Floyd, Swisher carry White Sox past Orioles

[August 27, 2008]  BALTIMORE (AP) -- Gavin Floyd pitched eight innings of four-hit ball, Nick Swisher homered, and the Chicago White Sox handed the Baltimore Orioles their fifth straight loss, 8-3 on Tuesday night.

Orlando Cabrera went 4-for-5 with two RBIs for the first-place White Sox, who have won eight of 10 to move a season-high 20 games over .500 (76-56). Chicago had nine extra-base hits, including a season high-tying seven doubles.

Floyd (14-6) allowed two runs, struck out four and walked one during a 98-pitch effort. Pitching less than six miles from where he played in high school, the right-hander retired the side in order five times.

Although he failed to get his third career complete game, Floyd improved to 4-0 in his last six starts. Chicago is 18-8 in his 26 appearances this season.

Adam Russell gave up two hits and a run in the ninth.

Floyd came in with an AL-high 6.85 run support average, and the White Sox continued the trend. Swisher hit his 22nd homer, the fifth in seven games, and Ken Griffey Jr. went 2-for-4 with an RBI in his 2,500th career game.

Luke Scott drove in two runs for the Orioles, who fell to 1-7 on a homestand that began with three-game series against Boston and the New York Yankees.

Recalled from Triple-A Norfolk to start against the White Sox, Brian Burres (7-8) gave up six runs, five earned, and 10 hits - six for extra bases - in four innings.

Cabrera opened the game with a double, and Swisher hit Burres' next pitch into the seats in left. After Carlos Quentin singled, Jermaine Dye hit a towering drive that center fielder Jay Payton caught on the warning track for the first out. Burres then threw a wild pitch but retired the side without further damage.

In the second inning, however, a throwing error by Burres led to a sacrifice fly by Cabrera for a 3-0 lead.

A sacrifice fly by Alexei Ramirez made it 4-0 in the third, and Chicago added two fourth-inning runs when Cabrera hit an RBI triple and scored on a double by Quentin.

Baltimore got a run in the fourth when Brian Roberts singled and scored on a double by Nick Markakis.

Dye hit an RBI double in the sixth off Randor Bierd, and Griffey singled in a run in the eighth for an 8-1 lead.

Notes: Swisher left in the fourth inning after fouling a ball off his left leg. ... The Orioles have been outscored 112-77 in the first inning and have allowed a first-inning run in 11 of the last 15 games. ... Baltimore's Ramon Hernandez went 0-for-3, ending his career-best hitting streak at 15 games.

[Associated Press; By DAVID GINSBURG]

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