Guerrero burns former team as Rangers top Angels

Baseball Betting Lines

07/01/2010 - Anaheim, CA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Vladimir Guerrero continued to torment his old team, going 4-for-4 with two homers and five RBI, as the Texas Rangers evened this three-game set with a 6-4 win over the rival Angels.

Guerrero, who spent the last six seasons with the Angels, has had a huge year for the Rangers and now has three home runs and eight RBI in the first two games of this series alone. He has already eclipsed last season's home run total with his 17th and 18th of 2010 and has been one of the most productive players in the American League.

It was the third multi-homer game of the season for Guerrero and the 42nd of his career. The Rangers have now won 14 of 16 overall and will look for their franchise-record ninth straight series win in the rubber match on Thursday.

Dustin Nippert (3-3) recorded the win after allowing one run in three innings, and Neftali Feliz notched his 21st save of the season. Meanwhile, Josh Hamilton's career-best hit streak increased to 23 with a 1-for-3 effort.

Erick Aybar homered and drove in two runs for the Angels, who still managed to finish June with an excellent 18-9 mark. Scott Kazmir (7-7) struggled in losing his second straight start, giving up five runs, six hits and a walk in just 4 2/3 innings.

The Rangers trailed by three entering the fourth, but one swing of the bat from Guerrero put Texas ahead for good.

Kazmir got in some trouble when he hit leadoff hitter Elvis Andrus, and Michael Young followed with a double. After Ian Kinsler walked on a full count, Guerrero came up and crushed a 2-0 pitch over the wall in center for a grand slam and a 4-3 Rangers advantage.

In the fifth, Andrus laced a one-out single, moved to second on a groundout and scored on Kinsler's base hit, which ended Kazmir's outing.

The Angels looked to get back into the game in the sixth, trimming their deficit to one on Aybar's RBI groundout. LA nearly tied it, as Howie Kendrick and Bobby Abrey followed with consecutive two-out singles and executed a double steal, but Torii Hunter lined out to end the inning.

Guerrero, though, gave the Rangers some breathing room again with his second home run of the game -- a solo shot -- to deep center leading off the eighth.

The Angels never brought the tying run to the plate in either of the final two innings.

Omar Beltre, making his major league debut in a spot start for Texas, ran into some trouble rather quickly, as he allowed a home run to the first batter he faced in the majors -- Los Angeles' Aybar. The Angels tacked on two more runs in the second on a two-run single from Reggie Willits for a 3-0 advantage.

Game Notes

The Rangers finished June 21-6, and the .778 winning percentage is the highest for a single month in franchise history...Texas leads the season series, 3-1...Hamilton finished the month with a franchise record 49 hits, nine homers and 31 RBI...Beltre finished the game allowing three runs, five hits and four walks while fanning six in four innings...Angels third baseman Kevin Frandsen went four plate appearances without striking out and has now struck out just once over his last 89 PAs...Guerrero has 68 RBI this season, tied for the most in the majors with Detroit's Miguel Cabrera, and he hit his seventh career grand slam.

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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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