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RECAP
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BOX SCORE
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GAME LOG
BALTIMORE (AP) -- John Parrish walked eight batters, and after the game everyone was talking about the erratic pitching of the other guy.
|  | | Jerry Hairston knows James Baldwin wasn't trying to hit him -- but that didn't make it hurt any less. |
That's because James Baldwin tied an AL record by hitting four batters with pitches.
Jeff Conine homered to back an effective but uneven performance by Parrish, and the Baltimore Orioles took advantage of Baldwin's uncharacteristic wildness Thursday in a 5-3 victory over the
Chicago White Sox.
Baldwin (13-5), who was unbeaten in six starts since July 8, had
hit only two batters in 154 innings. But he plunked two in the
third inning, one in the fifth and another in the sixth.
"I've never hit that many guys in one game. I just lost control
out there today," he said. "The arm's a little tired, but that's
no excuse. I got a little wild. I fell behind in some counts and
they took advantage."
Jerry Hairston, who was hit twice, chased Baldwin with a two-run
single in the sixth that put Baltimore up 5-1. Conine led off the
inning with his 11th homer, the first since June 29.
Baldwin permitted five runs, eight hits and two walks in 5 1/3 innings. Afterward, the right-hander spoke about skipping his next start to let his weary arm recuperate.
"It's just one of those times of year when you start to get a
little tired," he said. "Hopefully that one missed start will get
me back on track."
After watching the staff leader in wins and innings struggle,
Chicago manager Jerry Manuel embraced the idea of giving Baldwin an
extra few days of rest before his next start.
"That wildness ... tells me there's some discomfort in his arm
someplace," Manuel said. "I think we have to look at him and
push him back. Last year he had some problems, but not in that
particular way."
Parrish (2-1) allowed one run and two hits in 6 2/3 innings in his fifth major league start. None of his eight walks proved costly.
"I had lot of walks, but that was the only bad thing about
today," Parrish said.
Tony Graffanino and Jose Valentin homered for the White Sox, who
settled for a split of the four-game series. Valentin hit a two-run
shot off rookie Ryan Kohlmeier with two outs in the ninth after an
error by shortstop Melvin Mora.
Parrish faced one batter over the minimum and held the White Sox
hitless through three innings before Graffanino connected on a 1-2
pitch leading off the fourth. It was his second homer in 109
at-bats with Chicago.
In the fifth, Chicago put runners on second and third with no
outs. Parrish then struck out Jeff Abbott and Charles Johnson
before retiring Ray Durham on a grounder.
Baltimore took a 2-1 lead in its half. Greg Myers doubled and scored on a single by Luis Matos, who came in on a sacrifice fly by Delino DeShields.
After Parrish walked two batters to open the sixth, a diving
stop by Hairston at second base in the sixth saved a run, and,
arguably the victory.
"The game turned on that play," Orioles manager Mike Hargrove
said. "The ball gets through, we're in a different situation."
Said Hairston: "I try to get every ball I can. That's my job.
If it comes my way, I'm going to get it."
The Orioles scored three times in the bottom half, with Hairston's bases-loaded single the key hit. He took no offense to being hit twice by Baldwin.
"He must not like me much," Hairston said with a grin. "He's had a great year and has put up some great numbers. He just had a rough outing."
Game notes
Baldwin became the 13th AL pitcher to hit four batters in a
game. ... Chicago's Magglio Ordonez went 0-for-4, ending an
eight-game hitting streak in which he was 19-for-34. ... The
Orioles are 32-25 at home and 21-42 on the road. ... Parrish threw
63 strikes and 61 balls.
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ALSO SEE
Baseball Scoreboard
Chi. White Sox Clubhouse
Baltimore Clubhouse
RECAPS
Kansas City 8
Minnesota 4
Baltimore 5
Chi. White Sox 3
Boston 8
Texas 7
NY Yankees 6
Anaheim 1
NY Mets 13
Colorado 2
San Francisco 5
Montreal 4
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