AP Photo/Patrick Semansky

Baltimore Orioles’ J.J. Hardy, right, low-fives third base coach Willie Randolph while rounding the bases after hitting a home run in the first inning of a baseball game against the Chicago White Sox in Baltimore, Wednesday, Aug. 10, 2011.

The Chicago White Sox wiped out a four-run deficit — and lost anyway.
Jason Frasor blamed himself. Manager Ozzie Guillen pointed the finger at Baltimore’s J.J. Hardy.
Nolan Reimold hit a two-run off Frasor in the 10th inning, and the Baltimore Orioles ended Chicago’s five-game winning streak with a 6-4 victory Wednesday night.
Acquired in a trade with Toronto on July 27, Frasor (2-2) gave up a one-out single to Chris Davis in the 10th before Reimold sent the next pitch over the center-field wall.
“Slider. I don’t think it did too much,” the right-hander said. “You know, I think he knew it was coming. He crushed it. Yeah, frustrating.”
Told that Reimold was in a 4-for-37 funk before the homer, Frasor said, “He’s got a bat in his hand — and he’s got some pop. He got it. What can I say?”
J.J. Hardy went 4 for 5 with a homer for the Orioles, who led 4-0 after five innings before the White Sox rallied. Hardy is 7 for 14 with two home runs in the series.
“What’s the guy’s name — J.J. Ruth? J.J. Ruth hit a home run. This guy swings the bat pretty well lately,” Guillen said. “J.J. Ruth. I go to see his museum tomorrow.”
Mike Gonzalez (2-2) worked the 10th for the Orioles, who also got a home run from Adam Jones.
The loss ended Chicago’s seven-game road winning streak, kept the White Sox four games behind first-place Detroit in the AL Central and ruined Chicago’s bid to reach .500 for the first time since July 29. Hardy is 7 for 14 with two homers in the first three games of the four-game series.
Making his second start for Baltimore since coming over in a July 30 trade with the Texas Rangers, Tommy Hunter took a 4-1 lead into the seventh. He got two outs before No. 9 hitter Brent Morel doubled in a run, putting runners at second and third.
Right-hander Jason Berken came in to face left-handed hitter Juan Pierre, who grounded the first pitch inside the third-base line for a two-run single, tying the score at 4.
Hunter gave up four runs and seven hits. In his two starts with the Orioles, he has not yielded a walk in 10 2-3 innings.
White Sox starter Philip Humber allowed four runs and 11 hits in six innings. He was 0-4 with a 7.97 ERA in his prior four starts.
After previously being outscored 82-35 in the first inning this season, Baltimore took a 1-0 lead before making two outs. Hardy hit his 21st home run, and Nick Markakis and Jones both singled before Humber retired Matt Wieters and Mark Reynolds.
The Orioles reversed another trend in their next crack at Humber. Held hitless in the second inning of its last 11 games, Baltimore used four singles and a sacrifice fly to make it 3-0. Robert Andino singled in a run and scored on a bases-loaded fly ball by Markakis.
The White Sox didn’t get a runner in scoring position until Alex Rios led off the fifth with a double. He did not advance.
Jones led off the bottom half with his 21st home run, increasing his team-high RBI total to 71. Chicago closed to 4-1 in the sixth. Pierre hit a bloop to left that a charging Felix Pie gloved with a dive, but the ball squirted free for a double. Pierre advanced on a fly ball and scored on a groundout by Konerko.
NOTES: Chicago’s Adam Dunn struck out three times, the 19th time this season he’s had three Ks or more in a game. … Orioles DH Vladimir Guerrero got the night off after a 1-for-18 skid dropped his batting average to .274. “I can tell in the dugout he’s been a little frustrated lately because he’s trying so hard,” Orioles manager Buck Showalter said of the 36-year-old slugger. … LHP Mark Buehrle (9-5) starts for the White Sox on Thursday night, hoping to extend a streak of 17 straight games in which he’s permitted three runs or fewer. It’s the longest such run by a White Sox starter in a single season since Dave Lemonds in 1972, according to information provided to the White Sox by the Elias Sports Bureau. Chris Tillman (3-4) is expected to start for the Orioles. … Jones’ first-inning single ended an 0-for-12 drought.

BALTIMORE (AP) — Nolan Reimold came to plate with a .209 batting average and four hits in his last 37 at-bats. The last thing he needed was to put pressure on himself to produce with the score tied in the bottom of the 10th.

Jumping on the first pitch he saw from Jason Frasor, Reimold hit a two-run homer to carry the Baltimore Orioles to a 6-4 victory over the Chicago White Sox, whose five-game winning streak ended.

“I was just trying to be relaxed,” Reimold said. “I was 0 for 4 at that point — relax and not be tense.”

The drive followed a one-out single by Chris Davis. It was Reimold’s seventh home run, the first since July 26.

“He’s got some skills that could play up here if he can grasp some of the small things,” Orioles manager Buck Showalter said of Reimold, a part-timer last year and this season. “Tonight, he got a good return for some of the work he’s been putting in. I know he was excited. So were we.”

J.J. Hardy went 4-for-5 with a home run for the last-place Orioles, who blew a four-run lead before winning for only the
second time in eight games.

“Sometimes you just have to roll with the punches a little bit,” said closer Kevin Gregg, who pitched a perfect ninth. “We
didn’t let it get out of hand.”

Mike Gonzalez (2-2) worked the 10th for the Orioles, who also got a home run from Adam Jones.

The loss ended Chicago’s seven-game road winning streak, kept the White Sox four games behind first-place Detroit in the AL Central and ruined Chicago’s bid to reach .500 for the first time since July 29. Hardy is 7 for 14 with two homers in the first three games of the four-game series.

“What’s the guy’s name — J.J. Ruth? J.J. Ruth hit a home run. This guy swings the bat pretty well lately,” White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen said. “J.J. Ruth. I go to see his museum tomorrow.”

Frasor (2-2) lamented the pitch he threw to Reimold, which ruined an outing that began in the ninth.

“Sllider. I don’t think it did too much,” the right-hander said. “You know, I think he knew it was coming. He crushed it.”

Making his second start for Baltimore since coming over in a July 30 trade with the Texas Rangers, Tommy Hunter took a 4-1 lead into the seventh. He got two outs before No. 9 hitter Brent Morel doubled in a run, putting runners at second and third.

Right-hander Jason Berken came in to face left-handed hitter Juan Pierre, who grounded the first pitch inside the third-base line for a two-run single, tying the score at 4.

Hunter gave up four runs and seven hits. In his two starts with the Orioles, he has not yielded a walk in 10 2-3 innings.

White Sox starter Philip Humber allowed four runs and 11 hits in six innings. He was 0-4 with a 7.97 ERA in his prior four starts.

After previously being outscored 82-35 in the first inning this season, Baltimore took a 1-0 lead before making two outs.

Hardy hit his 21st home run, and Nick Markakis and Jones both singled before Humber retired Matt Wieters and Mark Reynolds.

The Orioles reversed another trend in their next crack at Humber. Held hitless in the second inning of its last 11 games,
Baltimore used four singles and a sacrifice fly to make it 3-0.

Robert Andino singled in a run and scored on a bases-loaded fly ball by Markakis.

The White Sox didn’t get a runner in scoring position until Alex Rios led off the fifth with a double. He did not advance.

Jones led off the bottom half with his 21st home run, increasing his team-high RBI total to 71. Chicago closed to 4-1 in the sixth.

Pierre hit a bloop to left that a charging Felix Pie gloved with a dive, but the ball squirted free for a double. Pierre advanced on a fly ball and scored on a groundout by Konerko.

NOTES: Chicago’s Adam Dunn struck out three times, the 19th time this season he’s had three Ks or more in a game. … Orioles DH Vladimir Guerrero got the night off after a 1-for-18 skid dropped his batting average to .274. “I can tell in the dugout he’s been a  little frustrated lately because he’s trying so hard,” Showalter said of the 36-year-old slugger. … LHP Mark Buehrle (9-5) starts for the White Sox on Thursday night, hoping to extend a streak of 17 straight games in which he’s permitted three runs or fewer. It’s the longest such run by a White Sox starter in a single season since Dave Lemonds in 1972, according to information provided to the White Sox by the Elias Sports Bureau. Chris Tillman (3-4) is
expected to start for the Orioles. … Jones’ first-inning single ended an 0-for-12 drought.

(Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

BALTIMORE — Several weeks of struggles for Nolan Reimold, and the Baltimore Orioles’ three-game losing streak, ended with one powerful swing.

Reimold deposited Chicago White Sox reliever Jason Frasor’s first pitch deep over the left-center field wall in the 10th inning Wednesday night, the two-run shot sending the Orioles to a 6-4 victory in front of an announced 18,747 at Camden Yards.

It was Reimold’s seventh homer of the season and his first since July 26. It also salvaged a victory in a game where the Orioles (45-69) led 4-0 after five innings. Baltimore, which ended Chicago’s five-game winning streak, will go for a four-game split of the series Thursday night.

In his second start for the Orioles and his longest outing of the season, Tommy Hunter performed admirably and had a three-run lead to show for it heading into the top of the seventh. But he allowed a one-out single to Alex Rios and then a two-out single to Gordon Beckham before Brent Morel’s RBI double cut the Orioles’ lead to 4-2 and ended Hunter’s night.

Jason Berken came in and his first pitch was turned into a two-RBI hit by Juan Pierre, tying the game at 4. That cost Hunter the win and left the big righty’s line at four earned runs on seven hits and two strikeouts in 6²/
₃ innings.

White Sox starter Philip Humber was also spared the loss after allowing four runs on 11 hits, including two homers, and one walk over six innings. The Orioles went just 2 for 9 with runners in scoring position and stranded 10 runners.

— Baltimore Sun

Just when you thought it couldn’t get any worse the Baltimore Orioles season continues its downward spiral.  The O’s lost to the Chicago White Sox last night 4-3.  There was a bad call in the game that led to manager Buck Showalter getting ejected, but let’s make one thing perfectly clear, this team is really bad.

They are now 25 games below .500 and haven’t won a series since late June vs the Reds.  They have some keepers on the squad (Adam Jones, Nick Markakis, JJ Hardy) but for the most part this is a no light at the end of the tunnel situation.  The good news for Baltimore fans, the Baltimore Ravens first preseason game is tomorrow.

BALTIMORE — Baltimore Orioles manager Buck Showalter didn’t stick around for the outcome of Tuesday’s 4-3 loss to the Chicago White Sox, getting ejected in the bottom of the fifth inning after arguing a blown call by third base umpire Phil Cuzzi.

Showalter’s ejection was dutifully earned, with the skipper bending Cuzzi’s ear for a missed call that helped squelch the Orioles’ lone big inning. On his way back to the dugout, Showalter kicked at the dirt by the third base bag — a little Earl Weaver-esque showmanship that energized the announced crowd of 14,177.

The Orioles trailed 4-0 heading into the fifth, managing just three base runners in four scoreless innings against Severna Park native Gavin Floyd.

The fifth inning was a different story. The Orioles picked up three straight singles to load the bases against Floyd. J.J. Hardy grounded out for the Orioles’ first run and Nick Markakis followed with an RBI single to right. Adam Jones then hit a slow grounder to short that Alexi Ramirez muffed, allowing Hardy to cut the score to 4-3.

With Vladimir Guerrero at the plate and one out, Markakis and Jones orchestrated a double-steal attempt. The throw went to third and TV replays showed that Markakis’s left hand was clearly on the bag before Brent Morel tagged Markakis’s left elbow.

“It’s unfortunate,” Showalter said. “You can usually go back to three or four things that would have made it not matter, but it’s tough when obviously, he’s safe, but it’s tough.”

Cuzzi called Markakis out and Markakis jumped off the bag to immediately complain. Showalter took it from there. The Orioles remained within striking distance due to a strong performance by Chris Jakubauskas, who threw four-plus innings of scoreless relief. He allowed just two hits and two walks. Jakubauskas was needed in the fifth because Jo-Jo Reyes, making his first start as an Oriole, lasted just four innings.

— Baltimore Sun

AP Photo/Patrick Semansky

Baltimore Orioles’ Matt Wieters leaves the batter’s box after striking out in the ninth inning of a baseball game against the Chicago White Sox in Baltimore, Tuesday, Aug. 9, 2011. Chicago beat Baltimore 4-3.

The Baltimore Orioles had plenty of chances to beat the Chicago White Sox.
A bad call ruined one of those opportunities. The rest of the blame lies on the Orioles themselves.
Baltimore went 3 for 11 with runners in scoring position Tuesday night in a 4-3 loss that featured manager Buck Showalter’s second ejection of the season.
Showalter was tossed after umpire Phil Cuzzi called Nick Markakis out on the front end of a double steal in the fifth inning. Markakis and third base coach Willie Randolph initially protested the call, and Showalter carried the argument to another level before being tossed by Cuzzi. Replays indicated the runner was safe.
That short-circuited a three-run uprising that cut Chicago’s lead to 4-3, and although the Orioles threatened later, they couldn’t score the tying run.
“It’s one of those things. It’s unfortunate,” Showalter said of the call. “You can usually go back to three or four things that would have made it not matter. Obviously, he’s safe, but it’s tough.”
It wouldn’t have mattered if Robert Andino hadn’t missed the tag on a stolen base, which resulted in Chicago’s third run. It wouldn’t have mattered if Markakis didn’t freeze at second base on Vladimir Guerrero’s fourth-inning single and ultimately was stranded at third. And it wouldn’t have mattered if Baltimore pushed across a run in the seventh after getting a runner at third with one out.
“We had plenty of opportunities to capitalize, starting with myself,” Markakis said. “You make small mistakes in the game and they come back and bite you in the butt. … Those kinds of plays are magnified times 10 with the situation that we’re in.”
By losing the first two games of the four-game series, Baltimore will again fail to win its first series since June 24-26. The Orioles are 14-38 since June 10.
Brent Morel homered and drove in two runs and Carlos Quentin also connected for the White Sox, who have won a season-high five straight.
Before the current run, the White Sox were 52-58. They still have a losing record, but are well within striking distance of first-place Detroit in the AL Central.
“We’ve kind of just been waiting for this all year, really,” Morel said. “We have a lot of potential. It’s kind of been a disappointing year, but knowing that we have a little time left to make a push, hopefully we can keep playing well.”
Gavin Floyd (10-10) gave up three runs in 6 2-3 innings for the White Sox. The Maryland native is 3-0 with a 2.28 ERA lifetime in Baltimore. Coming off a horrid performance against the Yankees in which he surrendered 10 runs in 2 1-3 innings, Floyd improved to 4-1 in his last five starts.
After Floyd left, the bullpen kept Baltimore hitless the rest of the way. Sergio Santos struck out Andino for the final out to earn his 24th save and extend his road scoreless streak to 29 games.
Floyd ended the fifth by retiring Guerrero with a runner on second. In the seventh, after Felix Pie hit a leadoff double and advanced on a sacrifice, J.J. Hardy grounded out to third and former Oriole Will Ohman struck out Markakis.
Making his first start with Baltimore after being obtained on waivers from Toronto, Jo-Jo Reyes (5-9) allowed four runs and five hits in four innings. Both walks he issued came around to score, and he also yielded two home runs.
Chris Jakubauskas followed with four innings of two-hit relief.
“Jak was great,” Showalter said. “He was the reason why we had a chance there.”
Chicago jumped on top with a two-run second inning. After Quentin led off with his 24th home run, Brent Lillibridge walked with two outs and scored on a single by Morel.
Reyes walked leadoff hitter Alexei Ramirez in the third, then got two outs before A.J. Pierzynski doubled in a run. The hit came after Andino missed a tag on Ramirez during a steal of second base.
In the fourth, Morel hit a 3-1 pitch into the left-field seats. He has two home runs in 263 at-bats this season.
Baltimore finally broke through in the fifth. Three straight singles loaded the bases, and Hardy drove in a run with a fielder’s choice. Markakis followed with an RBI single, and another run scored when shortstop Ramirez fumbled Adam Jones’ grounder. Then came the ill-fated double steal attempt.
NOTES: Davis returned after missing four straight games with a sore shoulder. … Chicago RHP Philip Humber (8-8) makes his 20th start of the season Wednesday night. He’s 0-4 with a 7.97 ERA in his last four outings. Baltimore will counter with Tommy Hunter, obtained in a trade with Texas on July 30. In his starting debut with the Orioles, Hunter yielded four runs in four innings in a loss to Toronto. … Pierzynski has four hits in the series after coming to town in an 0-for-12 slump.