Yankees seeking eighth straight win in Seattle

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07/10/2010 - (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The third of four weekend games between the New York Yankees and Seattle Mariners will ensue at Safeco Field tonight, but the contest seems secondary in the headlines to a trade that fell through between the teams yesterday.

The reigning World Series champions were reportedly close to trading for Seattle pitcher Cliff Lee before the Texas Rangers swooped in and landed the All-Star lefty from their division rival in exchange for first baseman Justin Smoak and three minor league prospects.

The transaction at least allowed the Yankees to avoid facing Lee on Friday, and they responded with a 6-1 victory for their seventh straight win.

Phil Hughes (11-2), who had given up 11 earned runs over his previous two starts, allowed just one run on six hits while walking none and striking out five over seven innings.

"[Hughes] used all his pitches today. I thought he had a real good curveball," Yankees manager Joe Girardi said. "A lot of teams would take 11 wins from their fifth starter on the year...that's a big deal for half the year."

Mark Teixeira hit a pair of solo home runs and Robinson Cano had a two-run triple during a four-run sixth inning for the victors.

David Pauley (0-1), in his first major league start since 2008, allowed three runs -- one earned -- on two hits and a walk over five-plus innings for Seattle, which has dropped five straight and eight of nine overall.

"I knew what the situation was and I knew I had to try to get them some innings and try to save the bullpen," said Pauley of his emergency start. "I knew it had been a while, but I wasn't worried about that. I just tried to keep myself the same."

While the Yankees have been outstanding as a team this season, veteran righty Javier Vazquez has simply been mediocre. Through 16 starts, Vazquez is 7-7 with a 4.81 ERA. He is, however, coming off a tremendous outing against Oakland on Monday, one in which he scattered three hits and just one earned run over seven innings of work en route to victory.

Vazquez lost his only previous start against Seattle this season and is 4-3 with a 4.37 ERA lifetime against Seattle.

Set to oppose Vazquez is Seattle's Felix Hernandez. While the righty's 6-5 record isn't overly impressive, he can certainly take pride in a 3.01 ERA. Hernandez did not figure in the decision of Monday's matchup with Kansas City, but he allowed only two earned runs on six hits over seven innings.

In 128 2/3 innings of work so far this season, "King Felix" has struck out 122 batters.

Hernandez pitched a complete game two-hit gem against the Yankees back on June 30 and is 3-3 with a 3.61 ERA lifetime against New York.

Seattle took two of three matchups at Yankee Stadium from June 29-July 1 and has won five of the past nine meetings between the clubs.

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FOOTBALL BETTING : Cassel Signs Contract

Kansas City, MO - Kansas City has not officially named Matt Cassel its starting quarterback, but there can be no doubt now.

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After praising his leadership and work ethic through spring workouts, the Chiefs announced Tuesday they had signed the 27-year-old Cassel to a multiyear contract. Terms were not disclosed, but he will almost certainly be one of the highest-paid members of the team.
"We are excited to be able to reach a long-term agreement for Matt Cassel to be a Kansas City Chief for many years to come," owner and board chairman Clark Hunt said in a statement. "His proven leadership on and off the field will be a tremendous asset to the organization."
Patriots made him their franchise player, meaning his salary for this season will be about $15 million.
New head coach Todd Haley, taking over for Herm Edwards after a 2-14 season, refused to name a starter at any position during offseason workouts. But it was obvious to everyone the team belonged to Cassel.
"I go out there each and every day with that focus that I'm the starter," Cassel said during a June minicamp. "Competition brings out the best in everybody."
The signing will come as welcome news to Cassel's new coaches and teammates. Amiable and hardworking, online football betting he appeared to win over everyone at minicamp.
"I think he's got some unique leadership qualities. I think his teammates like him and have respect for him. I think he's doing a pretty good job on the field, too," Haley said last month. "He's doing everything that I'm asking him, that our coaches are asking him to do. I don't have one single complaint how he's carrying himself."
After one workout, wide receiver Devard Darling declared Cassel "a breath of fresh air."
"He has a lot of swagger, a lot of confidence. It's good for us," said Darling. "We trust in him that he's going to go out there and lead us all the way."
nse to accommodate his specific abilities.
Trapped on the bench behind Heisman winners Carson Palmer and Matt Leinart at USC and then unable to unseat Super Bowl MVP Brady at New England, Cassel seemed destined to be a backup all his life. As Brady was helped off the field last September, Cassel seized the opportunity he'd been waiting for since high school.
In his only sustained action since his teens, he hit 349 of 555 passes for 3,949 yards at New England. He had 23 touchdown passes and 13 interceptions as the Patriots, who had gone unbeaten through the regular season the year before, finished 11-5 and out of the playoffs.
Chiefs general manager Scott Pioli, who had been Bill Belichick's assistant in New England, engineered the trade after the Patriots became convinced that Brady would recover fully from his knee operation.
"Since Matt arrived in Kansas City, he has embraced the team and the community," Pioli said. "His work ethic, his ability and competitive presence is what we expect from our players."

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