Angels vie to continue mastery of Mariners

Baseball Betting Lines

07/18/2010 - (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim set their sights on a ninth straight victory over the Seattle Mariners as the two ballclubs wrap up a four-game set today at Angel Stadium.

On Saturday, Juan Rivera went 3-for-4 and hit the go-ahead home run in the seventh inning, lifting the Angels to a 7-6 victory over the Mariners.

Mike Napoli went 2-for-4 with a home run for the Angels, who had also won the first two contests of this four-game series. Kevin Frandsen and Reggie Willits each added two hits and two RBI in the victory.

"We're swinging the bats much better, but we need contributions from a lot of guys," said Angels manager Mike Scioscia. "We were able to pressure them early in the game, and Juan has a track record of swinging the bat well as the season goes on."

The Angels have beaten the Mariners eight consecutive times and improved to 10-2 against them this season.

Justin Smoak went 3-for-4 with a double and homer, while Jose Lopez doubled twice for Seattle, which has dropped four in a row and fell to 2-12 in July.

Neither starter received a decision. Los Angeles' Joe Saunders allowed five runs (four earned) on 10 hits in six innings, while Seattle's Ryan Rowland- Smith last just 3 1/3 frames, in which he gave up six runs (five earned) on eight hits and a walk.

Jason Vargas gets the start for the Mariners today and he is hoping to build off a solid performance against the Yankees on July 8th. In that game, Vargas allowed one earned run and nine hits over seven innings of work. He did not receive a decision in the team's eventual 3-1 loss.

The left-hander has made four career appearances - three starts - versus the Angels, going 2-0 with a 2.82 ERA. He last faced them on June 6th, allowing four runs - three earned - and 10 hits in six innings. He did not factor in the decision, a 9-4 loss for the Mariners.

Countering for the Angels is Ervin Santana, who has dropped two consecutive starts. The right-hander wasn't at fault in his last appearance on July 8th, allowing just one earned run and three hits over eight innings of a 1-0 loss to the White Sox.

Santana has made 17 lifetime starts against Seattle, boasting a 7-4 record and a 4.19 ERA. He picked up the win against them on June 5th, allowing one run and seven hits in six inning of an 11-2 triumph.

Lotteryanerica Baseball Betting News

<< Mets send Santana to salvage series with San Francisco
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - New York Mets ace Johan Santana has allowed only one run through his last three starts and hopes to continue that stingy trend today in the finale of a four-game set against the San Francisco Giants at AT&T Park. Sa

<< Padres go for another sweep of Arizona
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The National League West-leading San Diego Padres will shoot for the second straight three-game sweep of the Arizona Diamondbacks when the two division foes close out their set today at Petco Park. San Diego has

<< Szavay wins second straight title
Prague, Czech Republic (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Hungary's Agnes Szavay captured her second consecutive tournament title with a three-set victory over crowd favorite Barbora Zahlavova Strycova of the Czech Republic in Sunday's final of the Pra

<< Marlins aim for series win vs. Nationals
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Marlins right-hander Alex Sanabia makes his fifth trip to a major-league mound today, seeking to lift Florida to a series win in the finale of a three-game set with the visiting Washington Nationals at Sun Life Stadium

<< Cook leads Rockies into finale at Reds
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Suburban Cincinnati native Aaron Cook returns home to face a team that's never beaten him today, when the Colorado Rockies head to Great American Ball Park to meet the Reds in the finale of a three-game series. The host

Twins seek another victory over White Sox >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Minnesota Twins will try to make things even tighter in the AL Central, as they wrap up a four-game set with the division-leading Chicago White Sox today at Target Field. After losing the opener of this series,

A's, Royals close out set in KC >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Oakland Athletics shoot for their first five-game winning streak of the 2010 campaign, as they close up a three-game series with the Kansas City Royals today at Kauffman Stadium. On Saturday, Adam Rosales drove

Boston's Lester takes mound vs. Rangers >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Jon Lester goes for his seventh straight home win today, as he leads the Boston Red Sox into the finale of a four-game series with the Texas Rangers at Fenway Park. Lester, who tossed a perfect inning in the All-Star

Pitcher's duel on tap between Rays/Yankees >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - A pair of All-Star pitchers go head-to-head today, as David Price and the Tampa Bay Rays conclude a three-game set with Andy Pettitte and the New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium. The 24-year-old Price recently earned his

Jays hope to pin another sweep on O's >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Toronto Blue Jays gun for their third consecutive three-game sweep of the Baltimore Orioles as the teams wrap up their series today at Camden Yards. On Saturday, Jose Bautista hit a two-run homer in the t

MySportsbook.com and Kentucky Derby Offer Bonuses
The 2008 Kentucky Derby has announced a $1-million bonus for this weekend’s 134th ‘Run for the Roses’ and MySportsbook.com is doing the same.

Well, not quite $1 million, but MySportsbook.com is offering a 75% rebate for Kentucky Derby lines. Check out the exclusive horse racing bonus for all the details.

According to MySportsbook.com, the favorites for Saturday’s Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky are: Curlin (+250); Street Sense (+500); Scat Daddy (+700); Circular Quay (+750); and Nobiz Like Shobiz (+800).

Derby organizers announced this week that there will be a $1-million bonus at the 2007 Kentucky Derby odds if the first-place horse wins by more than 6 1/2 lengths – the margin of Barbaro's victory last year. The bonus would be divided Saturday among the winning trainer, jockey, owner and a charity, with each receiving 25 percent. The designated charity is the Barbaro Memorial Fund.

''It's certainly creative, it's certainly fun and it has something for the horsemen, which we always want to embrace,'' Churchill Downs president and chief executive Robert Evans said at a news conference. ''What's really cool is it will force us to remember Barbaro.''
    
Meanwhile, the Derby favorite – Curlin – is going against the odds this year. It's been 125 years since Apollo won after skipping his 2-year-old season, and not since Regret in 1915 has such a lightly seasoned horse worn the blanket of red roses.

Arkansas Derby winner Curlin – unbeaten in three career races – tries to overcome both those obstacles in Saturday's 133rd Derby.

''We're not running against history,'' trainer Steve Asmussen said Monday. ''We're running against who they load up.''

Six other horses have run in the Derby without benefit of 2-year-old races and with three or fewer starts. The best any of them managed was a sixth-place finish by Showing Up last year.
   
Asmussen dismissed suggestions that Curlin's lack of racing experience could keep him from the winner's circle.

”He exudes confidence and he's got a great presence about him,'' the trainer said. ''I feel great about the position we're in. He's not worried about anything, why should you be?''
   
The Kentucky Derby is at 4:04 p.m., ET Saturday.

For complete odds on the Kentucky Derby, visit MySportsbook.com. Mysportsbook.com online sportsbook accepts Visa and Mastercard credit cards.