Matusz sharp, Roberts homers as O's beat White Sox

[August 26, 2010]  CHICAGO (AP) -- Brian Matusz pitched seven impressive innings and Brian Roberts homered as the Baltimore Orioles beat the Chicago White Sox 4-2 on Wednesday night.

Matt Wieters doubled and drove in two runs for the Orioles.

Mark Buehrle (12-10) was wilder than usual, and the White Sox lost for the 11th time in 16 games. Their lone run off Matusz came on a solo homer by Gordon Beckham in the sixth.

With two outs in the Chicago ninth, Paul Konerko singled and Carlos Quentin tripled -- left fielder Corey Patterson tried to make a leaping catch, but the ball glanced off his glove and hit the wall hard.

Koji Uehara rebounded by striking out A.J. Pierzynski for his second save of the season.

Matusz (6-12) held the White Sox to one run on three hits. He struck out five and walked one.

The left-hander backed up a fine outing in his last start on Aug. 19. In 4-0 win over Texas, he allowed five hits over a career high-tying eight innings, walking one and striking out six.

Buehrle (12-10) was lifted after pitching seven innings. He allowed four runs on six hits. He normally commands the strike zone, but this time walked four.

The Orioles took the lead in the fifth. Buehrle walked Felix Pie, Wieters hit an RBI double and Patterson singled home a run.

Buehrle gave up a leadoff walk to Ty Wigginton in the sixth, and Pie's single and Wieters' sacrifice fly gave the Orioles a 3-0 lead.

Roberts tagged Buehrle for a home run in seventh. In 125 bats this season, Roberts has hit three home runs, two of them coming against White Sox, including a game-winner on Aug. 9.

NOTES: Before the game, the White Sox put relievers Matt Thornton and J.J. Putz on the 15-day disabled list, leaving their bullpen a bit short on experience. They recalled right-hander Lucas Harrell from Triple-A Charlotte and reinstated lefty Erick Threets from the disabled list following a rehab assignment in the minors. Threets pitched two scoreless innings. ... Beckham homered in his second straight game.

[Associated Press]

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