Orioles win again, top White Sox 2-1 in 10 innings

[August 07, 2010]  BALTIMORE (AP) -- Adam Jones singled in the winning run with two outs in the 10th inning, and the Baltimore Orioles extended their unbeaten run under new manager Buck Showalter with a 2-1 victory over the Chicago White Sox on Friday night.

Baltimore has won four straight since Showalter took over, matching its longest winning streak of the season. The win was the 836th of Showalter's career, moving him past Don Zimmer into sole possession of 64th place on the career list.

Nick Markakis had a season-high four hits for the Orioles, who earned their second straight walkoff victory.

It was the third loss in 12 games for the first-place White Sox, whose lone run came on a homer by Gordon Beckham.

Markakis started the game-winning uprising with a one-out single off Tony Pena (3-2). After Ty Wigginton flied out, Markakis took third on a single by Luke Scott. Jones then bounced a single into left field to win it.

Fireworks exploded as the Orioles celebrated behind first base, many of them repeatedly pounding Jones on the back.

Alfredo Simon (3-2) pitched two scoreless innings to earn the victory.

Baltimore missed a chance to take the lead in the eighth inning after Chris Sale, the 13th overall pick in the 2010 draft, launched his major league career by walking Brian Roberts and giving up a single to Markakis. Pena entered and promptly threw a wild pitch, but he ended the threat by striking out pinch-hitter Corey Patterson on a 3-2 pitch with the bases loaded and two outs.

Orioles starter Brad Bergesen allowed one run, five hits and a walk in seven innings but failed to secure his first win since May 12. The right-hander is 0-7 in his last 12 starts.

Chicago's John Danks gave up three hits and a run before getting an out but finished strong, allowing one run and six hits in seven innings.

Baltimore went up 1-0 in the first on singles by Roberts, Markakis and Wigginton.

Beckham tied it in the third with his sixth homer, four of which have come in his last 23 games.

After that, the pitchers took control.

Bergesen retired 11 of 13 batters after Beckham's drive, a streak that ended with a one-out triple by Mark Kotsay in the seventh. Alexei Ramirez followed with a dribbler down the first base line that Wigginton picked up barehanded before throwing out Kotsay at the plate.

Ramirez then stole second, and A.J. Pierzynski hit a drive that Markakis snared at the warning track in right. Pierzynski reacted by angrily throwing down his batting helmet after rounding first base.

Showalter drew cheers in the bottom half when he came out to argue with first base umpire Jerry Crawford, who ruled that right fielder Carlos Quentin caught a sinking liner off the bat of Felix Pie. Showalter contended that the ball was trapped, and although the call wasn't overturned, replays backed Showalter's assessment.

NOTES: Chicago OF Alex Rios sat out the game with a finger injury. "I'm giving him the day to relax," manager Ozzie Guillen said. Rios was 4 for 34 in his previous eight games. ... Orioles SS Cesar Izturis also got the day off, delaying his quest for career hit 1,000 (he has 999). ... Chicago's flight from Detroit to Baltimore was delayed 3 hours because of engine trouble.

[Associated Press; By DAVID GINSBURG]

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