Figgins goes 6-for-6, knocks in game-winner as Angels outlast Astros

Baseball Betting Lines

06/19/2007 - Anaheim, CA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Chone Figgins' sixth hit sent everybody home, a triple driving in Reggie Willits with the winning run, capping a rally from five down, as the Angels edged Houston, 10-9, to kick off a three-game interleague series at Angel Stadium.

Figgins' career night slides into the record books with his six hits tying the mark set by an American League player in a nine-inning game. The last player to record the feat was Seattle's Raul Ibanez against these very Angels on September 22, 2004. The six hits also tied the franchise record set by Garret Anderson at Texas in a 15-inning game on September 27, 1996.

"It was one of those special games. I stayed within myself with the game close. I had to concentrate," said Figgins.

The last of the six hits proved the most important. Willits singled with two outs and Houston manager Phil Garner brought in Trever Miller to turn Figgins around. From the right side, the third baseman slapped a pitch tight to the line in right against a deep outfield defense.

Willits ran hard around the bases and slid across home without a throw to give the Angels their third straight win. Houston's win streak ended at three games in a contest that featured a pair of five-run innings and 31 total hits.

"You are not going to get a better night than Chone (Figgins) had tonight. Six hits and none bigger than the last one. The guys never quit, playing all the way through," said Angels manager Mike Scioscia.

Dave Borkowski (1-1) gave up Willits' hit to suffer the loss and Francisco Rodriguez (1-2) worked out of bases loaded trouble in the ninth to pick up the win.

Figgins drove in three runs while Shea Hillenbrand and Mike Napoli knocked in two apiece. Orlando Cabrera extended his hitting streak to nine games with a 2-for-5 night.

Mark Loretta finished 4-of-5 with three RBI and two runs scored while Mike Lamb hit a three-run home run for Houston.

Before Figgins' ninth inning heroics, Houston performed a rally of its own in the fifth against Angels starter John Lackey, who was vying for his big-league best 11th victory.

Loretta's gapper on a full-count pitch found room past the outstretched arms of Gary Matthews, Jr. to highlight a five-run frame.

Craig Biggio singled with one out and moved to second on Lance Berkman's base hit. Lackey pitched carefully to Carlos Lee, walking the outfielder to load the bases.

Loretta made Lackey pay for pitching around Lee.

The veteran infielder clubbed a 3-2 pitch deep into left-center field, just out of the reach of a lunging Matthews, who was playing him to pull in right- center, for a two-run, ground-rule double. Lamb's three-run homer completely erased the 4-1 deficit to start the frame, giving Houston a 6-4 lead.

Lee's first triple of the campaign triggered a three-run seventh, pushing the lead to 9-4. Loretta drove in Lee with a base hit then moved to third on Lamb's single.

Luke Scott then chopped the ball to second and Erick Aybar handled it and got Loretta in a rundown between third and home. Pitcher Hector Carrasco dropped the ball on a flip in front of the plate, allowing Loretta to score as Lamb moved to third. Morgan Ensberg's sacrifice fly plated Lamb for the 9-4 edge.

However, there is never a sure thing with Houston's bullpen involved.

Vladimir Guerrero fisted a bloop single down the line in left then Matthews hit a single into the hole toward left in the bottom of the seventh. Chad Qualls entered for Chris Sampson and promptly walked Howie Kendrick to load the bases.

Hillenbrand's single scored the first two runners and Napoli avoided the double play by legging out a relay on his grounder to short. With runners on the corners, Aybar cut the deficit to 9-7 with a single to right.

Aybar advanced to second on a wild pitch and Willits' sac fly plated Napoli to make the score 9-8. Figgins' base hit, a high chopper that proved to be effective with his speed, scored Aybar to square the contest.

Houston took a 1-0 lead in the second on Luke Scott's solo homer, but the Angels took the advantage in the bottom of the frame on run-scoring singles courtesy of Napoli and Figgins.

The Angels added a run in the third on Napoli's RBI single and another in the fourth on Cabrera's run-scoring double.

Game Notes

Sampson gave up 14 hits and six runs with two walks and one strikeout over six-plus innings...Lackey lasted just 4 2/3 innings, surrendering six runs on eight hits with four walks and four strikeouts...Ensberg lined right at Figgins with the bases loaded in the top of the ninth before Rodriguez struck out Biggio...The game took three hours, 31 minutes...The Angels have won 12 of 16 and are 10-3 in interleague play.

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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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