbus on Saturday afternoon at Crew Stadium.

The game, which featured two of the league's elite teams, produced very little offensive flow for either side.

With the draw, Columbus (12-5-5) improves to 9-2-1 at home this season while extending its lead in the Eastern table to seven points over second-placed New York, which hosts San Jose later on Saturday.

Dallas (9-2-10), on the other hand, moves within two points of second-placed Real Salt Lake in the Western table with its league-leading 10th draw of the season.

The first chance for either team came just 10 minutes in when a Guillermo Barros Schelotto free-kick into the FC Dallas penalty area was bobbled by goalkeeper Kevin Hartman. Chad Marshall pounced on the rebound, but his shot was deflected out of danger by the defense.

FC Dallas had a chance five minutes later when Milton Rodriguez played a through ball to winger Brek Shea breaking into the Columbus penalty area, but his shot went off the side netting.

Shea had another chance about 10 minutes before the break, but his shot went wide of the left post after he cut past a defender at the top of the penalty area to the middle of the field. Marshall got over just in time to disrupt the shot.

Shea set up a FCD attacker David Ferreira about 10 minutes after the break with a low, hard cross from the left, but the Colombian's one-time blast went just over the bar from close range.

Columbus had a chance to get the game's only goal about 20 minutes from time when an Eddie Gaven cross found Schelotto in the offensive third. Hartman came out to challenge the cross, but Schelotto's shot was cleared off the line by defender Zach Loyd, preserving the draw.

FC Dallas will aim to extend its unbeaten streak to 13 when it hosts Toronto FC on Saturday, while Columbus travels to Los Angeles to take on the Galaxy later the same night in its next MLS fixture.

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El Duque expected to throw Tuesday

PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. -- New York Mets pitcher Orlando Hernandez, sidelined at spring training because of arthritis in his neck, is expected to resume throwing on Tuesday.

Hernandez received a cortisone shot Thursday after leaving camp and returning to New York to have his neck examined. The 41-year-old right-hander is penciled in as the team's No. 2 starter behind Tom Glavine.

El Duque's health is a major issue for the Mets, who won the NL East in 2007 and came within one victory of the World Series. Their aging and unsettled rotation is a big question mark this year.

MySportsbook.com has the Mets as -110 favorites to repeat as NL East champions odds. 

Hernandez went 11-11 with a 4.66 ERA last season, including 9-7 with a 4.09 ERA in 20 starts after the Mets acquired him from Arizona in late May. But he missed the playoffs because of a torn calf muscle.

New York already is without Pedro Martinez, out until at least midseason following rotator cuff surgery. Among those competing for starting jobs are prospects Mike Pelfrey, Philip Humber and Jason Vargas, plus veterans Chan Ho Park, Jorge Sosa and Aaron Sele.

Notes: Mets manager Willie Randolph is excited about two new utility players he could have on his bench: Damion Easley and David Newhan. ''Their value is really all over the place,'' Randolph said. Easley can play anywhere in the infield and could be used as an emergency outfielder, though Randolph said he would prefer to keep the veteran in the infield. Newhan, meanwhile, can play second base, third or any outfield position for the Mets. ''I love versatility,'' Randolph said. ''I love guys that can give me options when I need them to step in.''

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