Croatia moves into Davis Cup quarters

Tennis Betting Lines

03/06/2010 - Varazdin, Croatia (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Croatia holds an insurmountable 3-0 lead over visiting Ecuador in their best-of-five first-round Davis Cup matchup and has advanced to the quarterfinals in July.

The Croats officially eliminated Ecuador on Saturday when its towering doubles pairing of Marin Cilic and Ivo Karlovic handled an Ecuadoran brothers tandem of Nicolas Lapentti and Giovanni Lapentti, 7-6 (7-3), 6-3, 7-5. Croatia originally had Ivan Dodig and Antonio Veic scheduled for the doubles encounter.

Croatia will meet the Serbia-United States victor in the round of eight.

On Friday here in Varazdin, the 6-foot-10 Karlovic got the hosts going by sneaking past Nicolas Lapentti 6-2, 5-7, 6-7 (2-7), 6-3, 6-4 and the rising 6-foot-6 world No. 9 Cilic made it 2-0 Croatia by peppering Giovanni Lapentti 6-4, 6-3, 6-3 on the indoor hardcourt at Gradska Sportska Dvorana.

Croatia, which is being captained by Goran Prpic, captured its lone Davis Cup title in 2005. The heavy underdog Ecuador, in the World Group for the first time in nine years, is captained by Raul Viver.

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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.''

Additional baseball lines and World Series odds can be found at: www.MySportsbook.com

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Huskers' Lucky hospitalized for undisclosed reason

LINCOLN, Neb. -- Nebraska running back Marlon Lucky was hospitalized Monday for undisclosed reasons after Lincoln police responded to a call at his residence.

The Nebraska athletic department said in a release Monday that Lucky was admitted Sunday night.

MySportsbook.com has the Cornhuskers listed at +2500 to win the BCS National Championship odds.

A nursing supervisor at the hospital said all questions about Lucky were being referred to the athletic department. The athletic department said there would be no further comment from the department or Lucky's family.

A Lincoln Police spokesman said officers responded to a call at Lucky's residence 11:30 p.m. Sunday. The spokesman said he didn't know Lucky's condition at the time he was taken to the hospital.

Lucky, from North Hollywood, Calif., started six games last season as a sophomore and was the team's second-leading rusher, with 728 yards and six touchdowns. He also caught 32 passes for 383 yards. He averaged 19.1 yards on eight kickoff returns.

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