Fading Angels hope to stop home slide against Indians
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09/07/2010 -
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - With their postseason fate hanging by a thread, the LA
Angels of Anaheim look to stop a four-game home losing streak tonight in the
second portion of a three-game series versus the Cleveland Indians.
The Angels are 9 1/2 games behind Texas for the American League West lead, but
14 losses over the last 20 games have put a damper on their playoff hopes. In
Monday's 3-2 loss in the series opener, Dan Haren allowed two runs in seven
innings for the no-decision, while Fernando Rodney was dealt the loss for
surrendering Shin-Soo Choo's RBI single in the top of the ninth.
"Other than the three uncharacteristic walks in the sixth, [Haren] pitched
well," Angels manager Mike Scioscia said. "We just didn't support him."
Haren had control issues in the sixth, walking three straight after Jayson
Nix's two-out double. Torii Hunter homered and Alberto Callaspo drove in a run
for Anaheim, which got two hits from Hunter and Mike Napoli in defeat.
Anaheim will hand the ball to Trevor Bell this evening and he's 2-4 with a
4.85 earned run average in 24 games (6 starts) this season. Bell is coming off
last Wednesday's win at Seattle and limited the hosts to two runs on nine hits
through six innings.
Bell also struck out six Mariners and will face Cleveland for the second time
in his career Tuesday. The right-hander defeated the Indians back on August 18
of last season, allowing three runs over 5 1/3 frames of a 5-4 win.
Meanwhile, Cleveland has alternated wins and losses over its previous six
games and got back into the victory column thanks to Choo's run-scoring single
in the ninth inning. Choo is batting .429 in his career at the Big A.
Shelley Duncan and Luis Valbuena were each credited with an RBI for the
Indians, who got six strong innings out of young starter Carlos Carrasco. The
righty held the Angels to two runs in six innings.
"I felt I had command of my fastball. I was throwing strikes," Carrasco said.
"I wanted to stay in the game, but I threw too many pitches."
Jensen Lewis earned the win by getting the final out in the eighth inning and
Chris Perez recorded his 19th save in the ninth.
Justin Masterson will handle pitching duties for the Tribe Tuesday, and he's
only 5-12 with a 5.04 earned run average in 27 starts this season. Masterson
did not record a decision the last time out in a 4-3 loss to the White Sox on
August 31, despite getting reached for only one run in 7 2/3 innings.
The righty, who is just 2-7 in 14 road starts this season, will make his
seventh career appearance against the Halos. In six lifetime matchups, three
of which have been starts, Masterson is 1-0 with a 3.13 ERA.
The Angels took two of three at home over the Indians back in April and have
won six of the last nine overall meetings.
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Oakland recorded i
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Silva set to return as Cubs battle Astros >>
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exactly what has kept Silva off the mound since August 1.
Silva is scheduled to take the moun
Sabathia goes for 20th win vs. O's in the Bronx >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - CC Sabathia tries to win 20 games for the first time in his
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Sabathia won his sixth straight sta
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(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Freddy Garcia tries to win his ninth straight decision as
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and Detroit Tigers continue their four-game series.
In his last nine starts as a vi
Rays try again to snap slide against Red Sox >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Tampa Bay Rays try to avoid their fourth straight loss
this evening when they continue a three-game series against the Boston Red Sox
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Kansas City, MO - Kansas City has not officially named Matt Cassel its starting quarterback, but there can be no doubt now.
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After praising his leadership and work ethic through spring workouts, the Chiefs announced Tuesday they had signed the 27-year-old Cassel to a multiyear contract. Terms were not disclosed, but he will almost certainly be one of the highest-paid members of the team.
"We are excited to be able to reach a long-term agreement for Matt Cassel to be a Kansas City Chief for many years to come," owner and board chairman Clark Hunt said in a statement. "His proven leadership on and off the field will be a tremendous asset to the organization."
Patriots made him their franchise player, meaning his salary for this season will be about $15 million.
New head coach Todd Haley, taking over for Herm Edwards after a 2-14 season, refused to name a starter at any position during offseason workouts. But it was obvious to everyone the team belonged to Cassel.
"I go out there each and every day with that focus that I'm the starter," Cassel said during a June minicamp. "Competition brings out the best in everybody."
The signing will come as welcome news to Cassel's new coaches and teammates. Amiable and hardworking, online football betting he appeared to win over everyone at minicamp.
"I think he's got some unique leadership qualities. I think his teammates like him and have respect for him. I think he's doing a pretty good job on the field, too," Haley said last month. "He's doing everything that I'm asking him, that our coaches are asking him to do. I don't have one single complaint how he's carrying himself."
After one workout, wide receiver Devard Darling declared Cassel "a breath of fresh air."
"He has a lot of swagger, a lot of confidence. It's good for us," said Darling. "We trust in him that he's going to go out there and lead us all the way."
nse to accommodate his specific abilities.
Trapped on the bench behind Heisman winners Carson Palmer and Matt Leinart at USC and then unable to unseat Super Bowl MVP Brady at New England, Cassel seemed destined to be a backup all his life. As Brady was helped off the field last September, Cassel seized the opportunity he'd been waiting for since high school.
In his only sustained action since his teens, he hit 349 of 555 passes for 3,949 yards at New England. He had 23 touchdown passes and 13 interceptions as the Patriots, who had gone unbeaten through the regular season the year before, finished 11-5 and out of the playoffs.
Chiefs general manager Scott Pioli, who had been Bill Belichick's assistant in New England, engineered the trade after the Patriots became convinced that Brady would recover fully from his knee operation.
"Since Matt arrived in Kansas City, he has embraced the team and the community," Pioli said. "His work ethic, his ability and competitive presence is what we expect from our players."
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