The Baltimore Orioles have dealt with their low-scoring woes by benefiting from strong pitching and solid defense through two games in Chicago.
Now the Orioles will go for a three-game series sweep when they take on the White Sox on Wednesday afternoon.
The Orioles have their first two-game winning streak under first-year manager Craig Albernaz. Baltimore previously was swept in three games in Pittsburgh, posting only eight runs.
“To have our guys stick with it and stick with the approach was awesome,” Albernaz said.
The Orioles have six runs in their two wins vs. the White Sox — 2-1 on Monday and 4-2 on Tuesday.
“That’s a credit to our guys in the box,” Albernaz said of the Orioles, who stranded 10 runners across the first five innings Tuesday. “We had chances. We didn’t get frustrated. We didn’t get down, kept on competing. Guys came through with big at-bats.”
Baltimore broke through with a three-run eighth inning, capped by Gunnar Henderson’s two-run homer, in Tuesday’s game. Henderson has gone deep in both games in the series.
He had two hits and struck out twice but came through during a clutch moment.
“I love when he gets frustrated (because) he’s never out of it,” Albernaz said. “He’s never out of the game. He’s always in the at-bat. For him to come through is awesome.”
Even with the team’s uneven performances in the batter’s box, Baltimore’s Taylor Ward has reached base safely in 10 consecutive games. Catcher Adley Rutschman didn’t play Tuesday, so his streak of reaching safety in all eight games he has played this season remained intact.
The Orioles have won 10 consecutive road games vs. the White Sox and eight in a row overall against them.
Baltimore has right-hander Kyle Bradish (0-2, 6.23 ERA) lined up as its starting pitching for the Wednesday finale.
Bradish’s lone victory last year in a season that was delayed until late August because of an injury came in a five-inning stint when he gave up one run vs. the White Sox. That’s the only time he has faced them in parts of five big-league seasons.
The White Sox will turn to right-hander Sean Burke (0-1, 3.60 ERA) on Wednesday. Last year, he gave up three runs in 10 total innings across two starts in his only career matchups against the Orioles.
Chicago has endured doldrums on offense. In six of their seven losses, the team has failed to score more than two runs.
The White Sox made roster moves Tuesday, with Austin Hays — a former Oriole — going on the 10-day injured list and fellow outfielder Dustin Harris coming up from Triple-A Charlotte.
Harris can provide versatility, Chicago manager Will Venable said.
“Really excited about everything he can do,” Venable said. “Offensively, controlling the zone, he’s a good base runner. He’s a guy you can trust is going to do the right thing on defense. You will see him out there, potentially at the end of games.”
The Orioles also made moves Tuesday, sending Brandon Young back to Triple-A Norfolk after he logged five scoreless innings Monday. Baltimore also picked up left-hander Nick Raquet for minor league outfielder Brayden Smith in a trade from the St. Louis Cardinals.
–Field Level Media
