Orioles Top White Sox 4-2
CHICAGO (AP) — Chris Davis hit his major league-leading 32nd homer and added a tiebreaking two-run double to lead the Baltimore Orioles to a 4-2 victory over the Chicago White Sox on Wednesday night.
Scott Feldman pitched six solid innings in his debut for the Orioles, who held on to win for the fifth time in six games after the White Sox threatened against Jim Johnson in the ninth.
Chicago had the tying runs on after Conor Gillaspie and Jeff Keppinger singled with one out, putting men on first and second. Johnson struck out Gordon Beckham looking and retired pinch-hitter Jordan Danks on a bouncer to the mound for his 29th save in 34 attempts.
Davis delivered the big hits for Baltimore.
He homered leading off the fourth against Hector Santiago to give the Orioles a 2-1 lead. Beckham tied it for Chicago when he led off the fifth with his first home run, but Davis came through again with one out in the eighth.
He greeted Matt Thornton with a two-run double after Nick Markakis and Adam Jones singled off Matt Lindstrom (2-3), giving the Orioles a 4-2 lead. Baltimore loaded the bases against Ramon Troncoso in the ninth, but Manny Machado forced the runner at the plate and Jones popped out to end the threat.
Darren O'Day (4-0) pitched a scoreless seventh and Tommy Hunter worked the eighth before Johnson dodged that jam in the ninth.
Feldman looked sharp for Baltimore after being acquired in a trade with the Chicago Cubs the previous day. The right-hander allowed two runs and six hits and struck out six without a walk.
Santiago was just as good, giving up two runs and five hits in seven innings. The left-hander tied a season-high with nine strikeouts while walking two after getting hit hard in his previous start against Cleveland, but the White Sox took their 24th loss in 33 games.
There was more bad news for the last-place White Sox, with slugger Paul Konerko (strained lower back) and reliever Jesse Crain (strained right shoulder) going on the 15-day disabled list.
"I think if there's anything that could go wrong this year for the White Sox, it's gone wrong," said Crain, one of Chicago's top trade assets.
There was a championship celebration before the game, with the Stanley Cup making an appearance and the Blackhawks' Patrick Sharp and Brandon Bollig throwing out first pitches.
NOTES: The Orioles optioned IF Danny Valencia to Triple-A Norfolk to make room for Feldman. ... RHP Kevin Gausman will remain in bullpen for now, although manager Buck Showalter indicated Baltimore's top pitching prospect could wind up back in the rotation at some point. "We have 70-something games left," he said. "We have to do some things between now and the All-Star break. He and Zach (Britton), both of them have options, we like them both on the club. I think these things kind of solve themselves." ... With Konerko and Crain on the DL, the White Sox recalled 3B Brent Morel from Triple-A Charlotte and purchased the contract of LHP David Purcey from the minor league club. ... Rios picked up his 200th steal when he swiped second in the first inning. ... The start of the game was delayed seven minutes by rain. ... LHP Zach Britton (2-2, 4.50 ERA) starts Thursday for Baltimore, with LHP Jose Quintana (3-2, 3.97) pitching for Chicago.
(© 2013by STATS LLC and Associated Press. Any commercial use or distribution without the express written consent of STATS LLC and Associated Press is strictly prohibited.)
