Garcia Robs Davis In 9th, White Sox Hold Off Orioles 3-2
CHICAGO (AP) — Avisail Garcia robbed Chris Davis of a tying home run with a leaping catch in the ninth inning, and the Chicago White Sox held off the Baltimore Orioles, 3-2, on Saturday.
J.B. Shuck put Chicago in front with a pinch-hit double in the eighth. Gordon Beckham scored the go-ahead run after he walked and advanced on a sacrifice bunt against Bud Norris (2-8), who was just demoted to the bullpen. Shuck doubled to right field off Darren O'Day.
David Robertson earned his 18th save in 22 opportunities — with a huge assist from Garcia. The right fielder jumped and reached behind him over the wall to take a home run away from Davis with one out in the ninth.
Manny Machado hit a two-run homer for the Orioles to tie it at 2 in the eighth. Machado connected against Zach Putnam (2-3), who replaced Jeff Samardzija after he walked the previous batter.
The home run ended Baltimore's scoreless streak at 26 2-3 innings.
Samardzija struck out nine and allowed a run and three hits in 7 2-3 innings. Ryan Flaherty singled with two outs in the sixth for the Orioles' first hit. He hit the ball up the middle on Samardzija's first pitch.
Jose Abreu scored two runs and had a double and triple for the last-place White Sox, who have won eight of 12 after losing eight straight. The Orioles have lost five of six.
Garcia's RBI single put the White Sox ahead in the first inning. Abreu scored after he doubled and advanced on Melky Cabrera's single.
Abreu led off the fifth with a triple off the right-center fence and scored on Cabrera's sacrifice fly. Adam LaRoche and Conor Gillaspie singled but were stranded when Norris retired Alexei Ramirez.
The Orioles threatened in the seventh with runners at second and third after two singles and a wild pitch. Samardzija struck out two to end the inning.
Machado drew a leadoff walk in the first for the Orioles' lone baserunner through the first five innings.
Samardzija allowed eight runs, seven earned, in five innings during his previous start against Baltimore on April 29.
Baltimore starter Chris Tillman allowed two runs and 10 hits in 4 2-3 innings.
PITCHING PLANS
Orioles RHP Kevin Gausman (1-0, 3.09 ERA) will remain in the rotation and start Tuesday against Minnesota. Norris was moved from the rotation to the bullpen. Gausman struck out seven in 6 1-3 scoreless innings against Texas on Thursday after he was recalled from Triple-A Norfolk. "We're trying to run our best five starters out there right now, and I think Kevin is one of them," manager Buck Showalter said.
UP NEXT
Orioles RHP Miguel Gonzalez (6-5, 4.04 ERA) is scheduled to start Sunday in the series finale against LHP Carlos Rodon (3-1, 4.07).
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