Orioles try to close in on Yankees

Baseball Betting Lines

07/30/2012 - (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The New York Yankees will try to bounce back from a disappointing weekend and extend their lead atop the American League East standings on Monday when they begin a three-game set with the Baltimore Orioles at Yankee Stadium.

The Yankees come into tonight's opener sporting a 7 1/2-game edge on both the Orioles and Tampa Bay Rays, despite losing two of three over the weekend to the Boston Red Sox and having dropped seven of 10 overall.

New York won its opener with the Red Sox on Friday, but lost the final two games, including a 3-2 setback in 10 linings on Sunday. The Yankees rallied from a 2-0 deficit to tie the game, but Pedro Ciriaco's RBI singe in the top of the 10th carried Boston to the series win.

Russell Martin supplied the offense for the Yankees with a solo home run in the seventh and an RBI single off Alfredo Aceves in the eighth, while David Robertson (1-4) surrendered the deciding run to take the loss.

Tonight, New York turns to righty Freddy Garcia, who has lost his last two starts. Garcia was defeated by Seattle on Tuesday, as he surrendered three runs and five hits in 7 1/3 innings, dropping him to 4-4 on the year to go along with a 5.16 ERA. He also racked up a season-high eight strikeouts and did not walk a batter.

"I feel really good today. I got everything going right now," Garcia said. "I started to always make my pitch, and they gave me a favor -- they start swinging the bats real aggressive. For me, when that happens, it's good, because I can locate all my pitches and get the job done more easy."

Garcia has faced the Orioles 19 times (17 starts) and is 6-7 with a 4.33 ERA.

The Yankees, though, have won all five of his starts versus the Orioles since the start of the 2011 campaign.

Baltimore, meanwhile, hasn't been able to take advantage of the Yanks' recent struggles, but does enter tonight's opener on a high note after salvaging the finale of its three-game set with the Oakland Athletics on Sunday.

Wei-Yin Chen struck out 12 to help the Orioles avoid the sweep, while Matt Wieters hit a three-run home run and Omar Quintanilla went 3-for-4 with a solo home run and two runs scored in the 6-1 win.

Chen (9-6) set a record for most strikeouts in one game by a Taiwanese-born pitcher and gave up just one unearned run on three hits with four walks over 5 2/3 innings for the Orioles, who won for only the second time in seven tries.

"It's always good when you get everyone playing together like we did today," said Quintanilla. "Chen was solid out there and hopefully this will be the start of a good run."

Getting the call for the Orioles tonight will be righty Miguel Gonzalez, who is 2-2 with a 4.28 ERA. Gonzales was awful against Tampa Bay on Wednesday, as he allowed seven runs and seven hits in just 2 2/3 innings.

"I couldn't get my command," Gonzalez said after that outing. "Obviously, whatever happened didn't work out for me. I just want to forget about tonight's game."

Gonzalez has never faced the Yankees.

New York has won five of its eight meetings with the Orioles this season, but Baltimore did take two of three in the Bronx earlier in the year.

Gamblee Baseball Betting News

<< Rams sign Long to extension
St. Louis, MO (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The St. Louis Rams signed defensive end Chris Long to a four-year contract extension Sunday. Financial terms of the pact were not disclosed. Long, who the Rams selected with the second overall pick in th

<< Ciriaco, Red Sox top Yankees in 10 innings
Bronx, NY (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Pedro Ciriaco's RBI single in the top of the 10th inning proved to be the game winner as the Boston Red Sox escaped with a 3-2 victory over the New York Yankees in the rubber match of a three-game series at Yank

<< Feldman, Rangers blank White Sox
Arlington, TX (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Scott Feldman is making the most out of his latest opportunity. The 29-year-old right-hander spun eight scoreless innings, helping the Texas Rangers snap a five-game losing streak to the Chicago White

<< McInerney rescues Union against Revolution
Chester, PA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Philadelphia Union claimed a dramatic win at PPL Park on Sunday, riding a late goal from Jack McInerney to a 2-1 win over the New England Revolution. Saer Sene put the visitors in front in the first

<< Nats rally to edge Brewers in 11 innings
Milwaukee, WI (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Michael Morse clubbed a game-tying, two-run homer in the ninth to send the game to extras, and then ripped a go-ahead, two-run double in the 11th as the Nationals took a thrilling 11-10 victory over th

Angels and Rangers kick off key series in Arlington >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim hope to have super rookie Mike Trout back in the lineup on Monday when they start an important four-game series with the American League West-leading Texas Rangers. Trout missed Sunday's 2

Price shoots for 15th win as Rays open set with A's >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - David Price tries to become the majors' first 15-game winner on Monday when the Tampa Bay Rays open a three-game set with the Oakland Athletics at the Coliseum. Price has been magnificent of late and has won his last three

Streaking Reds aim for 11th straight win, host Padres >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Cincinnati Reds take aim at their first 11-game winning streak in over 55 years this evening when they open a four-game set with the San Diego Padres at Great American Ball Park. The Reds have won 10 straight, 17 of th

Giants try to bounce back versus Mets >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The San Francisco Giants only have themselves to blame for losing grip on the National League West lead. Tonight, they hope to bounce back versus the New York Mets in the opener of a four-game series at AT&T Park. The

Dodgers aim to keep momentum rolling in opener with D'Backs >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Los Angeles Dodgers head back home to begin a nine-game residency tonight, starting with the first of three straight games versus the Arizona Diamondbacks at Chavez Ravine. The Dodgers completed a huge three-game sweep

MySportsbook.com is the Internet’s largest online sportsbook site serving customers in more than 80 countries worldwide. Founded in 1997, MySportsbook.com was the first sports book to introduce reduced margin wagering, using a -105 pricing model that gives bettors up to 50% better value on wagers than traditional bookmakers. With low minimum bet requirements and the highest maximum limits on the Web, MySportsbook.com has earned an industry leading reputation for providing consistent value to the player, professional customer service and the quickest payouts online. Fully licensed and regulated in Antigua and the UK, the company offers a secure environment for sports betting, horse racing and online casino games.

To visit this online sportsbook got to MySportsbook.com for all your Sportsbook accepts credit cards needs.

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

To visit this online sportsbook got to MySportsbook.com - this sportsbook accepts credit cards.