Means helps O's win second straight from White Sox

[April 25, 2019]  John Means pitched five strong innings, and the offense produced a series of timely hits, lifting the host Baltimore Orioles to a 4-3 victory against the Chicago White Sox on Wednesday night.

Baltimore earned a win in the rubber game of the three-game series thanks in part to Means' solid return to the rotation, which was prompted by the club's doubleheader over the weekend. The left-hander, who has operated as a swingman in the early season, improved to 3-2 by showing effectiveness with his changeup, scattering one run and four hits with one walk and six strikeouts.

Mychal Givens allowed a run in the ninth but recovered to leave the potential tying run at third base and close out a two-inning save, his first of the season. Givens struck out James McCann and retired Yoan Moncada on a groundout to second base to end the game.

The Orioles struck early against White Sox right-hander Ervin Santana (0-2), getting a pair of runs in the first inning courtesy of an RBI double from Renato Nunez and a run-scoring single from Rio Ruiz. Hanser Alberto added an RBI sacrifice fly in the second. Nunez led Baltimore with two hits.

Chicago trimmed the deficit to 3-1 in the third inning, as Jose Abreu doubled home Tim Anderson with two outs.

Baltimore regained a three-run advantage in the fourth on an interesting turn of events. Moments after he apparently had been hit by a Santana pitch, Orioles right fielder Stevie Wilkerson was called back to the plate following a manager's challenge that overturned the call. Wilkerson then drilled his first home run of the season, a blast to center field.

Orioles starting pitcher John Means (67) delivers a pitch during the third inning against the Chicago White Sox at Oriole Park at Camden Yards. Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports

The White Sox loaded the bases with one out in the sixth but managed to score only one run. Ryan Cordell was hit by a pitch, forcing in McCann. Evan Phillips followed with a strikeout of Jose Rondon before reliever Paul Fry induced Nicky Delmonico on a groundout to second.

McCann had three hits for the White Sox, Abreu had two hits and two RBIs, and Leury Garcia added two hits.

Santana allowed four runs on six hits in 4 2/3 innings with one strikeout. Three White Sox relievers limited the Orioles to two hits for the remainder of the game.

--Field Level Media

[© 2019 Thomson Reuters. All rights reserved.]

Copyright 2019 Reuters. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.  Thompson Reuters is solely responsible for this content.