Pennetta eases into Palermo quarters

Tennis Betting Lines

07/14/2010 - Palermo, Italy (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Defending champion and top seed Flavia Pennetta of Italy was an easy second-round winner Wednesday at the $220,000 Palermo International tennis tournament.

Pennetta handled Czech Renata Voracova 6-0, 6-3 in only 55 minutes on the red clay at Country Time Club. The world No. 12 Pennetta beat Sara Errani in last year's all-Italian final here and was the Palermo runner-up back in 2004.

The 28-year-old Pennetta's quarterfinal opponent on Friday will be Spanish qualifier Nuria Llagostera Vives, who took out ninth-seeded Italian Alberta Brianti 7-6 (8-6), 6-2 on Day 3.

Veteran American Jill Craybas fought back to stun Wimbledon semifinalist Tsvetana Pironkova 2-6, 6-2, 6-2 on Wednesday. The diminutive 36-year-old Craybas is only 5-foot-3 but is one of the fittest players on the WTA Tour.

The Bulgarian Pironkova, seeded fourth this week, appeared in her first-ever Grand Slam semifinal two weeks ago at the storied All England Club.

Meanwhile, eighth-seeded German Julia Goerges grounded Italian qualifier Corinna Dentoni 6-4, 6-3 to setup a quarterfinal affair with the age-defying Craybas.

On Thursday, second-seeded Aravane Rezai and a third-seeded Errani will play their second-rounders. The French Rezai is fresh off her clay-court championship in Bastad. Errani is seeking her third straight trip into the Palermo final, having titled here in 2008 and lost to Pennetta in last year's championship tilt.

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Marlins could start season without No. 2 starter Johnson

JUPITER, Fla. -- The Foorida Marlins are preparing for the likelihood that right-hander
Josh Johnson won't be ready when the season starts April 2.

Grapefruit League action starts Wednesday, but Johnson, penciled in as the No. 2 starter, hasn't even thrown off a mound at full speed since September. He's experienced some soreness in his right forearm.

MySportsbook.com have the Marlins listed with baseball betting lines at +800 to win the NL East this season .

''You guys know the math. If he's not on the hill then he becomes an opening day roster issue,'' manager Fredi Gonzalez said Saturday. ''We're borderline now.''

Johnson, who finished 12-7 with a 3.10 ERA in 2007, was supposed to throw on flat ground Saturday. That was canceled when he woke up with pain.

He played catch on Wednesday with no pain but felt discomfort in a throwing session on Thursday. He's expected to try again Sunday.

''Like we always said from the very beginning, we're going to take it easy on him,'' Gonzalez said. ''He didn't feel right, so we shut him down. We're going to take it back to step one and see where we're at.''

Among the candidates to take Johnson's spot in the rotation are left-hander Chris George and right-handers Yusmeiro Petit and Jose Garcia.

Right-hander Sergio Mitre, who missed most of last season with arm and shoulder problems, also is behind.

With Johnson's status doubtful, Gonzalez said right-hander Ricky Nolasco will stay in the rotation and no longer will be considered a candidate for closer.

Additional basbeall odds can be found at: www.MySportsbook.com

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