Angels go for two-game sweep of Yankees

Baseball Betting Lines

07/21/2010 - (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The new Yankee Stadium hasn't been an enjoyable place for the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim in the spectacular venue's brief history, but the three-time defending American League West champions will have an opportunity to earn a two-game sweep there when they take the field against the hometown New York Yankees this afternoon.

The Angels lost in six of their seven visits to Yankee Stadium, which included a trio of defeats to the Bronx Bombers in the 2009 AL Championship Series, during the ballpark's first season of existence, then won just one of three road matchups with New York in a series that took place between April 23-25. Anaheim had an easier time in last night's opener of this brief set, however, clubbing three home runs and banging out 14 hits en route to a 10-2 rout of the reigning world champs.

Mike Napoli led the outburst by going 3-for-5 with a homer and four RBI, while Maicer Izturis also went deep and knocked in three runs for the Angels. Former Yankee standout Hideki Matsui added a two-run blast against his ex-team to help Los Angeles win for the fourth time in its last four games.

Napoli has now homered in three consecutive contests and has gone 8-for-16 with six RBI and six runs scored during a four-game hitting streak.

"I was struggling a bit before the [All-Star] break, but I got back to basics and moved my hands up a little bit more," said Napoli. "I got some pitches to hit tonight -- I was just trying to get a good count and feel good up there."

Anaheim also received a solid start out of Sean O'Sullivan (1-0) in Tuesday's triumph. The young right-hander, called up from Triple-A Salt Lake on Monday to replace the injured Scott Kazmir, held the Yankees to two runs and just a pair of hits over the first six innings.

O'Sullivan outpitched New York All-Star Phil Hughes (11-3), who was tagged for six runs on nine hits and three walks over a shaky five-plus innings.

The Yankees put up two runs in the bottom of the first inning, with Nick Swisher's solo homer starting the scoring, to take an early lead, but managed just four hits off O'Sullivan and the Anaheim bullpen the rest of the way.

"We scored a couple early runs, but they just kept coming after us," said Yankees catcher Jorge Posada. "We just need to keep our heads up -- we can't get frustrated."

New York was able to maintain its 2 1/2-game advantage on second-place Tampa Bay in the AL East standings after the Rays lost to Baltimore on Tuesday. The Yankees won two of three games from Tampa at home heading into this series.

The Yankees will attempt to rebound behind Javier Vazquez, while the veteran right-hander tries to maintain his outstanding recent form when he takes the mound this afternoon. The offseason addition has rebounded strongly from a poor beginning to the season and enters today's test having compiled a 4-2 record and a 2.55 ERA in an eight-start span that began on June 1.

Vazquez has been especially good over his past two outings. After limiting Oakland to one run and three hits over seven innings in a July 5 victory, he closed out his first half by yielding three hits and striking out seven in seven shutout frames at Seattle on July 10. The 33-year-old was denied a potential win that night, however, when teammate Joba Chamberlain gave up a go-ahead grand slam in the bottom of the eighth.

The Puerto Rico native will have a chance to rebound from two of his worst showings of the season today. Against the Angels on April 25, Vazquez was tagged for five runs in just 3 2/3 innings of an 8-4 New York loss in Anaheim, which took place 11 days after he surrendered four runs through 5 1/3 frames in a home setback to the Halos. He's yet to defeat Anaheim over the course of his career, bringing an 0-3 record with a 4.38 ERA in six prior matchups with the Halos into this afternoon's clash.

Joel Pineiro opposed Vazquez in that April 14 meeting at Yankee Stadium and will do so again today. The Anaheim right-hander delivered a gem that day, holding the Bronx Bombers to a run on five hits and not issuing a walk over seven excellent innings.

Pineiro wasn't nearly as successful in a rematch with New York later that month, permitting six runs and 11 hits in a six-inning loss at Angel Stadium on April 25. He's been virtually unbeatable as of late, however, racking up seven consecutive wins in eight starts since a June 1 defeat at Kansas City. The Angels have come out on top in each of those contests.

The sinker specialist ran his season record to 10-6 after tossing seven innings of three-run ball against Seattle this past Thursday. Pineiro has posted a 2.51 ERA during his undefeated stretch and lasted seven innings or more in six of his last seven trips to the hill.

In 18 lifetime appearances (10 starts) against the Yankees, Pineiro is 3-4 with a 3.66 ERA.

Tuesday's victory gave the Angels a 4-3 edge in this year's season series with New York.

Waskjeeves Baseball Betting News

<< Rays wrap up set with Orioles at Camden Yards
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Tampa Bay Rays will attempt to bounce back from a frustrating loss to the Baltimore Orioles when the two American League East inhabitants square off again this afternoon at Camden Yards, but it looks like as if t

<< CFL East: Hamilton finally delivers
Toronto, Canada (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Hamilton Tiger-Cats looked the best of any team in week three, something that will have head coach Marcel Bellefeuille smiling - at least until their next game. One game won't solve everything, but at leas

<< Amid trade rumors, Myers and Lilly square off in Astros-Cubs finale
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Two pitchers rumored to be on the trading block get together this afternoon in the Windy City, where Ted Lilly and the host Chicago Cubs take on Brett Myers and the Houston Astros at Wrigley Field in the finale of a three-gam

<< Hughley, Rowley and Reid earn weekly AFL honors
Tulsa, OK (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Tulsa wide receiver JEFF HUGHLEY, Spokane quarterback KYLE ROWLEY and Dallas defensive back DELENALL REID have been named the JLS Ironman, Russell Athletic Offensive Players and Riddell Defensive Player of the Week,

<< Canada's youth movement
Toronto, Canada (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Cast in the shadow of the Open Championship which finished this past weekend at St. Andrews, the 2010 installment of the RBC Canadian Open is all set to tee off at the historic St. George's Golf and Country Cl

Surprising Argos play host to Lions >>
Toronto, ON (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The surprising Toronto Argonauts try to match their win total from all of last season as they host the British Columbia Lions at the Rogers Centre on Friday night. In 2009 the Argos posted a dismal 3-15 record,

Winless Eskimos seek win column against Blue Bombers >>
Winnipeg, MB (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Edmonton Eskimos try once more to pick up their first win of the 2010 campaign this weekend as they pay a visit to the Winnipeg Blue Bombers for an interleague matchup at Canad Inns Stadium in Manitoba. N

Heavy-hitting Jays shoot for series win in KC >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Jose Bautista's dream season has the Blue Jays in position to do something they haven't done since 2003. That was the last time Toronto won a series in Kansas City, a feat it will try to accomplish today versus the Royals in

Undefeated Roughriders battle Stampeders >>
Calgary, AB (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The last of the unbeatens in the Canadian Football League try to keep their record unblemished this weekend as the Saskatchewan Roughriders clash with the Calgary Stampeders at McMahon Stadium in Alberta. As i

Boston to get some extra help in Oakland >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Injuries to a number of key performers have caused the Boston Red Sox to lose ground in the American League playoff race. They'll get one of those players back this afternoon, however, with standout pitcher Clay Buchhol

Pro Football Odds : NFC SOUTH BETTING ODDS

NFL Sports Betting

NFL betting action is back! At MySportsbook, all of the pro football odds are posted for the NFC North. Check out how we see the four teams in this cloudy division stacking up this year in the chase for the playoffs! Green Bay Packers (+125) - With QB Aaron Rodgers leading the offense and DC Dom Capers working his magic on defense, the Packers are a real force to be reckoned with.

Virtually nothing changed on this offense for Green Bay from last year to this year, save for the addition of rookie OT Brian Bulaga to the bunch. Expect more huge numbers from the Pack, and a relatively favorable schedule should get them over the hump and into the playoffs once again this season. My NFL Betting Predictions: 11-5, 1st place in NFC North Minnesota Vikings (+130) - There are still too many unknowns about the Vikes this year. There is a huge difference between QB Brett Favre and either Tarvaris Jackson or Sage Rosenfels under center. Plus, is Favre comes back, is he really going to be able to keep his pick total under double digits again? Depth at running back looked like it might have been an issue with RB Chester Taylor fleeing in free agency, but drafting RB Toby Gerhart should pick up the difference. This defense is still suitable, but with a first place schedule, making the playoffs is going to be very tough regardless of whether #4 comes back or not.

There is a huge difference between QB Brett Favre and either Tarvaris Jackson or Sage Rosenfels under center. Plus, is Favre comes back, is he really going to be able to keep his pick total under double digits again? Depth at running back looked like it might have been an issue with RB Chester Taylor fleeing in free agency, but drafting RB Toby Gerhart should pick up the difference. This defense is still suitable, but with a first place schedule, making the playoffs is going to be very tough regardless of whether #4 comes back or not. Play this weekly NFL Football Contestto see if you can win.

Chicago Bears (+350) - The Bears are probably a bit of an overhyped team once again this year.No, we don't think it is plausible for QB Jay Cutler to have as bad of a season as he did last year, and we do think the additions of RB Chester Taylor and DE Julius Peppers are going to help immensely, but there's still something in the water in the Windy City that we aren't so sure about. Maybe Chicago finds its way to .500... but then again, maybe it doesn't. If Favre comes back, Cutler might be the worst quarterback in this division this year.

Detroit Lions (+1500) - The Lions are probably once again going to be the whipping boys for the rest of the teams in the NFC North, but they aren't just going to roll over and die once again. There is some real talent amassing on this team offensively, as the combination of QB Matt Stafford, RB Jahvid Best, WR Calvin Johnson, and TE Brandon Pettigrew should put a bunch of points on the board if the offensive line can even remotely hold up. The questions really lie on defense, where it feels like DT Ndamukong Suh is going to be trying to stop opposing teams all by himself. This year should show some marked improvement in the Motor City.

The Patriots will make NFL betting fans a lot of money this season, get in early and enjoy the cash.

NFL Betting

To visit this sportsbook go to MySportsbook.com for all your NFL football betting needs.