Scutaro's grand slam helps Red Sox complete sweep of Angels

Baseball Betting Lines

07/28/2010 - Anaheim, CA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Marco Scutaro's grand slam in the eighth inning helped the Boston Red Sox to a three-game sweep of the LA Angels of Anaheim with a 7-3 win in the finale.

Kevin Youkilis, Adrian Beltre and Bill Hall each hit solo homers for the Red Sox, who have won five of their last seven. Josh Beckett (2-1) went seven innings in the start and was charged with three runs on five hits with a walk and five strikeouts.

"I had to manifest some energy today," said Beckett. "I felt better today than last time out. I did some good things and made some good adjustments. The most important thing is for our team to win now."

Reggie Willits went 2-for-3 with an RBI and a run scored while Maicer Izturis and Bobby Wilson each drove in a run for the Angels, who have dropped four straight and seven of eight.

The team suffered a blow before the game started as pitcher Joel Pineiro strained a muscle in his left side while warming up and will miss the next 6- to-8 weeks. Scot Shields started in Pineiro's place and was charged with two runs over 1 2/3 innings. Fernando Rodney (4-1) got the loss for giving up the grand slam.

"Halfway through my warmup I threw a curveball and it felt like a cramp," said Pineiro. "Just a freak thing to happen, I can't explain it. It's really frustrating and when I heard how long I'll be out my heart sunk to the ground."

With the score tied in the eighth, Boston went ahead. Rodney started on the mound and promptly loaded the bases on a pair of walks and a bunt single. Scutaro then stepped to the plate and smacked a 1-2 pitch just inside the left field pole for a 7-3 lead.

"After two strikes I was just trying to see the ball and I got a changeup," said Scutaro. "I got lucky today."

With two outs in the bottom of the eighth, Alberto Callaspo doubled and Bobby Abreu followed with a walk. Juan Rivera then lofted a soft blooper to shallow center that appeared to be over the head of Hall, but he was able to make a diving catch to preserve the four-run lead.

Ramon Ramirez then set the Angels down in order in the ninth to close the win.

Boston jumped on top in the second as Beltre clubbed a solo homer and, two batters later, Hall smacked a solo shot for a 2-0 lead.

The Angels, though, tied the game in the bottom of the frame on back-to-back RBI singles from Wilson and Willits.

Anaheim went ahead in the fifth as Willits led off with a double, moved to third on a sacrifice bunt from Erick Aybar and came home on a sac fly off the bat of Izturis for a 3-2 lead.

In the sixth, the Red Sox got a two-out triple from Eric Patterson. Scutaro followed with a walk, but Darnell McDonald flied out to end the threat.

Boston did tie the game in the seventh when Youkilis led off the frame with a blast over the left field wall.

Game Notes

Boston returns home to face Detroit for three games starting on Friday...The Angels host Texas for three games beginning Friday...The Red Sox are 15-9 versus the AL West this season...Boston has won all seven games against the Angels this season...Scutaro has two grand slams in his career.

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Pro Football Odds : NFC SOUTH BETTING ODDS

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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.

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