Red Sox shoot for third straight win against battling M's

Baseball Betting Lines

07/24/2010 - (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Boston Red Sox try to make it three straight wins this evening when they continue their four-game set against the Seattle Mariners at Safeco Field.

The Red Sox will turn to Jon Lester to keep them in the win column, as the southpaw will take the hill trying to rebound from his fourth loss on the season. In the 4-2 setback to Texas on Sunday, Lester surrendered four runs -- three earned -- on nine hits, but he also struck out six batters in eight innings.

The loss halted Lester's personal three-game winning streak.

Lester has been solid throughout the season, especially on the road where the Washington native is 5-2 in nine starts, and that comes with an impressive 2.78 earned run average.

However, Lester has endured struggles against Seattle in his career, posting just a 1-1 mark with a lackluster 4.55 ERA in five outings.

Taking on Boston will be a former player from the organization in David Pauley. Pauley, who participated in nine combined games for the Red Sox in 2006 and 2008, will be making his third start on the season since being called up from Tacoma back on June 27th. Both of Pauley's starts have come at home, but in both matchups the right-hander was defeated.

The last time Pauley took the hill he surrendered three runs on eight hits in a 6-1 setback to Chicago.

Last night, Bill Hall hit the go-ahead home run in the seventh inning and Josh Beckett pitched into the sixth in his first appearance in over two months as Boston edged the Mariners, 2-1.

Beckett had been sidelined with a lower back strain. In his first game since May 18, the right-hander went 5 2/3 innings, yielding one run on five hits with three walks and five strikeouts. He threw 98 pitches, 62 for strikes.

The Red Sox blew a five-run lead in the ninth inning on Thursday, but managed to win the opener of the four-game series, 8-6, in 13 innings. Jonathan Papelbon, who was part of that ninth-inning collapse, escaped a jam in the final frame Friday for his 22nd save of the year.

The Mariners not only suffered their eighth loss in 10 games, but tempers boiled over in a skirmish in the team's dugout in the fifth inning apparently over a lackadaisical effort in the top portion of the frame by second baseman Chone Figgins.

Josh Wilson was already warming up to replace Figgins when Mariners manager Don Wakamatsu told Figgins that he was being removed from the game.

"I don't think you can point a finger at anyone," said the Mariners' Russell Branyan. "I just think that Wak walked down there and told Figgy that he was done and Figgy wanted to explain his side of the story, how the play went down. That was pretty much it and I think that some tempers flared a little. That's about it."

Lopez had his jersey pulled over his head as a cluster of players came together in the dugout. Figgins and Lopez were being held back by teammates on one side of the dugout, while Wakamatsu appeared to be at the other end and also part of the argument.

"In the fifth inning I didn't think there was much effort on that back-up," Wakamatsu said. "One thing people have to understand, everybody in that dugout cares and tempers fly a little bit. What happens in there stays in there."

Boston is 9-4 in the past 13 contests in this series.

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American Idol odds : Blake Lewis the Early Standout

An important American Idol betting lines recap from February 20 Guys episode. The 12 men came out flat overall with Blake Lewis appearing to have the early edge after the first hour and a half.

Rudy - was quite good singing "Free Ride" to start off.  Randy was not impressed though.  Paula thought he started off fantastic.  "Never had anyone stop off so lively" said Paula but Simon (who does not like Rudy) does not feel he has a distinct voice and was not impressed either. 

Brandon was a little pitchy according to Randy and Paula agreed.  Simon said he was a good singer but the song was "too safe" and he needs to make an impact.  He was listed at +1200 odds or $1200 paid out on a $100 bet should he win the competition. 

Big favorite Sundance came in with a flat version of "Knights in White Satin" and the judges let him have it, including Paula.  Randy claimed the song was out of pitch throughout.

Korean American - and a Jenny Woo favorite - Paul Kim was up next.  Another pitchy flat one but Randy said he still liked his potential.  Kim at +3000 odds was said to have sung a "third rate version of that (George Michael) song" according to Simon Cowell.  He sang "Careless Whisper".

22 year old Chris Richardson was up next.  He was listed with +1100 odds coming in.  He got the best response from the judges though Simon did not believe the vocal was that great. 

Nick was boring and pitchy.  Simon didn't think he was that bad though and predicted he would be back next week.  Nick Pedro was a big +3000 dog coming into this competition. 

Beat boxer Blake Lewis was listed with early +1000 odds or $1000 payout on a $100 bet if he were to become the next American Idol winner odds .  These of course were the early odds.  He was considered original for picking an "odd song".  He did not beat box and the judges felt it was the best vocal of the night. 

Sanjaya came in as the second biggest favorite after Chris Sligh but his performance Tuesday night was not very good. 

Chris Sleigh was the early favorite at +450 odds.  Great voice and a great sense of humor.  He's a real standout.  Randy felt it was on point but maybe ahead of the chorus a little bit.  Simon Cowell said he felt like he was in some "sort of weird student gig". 

Jared Cotter followed.  He was listed with +2000 odds early on to win the competition.  The judges felt he needs to take more risks but looked good. 

22-year old AJ Talbado, who has tried out for American Idol five times, was up next.  "Kind of a theme park performance" said Simon.  Though the judges felt he performed okay.  Simon did feel AJ might be better than he originally thought.

Phil - this season's military favorite - came into this competition with +1200 odds to win the competition.  He was the last to perform.  He was certainly strong enough to get through this stage of the competition and perhaps the best one after a shaky start. 

Tomorrow night, the ladies perform and I sure hope they do a better job than the boys.  Check out all the American Idol betting odds here.

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