Recap: Baltimore vs. Chicago WSox
Sports Network | August 25, 2008
Baltimore, MD (Sports Network) - Alexei Ramirez went 4-for-5 with two runs scored as the Chicago White Sox downed the Baltimore Orioles, 4-3, in the opener of a three-game set at Camden Yards.
Jim Thome hit a solo home run while Ken Griffey Jr. drove in a run for the White Sox, who have won two of their last three games.
Clayton Richard (2-2) got the win as he gave up three runs on six hits with a walk and four strikeouts in six innings of work for Chicago, which holds a half-game lead over Minnesota, which is currently playing Seattle, for first place in the AL Central.
Jay Payton went 2-for-3 with an RBI while Kevin Millar and Ramon Hernandez each drove in a run for the Orioles, who have dropped four of five. Chris Waters (2-1) suffered his first career loss as he gave up four runs -- three earned -- on five hits with a pair of walks and strikeouts in seven innings of work.
It wasn't the first game of the day at Camden Yards, though, as before the game the teams completed a contest that had been suspended in the 11th inning on April 28 due to rain.
Lou Montanez's RBI single in the 14th inning gave the Orioles a 4-3 win over the Sox to complete the rain-suspended contest. Chicago was the home team since the teams did not meet in Chicago for the remainder of the season after the suspended contest.
In the second game, the White Sox jumped on top in the first inning as Ramirez led off with a single, moved to second on A.J. Pierzynski's ground out and later crossed the plate as Jermaine Dye hit a grounder to short that got by Juan Castro.
Chicago got another run in the fourth. Carlos Quentin led off with a walk, and Paul Konerko drew a two-out free pass. Griffey then brought home Quentin home with a double to center for a 2-0 advantage.
Baltimore, though, which was held hitless through the first three innings, surged ahead in the fourth. Montanez led off with a double and later moved to third on an Aubrey Huff single. Hernandez then beat out an infield single and Montanez crossed the plate. Millar followed with an RBI single and, after Luke Scott struck out, Payton singled to center to score Hernandez for a 3-2 lead.
Chicago tied the game in the fifth thanks to a lucky break. Ramirez hit a one- out double and later moved to third on a groundout. Quentin was at the plate and stepped out of the hitter's box as Waters started his windup. Quentin quickly stepped back into the box and Waters broke his delivery and was called for a balk, allowing Ramirez to score.
The White Sox then grabbed the lead in the sixth as Thome crushed an 0-1 curveball over the center field wall for a 4-3 lead.
After getting retired in order in the fifth, Baltimore got runners on base in each of the next three innings, but were unable to get any runs across.
Bobby Jenks worked around a one-out single in the ninth to pick up his 26th save of the season.
Thome's home run was the 535th of his career, which moved him into 15th place all-time, passing Jimmie Foxx...Chicago has won four of seven games against Baltimore this season...Attendance was 20,707...After the game, the Orioles optioned pitcher Kam Mickolio to Triple-A Norfolk and will recall pitcher Brian Burres on Tuesday to make the start in Tuesday's game against the White Sox.
