05/09/2008 - Carson, CA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Two of Major League Soccer's biggest markets will clash when the New York Red Bulls travel to California to take on the Los Angeles Galaxy on Saturday night at the Home Depot Center.
Both teams are trying to establish their spots in their respective conference tables, with the Galaxy currently third in the West and New York second from the bottom in the East.
The Galaxy are the hotter of the two lukewarm teams, unbeaten in their last three including a 2-2 draw with Real Salt Lake in their last league fixture. David Beckham scored two goals less than five minutes apart to give L.A. a share of the points on the road.
"It's what great players do," Galaxy defender Chris Klein said of Beckham. "He delivers good balls, and you have to step to him because he can strike a great ball. On the free kick, everyone knows what he can do there. We're going to need a few of those this year, and he's been known to provide them. I think this is a tip of what he can do, and what everyone has been waiting to see."
All four goals in the 2-2 draw came before the first half break.
"We started coming back into the game just before then and when you're coming back into the game it's important that you keep your eyes on the play," Beckham said. "It was my turn to score the goals tonight instead of Landon (Donovan, who leads MLS with 8 goals), but it's important that all the players take a part of scoring goals and winning games and getting the team back into the game."
"His attitude in those two moments to make the difference," Donovan of Beckham. "Obviously, he has the quality to make the difference. Other people can try it, but can't pull it off - he can. Him saying, 'I'm going to make a difference because we're struggling right now,' then he went and did it - that was the difference between tying the game and losing."
The Red Bulls aren't as confident heading into the match, with number of injury concerns.
Striker Juan Pablo Angel has an injured back, midfielder Claudio Reyna's has a left calf strain, striker Jozy Altidore missed two days of training because of an allergies, and defensive midfielder Seth Stammler suffered a lower back injury at training Wednesday afternoon. Neither Reyna or Stammler will be in action Saturday.
"It's sore," Angel said of his back after the team's draw at Toronto last week. "It got very tight at the end. But I'm happy I managed to play 90 minutes, it'll be good for my fitness. We're just going to have to wait and see how it reacts in the next couple of days ... if it reacts well, that means I'm getting better."
There was some good news from the training room, however, with Dane Richards and Hunter Freeman playing their first minutes of the season last week after coming back from injury. Both Angel and Altidore are expected to play Saturday as well.
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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.
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