Mariners go for series win over Twins

Baseball Betting Lines

06/03/2010 - (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - One day after the best player in the history of their franchise called it a career, the Seattle Mariners will try for a series win when they close out a four-game set against the Minnesota Twins tonight at Safeco Field.

The Mariners won their second straight from the Twins in dramatic fashion on Wednesday when Ichiro Suzuki delivered a slow-rolling infield hit to end an 11-pitch at-bat and scored the game-winning run in the 10th inning of Seattle's 2-1 win amid the announced retirement of surefire Hall of Famer Ken Griffey Jr.

Griffey informed the Mariners of his decision before Wednesday's game just two months into his 22nd major league season. The 40-year-old was hitting just .184 in 33 games this season for the Mariners and leaves the game as one of the most dynamic players to ever don a uniform.

"I think it's pretty befitting that we win on the day Griffey retires," Mariners manager Don Wakamatsu said. "I heard a lot of players talking about that, so it was a special day for us to kind of give back a little bit."

The American League's Most Valuable Player in 1997, Griffey is fifth on the all-time home run list with 630 and ranks near or at the top of every offensive category in the Mariners record book. Known as much for his glove as the bat, "The Kid" won 10 Gold Glove Awards as a center fielder from 1990-99 and consistently produced highlight-reel grabs considered among the game's best.

Tasked with lifting a fan base that said goodbye to the franchise icon was newcomer Cliff Lee, who struck out eight in eight innings with one walk and held the Twins to five hits and a run. He had not given up a home run all season through 43 innings before Michael Cuddyer belted a solo shot to right- center in the seventh to tie the game.

Milton Bradley had two hits, stole two bases and scored a run, while Suzuki had tied a career high with three strikeouts prior to his fifth and final at- bat. Brandon League (5-5) earned the win.

"I hit left-handed because of Griffey," Bradley said after the win. "I wanted to play baseball, be an outfielder, make diving catches, style on a home run, because of Griffey. Guys like him don't come around every day. He's just as magical off the field as on it."

Twins starter Kevin Slowey pitched seven innings and gave up a run on five hits with a walk and three strikeouts for Minnesota, which saw a five-game win streak go by the wayside Tuesday.

Cuddyer ended with two of the Twins' five hits, while Matt Guerrier (0-1) got the loss.

Hoping to keep the Mariners rolling tonight will be righty Felix Hernandez, who is just 2-4 on the year and is winless in his last seven starts. Hernandez did not get a decision on Saturday in Anaheim, but pitched well, surrendering one run in eight innings to lower his ERA on the year to 3.50.

Hernandez is 3-3 in nine starts against the Twins with a 2.7 ERA.

Minnesota, meanwhile, will counter with righty Carl Pavano, who is 5-5 with a 3.99 ERA. Pavano defeated the Texas Rangers on Saturday, limiting them to a pair of runs and seven hits in seven innings.

In two starts against the Mariners Pavano is 1-0 with a 3.46 ERA.

Seattle and Minnesota split 10 meetings a season ago, but the Mariners have won eight of their last 12 at home over the Twins.

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Big East Conference odds

Work left to do: Villanova, Syracuse, DePaul, West Virginia, Providence

Notre Dame and Louisville appear to have done enough to make the move, so we'll make them locks. The Cardinals, despite a modest RPI, are trending way up and have clinched at least a tie for third in the Big East, which should be more than enough with their pair of big road wins. Villanova got back to .500 and gets back to more solid footing. Syracuse got a very important road win and crippled a fellow contender in the process. West Virginia's fate could be in its hands Tuesday at Pitt.

Work left to do:

Villanova [18-9 (7-7), RPI: 21, SOS: 5] Pounded Rutgers to get back to .500. If Cats can get their last two (at UConn, vs. Syracuse), that should be enough with strong computer numbers and a host of wins away from The Pavilion. The Cats have beaten Texas and swept the Big 5 (never easy in Philly), but have a couple of losses to bubble teams (Xavier, Drexel), too. I still think they'll be OK, possibly even at 8-8.

Syracuse [20-8 (9-5), RPI: 53, SOS: 62] History says 10 wins will be plenty, but it might be hard for the Orange to get that last one with a final two vs. G'town, which is trying to win the league title, and at Villanova, which will be desperate for a W. The relative lack of nonconference heft and the weak computer numbers are still concerns, but the Orange have won four in a row and got a very, very big win at Providence on Saturday.

DePaul [16-12 (8-7), RPI: 54, SOS: 18] Beat Cincy and should get past South Florida to get to 9-7, but then what? They have beaten Kansas and Cal (right after the DeVon Hardin injury) earlier this season, but also have lost to Bradley and Purdue, among others. They'll likely need a couple of BE tourney wins, too, but we'll see ...

West Virginia [19-7 (8-6), RPI: 58, SOS: 125] The game at Pitt on Tuesday night could decide the Mountaineers' fate (barring a deep tournament run). They can still get to 9-7 in the Big East without it by beating Cincinnati, but the nine wins would be against UConn, Villanova, St. John's, South Florida, DePaul, Rutgers, Seton Hall twice and the Bearcats. Beating bubble foes is fine, but where's the beef? Outside of beating PG-less UCLA in nonconference play (still a top quality win), there's not a lot to fall back on (besides maybe NC State). WVU vs. Syracuse would be an interesting debate, as the teams don't play in the Big East regular season. WVU has the best win, but Cuse has played the much better schedule.

Providence [17-10 (7-7), RPI: 70, SOS: 33] The Friars likely saw their at-large hopes die at home in the four-point loss to Syracuse, barring an unexpected run to the Big East semis or more. The RPI, bad already, won't be helped by playing St. John's and South Florida in the final two league games.

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