White Sox, Buehrle hope to extend home streak versus Mariners

Baseball Betting Lines

07/28/2010 - (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Mark Buehrle tries to lead the Chicago White Sox to their 10th straight home win this evening when they resume their four-game series against the Seattle Mariners at U.S. Cellular Field.

Buehrle has been a big reason behind the White Sox' recent surge to the top of the American League Central standings. The left-hander won for the sixth time in his last eight starts with a complete-game effort on Friday in Oakland, as he allowed a run and four hits to nail down the victory.

"As a starting pitcher, you're going to have so many good ones and then you're going to have bad ones throughout the year," Buehrle said. "I think I had so many bad ones at the beginning, I'm due to go on a little streak here and have a good one. Just keep it going."

Buehrle, who is 7-4 lifetime against the Mariners, is 9-8 on the year and his recent streak has lowered his earned run average from 5.40 to 3.96. He is also 6-0 with a 3.34 ERA in eight home starts versus Seattle.

Chicago continued to dominate the Mariners on Tuesday, as Alexei Ramirez, Paul Konerko and Andruw Jones each homered, and Gavin Floyd threw seven scoreless frames to lead the White Sox to an 11-0 rout.

Floyd (6-8) did not walk a batter in his outing, allowing only five hits while striking out six. The starter has allowed one earned run or less in all but one of his last 10 outings, lowering his earned-run average from 6.64 to 3.66.

Ramirez had three hits and drove in three, A.J. Pierzynski went 2-for-4 with two runs scored and two RBI, and Dayan Viciedo doubled twice and drove in a run for the Sox, who last won 10 in a row at home from April 15-May 4, 2006.

Ryan Rowland-Smith (1-10) gave up all 11 runs in five innings on 11 hits and two walks for the Mariners, who have lost four of their last six.

Seattle is also just 1-7 against the White Sox this season and a mere 7-25 in the Windy City since the start of the 2004 campaign.

Hoping to reverse that trend tonight will be surprising left-hander Jason Vargas, who is 6-5 with a 2.94 ERA. Vargas lost to Boston on Friday but pitched well, allowing two runs and eight hits in seven innings.

Vargas has faced the White Sox twice (one start) without getting a decision, but has pitched to a 2.45 ERA in the limited time against them.

Sportsook Baseball Betting News

<< Blue Jackets re-sign Stralman
COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) -The Columbus Blue Jackets and defenseman Anton Stralman have agreed on a one-year contract, just minutes before they were to go to arbitration on Wednesday morning.General manager Scott Howson announced the re-signing.Stralman,

<< McCourty comes to terms with Patriots
Boston, MA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The New England Patriots and first-round draft pick Devin McCourty have agreed to terms of a contract. McCourty's agent, Andy Simms, posted the news on his Twitter feed Wednesday morning. Terms of the

<< Panthers agree to terms with Clausen
Charlotte, NC (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Carolina Panthers have reportedly agreed to terms with rookie quarterback Jimmy Clausen. According to the Charlotte Observer, Clausen has a four-year deal that could be worth as much as $6.3 million. T

<< Magic extend Van Gundy
Orlando, FL (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Orlando Magic have extended the contract of head coach Stan Van Gundy through the 2012-13 season. The team also announced Alex Martins has been promoted to team president and Otis Smith to president of ba

<< Warriors' Lin hopes to beat Harvard stereotypes
TAIPEI, Taiwan (AP) -The first Taiwanese-American signed by an NBA team hopes to overcome the negative stereotype of playing college basketball at Harvard, and eventually wants to be a minister in an inner-city neighborhood.Undrafted point guard Jer

Astros vie to extend series win streak over Cubs >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Houston Astros have yet to lose a series to the Chicago Cubs this year. Starting pitcher Bud Norris getting his first victory in well over two months would keep that stretch going. Norris and the Astros aim for a fourt

Red Sox turn to Beckett aiming for sweep of Angels >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Josh Beckett makes his second start since returning from the disabled list this afternoon when the Boston Red Sox try to complete a three-game sweep against the LA Angels of Anaheim at Angel Stadium. Boston, which was swep

Struggling Rockies seek to bring skid to a close against Pirates >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Colorado Rockies try to avoid their eighth straight loss this evening when they play the middle test of their three-game series with the Pittsburgh Pirates at Coors Field. Following a 2-9 road trip, things didn't get a

Santana, Garcia duel again in Mets-Cards clash >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The last time St. Louis Cardinals pitcher Jamie Garcia faced New York Mets ace Johan Santana, the rookie was able to match the two- time Cy Young Award winner pitch-for-pitch. He may find that to be more difficult tonight.

Posey puts 20-game hit streak on the line as Giants battle Marlins >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Rookie Buster Posey tries to extend his 20-game hitting streak this evening when the San Francisco Giants and Florida Marlins resume their four-game series at AT&T Park. San Francisco stayed hot on Tuesday, as Juan Uri

Problem with Bears?

Chicago, IL - New Chicago Bears quarterback Jay Cutler and star linebacker Brian Urlacher shot down reports of a rift, saying they're simply not true.

"There's nothing between us," Cutler said Thursday, when he reported to training camp. "I just want to put that to rest. There never has been anything between us."

Bet on NFL

Urlacher added: "I never said what I was quoted as saying and that's it. I have a lot of respect for Jay. I think Jay knows that."
Former Bears receiver Bobby Wade caused a stir when he told Minneapolis radio station KFAN-AM that Urlacher used a profanity while questioning Cutler's manhood during a conversation in Las Vegas last weekend. Wade, who now plays for the Vikings, said Urlacher used a profane version of the word "wimp" during the interview that had to be edited out.
go radio station WSCR-AM also reported that Urlacher had to be restrained from confronting Cutler during organized team activities.
"I wouldn't go face-to-face with Brian, anyway," Cutler said. "No, that's never happened. I've hung out with Brian away from the facility numerous times and we've always gotten along."
Urlacher, noting he was limited by a groin injury, denied the reports in an interview with the Chicago Tribune and did it again when he reported to camp.
"I didn't practice this summer, so I don't know how I would fight the guy if I didn't practice," Urlacher said. "We have no problems. I'm excited about football starting. I'm excited to have him as our quarterback."
Why would Wade say that?
"I don't know," Urlacher said. "Maybe he's jealous because we have a good quarterback now."
Cutler said the first he heard of any friction was when he got a call from Urlacher to clear the air. Urlacher, however, said he had already taken several calls from teammates wondering if the reports were true when Cutler phoned.
"He called me and I said, What's up (expletive), what are you doing?'" a grinning Urlacher said, uttering the same word he allegedly used with Wade. "It's so dumb to me that this even got to this point, but it did and then here we are."
better place after going 9-7 and missing the playoffs for the second straight year. They have a franchise quarterback for the first time in decades after acquiring Cutler in an offseason trade with Denver. But there are questions about his attitude following a fallout with Broncos management and new coach Josh McDaniels.
His critics include former Bears coach Mike Ditka and former Indianapolis and Tampa Bay coach Tony Dungy, one of Smith's mentors. Smith, however, said Cutler has been a model teammate so far while denying any animosity with Urlacher.
"There's no issue with Jay and Brian, except Brian and Jay are both excited about being teammates for our club this year," coach Lovie Smith said. "No more than that. We can't spend a whole lot of time on something that isn't true. I have talked to the players. Whenever something comes out, you have to address it, but it's a non-issue."
In some ways, Cutler is getting a second chance in Chicago, an opportunity to repair his reputation.
Smith said another quarterback - Michael Vick - deserves one, although he doesn't see it happening with the Bears, who lack an experienced backup. The former Atlanta Falcons star, who served a 23-month sentence for running a dogfighting ring, said Thursday he is getting close to signing with a pro football team.
"A second chance, like everyone in society who has paid their debt to society," Smith said. "He deserves a second chance. As far as we're concerned, we like this team that we have right now."
Particularly the new quarterback.
"Me and Brian have been on a good relationship since I've been here, and I expect it to continue that way," Cutler said.

Bet on NFL

Mysportsbook.com online online sportsbook accepts Visa & Mastercard