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Gibbons homers as Orioles outlast White Sox

Jul 5, 2007 - 4:04 AM CHICAGO (Ticker) -- A rookie provided a spark for for the Baltimore Orioles on Wednesday.

Garrett Olson pitched 4 1/3 strong innings in his major league debut and Jay Gibbons homered to lead the Orioles to a 9-6 victory over the Chicago White Sox.

It was the second victory in three games for Baltimore, which concludes the four-game series at U.S. Cellular Field on Thursday.

The 23-year-old Olson was added to the roster after being called up from Class AAA Norfolk, where he went 7-6 with a 3.46 ERA in 17 starts, including 94 strikeouts in 104.0 innings.

"It's a different environment - bigger stadium, a lot more fans - but you get out there on the mound and it's the same feel," Olson said. "Before the game started I was nervous, but you've just got to trust your stuff."

The lefthander led the International League in innings pitched and was second in strikeouts. He started in place of veteran righthander Steve Trachsel, who is sidelined with a strained gluteus.

Olson has been selected to the U.S. team for Sunday's All-Star Futures Game in San Francisco, as part of the All-Star week festivities.

With the Orioles leading, 6-2, in the fifth, Olson was yanked just two outs away from getting the decision and a runner on first. Rob Bell relieved him and got the final two outs.

"I'm sure Garrett Olson is just happy to be here," Orioles interim manager Dave Trembley said. "This was his first big league start. I thought you saw flashes of what he can do. (But) this is the big leagues, you've got to do what is right for the team."

"(Olson) kept us in the game, he battled," Gibbons said. "Hopefully, he'll get his first big league win next time out."

Olson allowed two runs on five hits while issuing five walks and four strikeouts.

"It was kind of a surprise (to be taken out)," Olson said. "But I can understand the move. I took the game as far as I could."

Bell went 1 2/3 innings and was followed by Paul Shuey, who pitched 2 1/3 solid innings before running into trouble in the ninth, allowing a three-run homer to Rob Mackowiak to account for the final margin.

Gibbons' fifth-inning blast and three RBI contributed to the demise of the White Sox, who continue to struggle at home. Chicago went 1-5 on its last homestand and is now 1-2 on the current eight-game stay.

"It's always nice to help your team," Gibbons said. "It'd be great to take three out of four tomorrow."

White Sox Jose Contreras (5-10) is now 1-6 in his last eight starts. The veteran lasted five innings while giving up six runs on eight hits in absorbing his third straight defeat. The 10 losses are a career high for Contreras, who has yet to win consecutive starts.

"(Contreras) was not throwing strikes," White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen said. "That's his problem. He got heavy counts. When he throws strikes, he gets ahead in the count."

Both clubs made mistakes defensively all night, with each committing three errors.

White Sox rookie Josh Fields provided the highlights for Chicago, going 2-for-3 with a home run and walk.

With the Orioles holding a 4-2 lead in the bottom of the third, Paul Konerko doubled to center for the White Sox. Jermaine Dye received a base on balls and Fields singled to load the bases. Olson ended the threat by striking out Luis Terrero.

Kevin Millar had a two-run double as the Orioles built a 9-3 lead before the White Sox made it respectable on Mackowiak's ninth-inning blast.