Orioles 3, White Sox 1
BALTIMORE -- Starting pitcher Miguel Gonzalez broke a career-high, four-game losing streak, and three teammates hit solo homers to left field as the Baltimore Orioles beat the Chicago White Sox 3-1 Thursday in the opener of a four-game series.
Adam Jones, J.J. Hardy and Brian Roberts went deep for the Orioles (74-65), who returned home after a 3-6 road trip.
The White Sox (56-83) lost their seventh game in a row. They managed just four hits and one run in seven innings against Gonzalez (9-7), who allowed seven runs in his previous start, Aug. 30 against the New York Yankees.
It was the first career appearance against the White Sox for Gonzalez, who was the top starter down the stretch last season as the Orioles made the playoffs in his first season in Baltimore.
Tommy Hunter came on to pitch a scoreless eighth for the Orioles, and closer Jim Johnson picked up his league-leading 42nd save by retiring the side in order in the ninth.
Chicago starter Jose Quintana (7-6) gave up three runs, all on the solo homers, in seven innings.
Jones gave the Orioles a 1-0 lead in the first with a solo homer to left. It was the 30th homer of the year for Jones, who drove in his 100th run of the season.
The White Sox loaded the bases with no outs in the third, but Gonzalez got Alejandro De Aza to ground into a double play as Conor Gillaspie scored to make it 1-1. Gordon Beckham then grounded out to end the inning.
Hardy went deep to lead off the fifth, his 25th home run of the year. He became the fourth active player to record 25-plus homers at least three years in a row as a shortstop, joining Alex Rodriguez (seven years), Miguel Tejada (six years) and Troy Tulowitzki (three years).
With two outs in the fifth, Roberts hit his fourth homer of the season.
The Orioles began the night four games back of the Tampa Bay Rays for the second wild-card spot in the American League.
NOTES: The Orioles recalled RHP Steve Johnson from Triple-A Norfolk and optioned LHP Zach Britton to short-season Aberdeen, which is in the New York-Penn League playoffs. Baltimore also reinstated RHP Jason Hammel from the 15-day disabled list. ... Orioles RF Nick Markakis did not start, but he entered as a defensive replacement. "He is fine," said manager Buck Showalter, who wanted to give the veteran a mental day off. ... White Sox C Tyler Flowers underwent right shoulder surgery Thursday at Rush University Medical Center in Chicago. According to the team, the recovery time should be about two to three months.
