Jones, Pearce Stay Hot But O’s Fall 4-2

The Chicago White Sox took game two of the three-game set at Camden Yards Tuesday night, 4-2. Baltimore’s starting pitcher, Miguel Gonzalez, went into the game winning three of his last four starts; however, the fringe starter struggled on the night. Gonzalez was only able to throw 5 innings of work, giving up 9 hits, 3 runs, 3 walks, while striking out 1 Chicago batter.

Chicago was able to put up a run in the top of the 1st inning off of Gonzalez, as Gordon Beckham crushed a solo home run into the left field seats (it has to be said that a youngster in the stands made a nice running catch on the home run ball). Gonzalez struggled with command in the inning and was forced to throw fastballs while behind in counts.

Alexei Ramirez led off the 2nd inning with a rocket down the left field line for a double. The first six batters in the game hit Gonzalez hard (three hits and three outs). Following a groundout, Alejandro De Aza brought in Ramirez on an RBI single to give the White Sox the early 2-0 lead. With two outs in the frame, De Aza would steal second base and then advance to third on an error by catcher Caleb Joseph. Gonzalez later walked Adam Eaton to give Chicago two runners on base; however, the starter would get out of the inning without further damage as Schoop gunned down De Aza trying to score from third base.

Following two quick outs for Gonzalez in the top of the 4th inning, the starter gives up three consecutive singles to Dayan Viciedo, De Aza, and Tyler Flowers (the 7, 8, 9 hitters for Chicago). The single for Flowers was of the RBI variety, extending the White Sox lead to 3-0. Gonzalez then issued a four-pitch walk to Eaton to load the bases for Chicago. The 30-year-old starter was, however, able to get out of the inning without allowing any more runs.

With the Baltimore bats unable to score any runs through the first four innings, Chicago kept the hit parade going in the top of the 5th inning. Gillapsie and Jose Abreu led off the inning with back-to-back singles, and Adam Dunn walked to load the bases with no outs in the frame. Following a pop out for the first out of the inning, Gonzalez induced an inning-ending double play to Viciedo to get out of the frame unscathed.

Perhaps Baltimore’s hottest hitter at the moment, Steve Pearce, got the Orioles on the board in the bottom of the 6th inning, with a long solo home run just inside the left field foul pole. Pearce entered Tuesday night’s game on an 11 for 24 (.458) tear over his previous six games. Jones followed up the dinger with a double off of the right field wall. The hit for Jones meant that he now has eight base hits over his last four games.

Reliever Tommy Hunter entered the game in the top of the 8th inning and gave up an opposite field single to Ramirez on the first pitch he threw. Ramirez would later steal second base and score on an unusual play at the plate in which Joseph could not apply the tag in time, despite the throw beating the runner by at least five feet.

Baltimore was able to get a late rally going in the bottom of the 9th inning, as Davis started off the frame with a bloop single into right field, just off the end of the Chicago second baseman’s glove. Hardy replaced Davis at first base due to a fielder’s choice, and Machado followed with a single to give the Orioles hope in the game. With runners on first and second, pinch hitter Delmon Young delivered an RBI single to cut Chicago’s lead to 4-2. While the Orioles were able to bring the potential winning run to the plate, pinch hitter Ryan Flaherty bounced into a game-ending double play.

The two American League teams will end their three-game set Wednesday night, as the White Sox will send Hector Noesi (2-5, 5.34 ERA) to the mound, while the Orioles will try to take the rubber match with Ubaldo Jimenez (2-8, 4.63 ERA) on the hill.

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Brian Hradsky

The owner of MSB, I created this website while in college and it has never died.

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