Jorge Mateo drilled a three-run home run and the Baltimore Orioles snapped a season-worst three-game losing streak by defeating the host Chicago White Sox 8-6 on Thursday night at the beginning of a four-game series.
Anthony Santander also homered, Adley Rustchman drove in three runs and Ryan Mountcastle had four hits for the Orioles. Grayson Rodriguez was rewarded for another solid start, working five innings.
Andrew Benintendi drove in both Chicago runs, but the White Sox lost for the sixth time in a seven-game stretch. Starting pitcher Mike Clevinger (0-3) was charged with five runs on seven hits in 4 2/3 innings.
Rodriguez (5-1) dodged trouble while issuing five walks and allowing three hits and two runs. He was in line to win Sunday’s game vs. Seattle when he came off the injured list and allowed just one hit in six shutout innings, but he ended up with a no-decision.
On Thursday, the White Sox scored two runs and had the bases loaded with no outs in the ninth before Gavin Sheets’ two-run single cut the gap to 8-6. Reliever Craig Kimbrel got a game-ending double play for his 10th save when Benintendi popped out and baserunner Andrew Vaughn was ruled out for interference.
Baltimore’s batters broke out of the doldrums by racking up 13 hits to go with six walks. Mateo’s third homer of the year came as part of Baltimore’s four-run fourth inning, when the Orioles took the lead for good.
The White Sox loaded the bases with one out in the first inning and scored on Benintendi’s two-out walk. It was just the third RBI in 18 games for Benintendi, who added another two innings later.
Baltimore jammed the bases with one out in the third, and Rutschman’s single tied the game. The threat was halted when Ryan O’Hearn grounded into a double play.
Benintendi’s two-out single put the White Sox back ahead in the third before Santander’s eighth homer of the season, leading off the fourth, knotted the score again. Mateo then hit his three-run homer.
Rutschman added a two-run single in the sixth, and Austin Hays drove in another run with a single later in the inning to make it 8-2.
Tommy Pham finished with three of Chicago’s seven hits.