• Preview
• Recap
• Bleachers

Burres, Quiroz lead Orioles over White Sox

Apr 26, 2008 - 10:02 PM By Gene Chamberlain PA SportsTicker Contributing Writer

CHICAGO (Ticker) - Baltimore Orioles lefthander Brian Burres displayed patience and effectively changed speeds with his fastball.

Burres outpitched John Danks in a battle of southpaws Saturday as the Orioles posted a 5-1 victory over the Chicago White Sox in the first game of a day-night doubleheader.

"It starts with pitching and Burres really gave us a big lift," Orioles manager Dave Trembley said. "He doesn't have to overthrow, (that) is what he's done. He's improved the movement on his pitches."

Burres (3-1) stretched his scoreless inning streak to 13 2/3 by allowing just three hits over eight innings.

"He's taken something off his fastball, so he's really got more than one fastball," Trembley added. "For him, he's better off throwing at 86, 87 mph than he is at 89, 90. He's got more movement when he doesn't try to throw as hard."

Burres struck out four without a walk, and didn't allow a runner past first base.

The first game of the doubleheader was the makeup of Friday's rainout and Burres had faced only one batter before storms washed out the game.

Trembley said he had no problem giving the ball back to Burres again Saturday.

"I felt just as good today as I did (Friday)," Burres said. "That kind of thing happened to me a couple times in the minor leagues. It never really bothered me. So when (Trembley) asked me if I could go, I didn't have to think about it."

For five innings, though, Burres' efforts went for naught as Danks (2-2) threw a perfect game in a scoreless duel.

Guillermo Quiroz's first major league home run provided the Orioles with a 2-0 sixth-inning lead - one batter after Adam Jones' single had ended Danks' no-hit bid.

"I was really just trying to concentrate on what I had to do and keep them from scoring," Burres said. "We've been pretty good about scoring runs, so I was just waiting for us to score."

The home run on a changeup ended Danks' streak of 19 2/3 scoreless innings.

"It feels great, it's amazing," Quiroz said. "And it came in a really, really good situation in the game tie score, both pitchers throwing really, really well. I can't ask for anything more."

The Orioles added insurance in the ninth when first baseman Paul Konerko misplayed Jones' grounder, allowing pinch-runner Eider Torres to score from second base. Brian Roberts followed with a two-run RBI double off reliever Octavio Dotel.

The White Sox scored in the bottom of the ninth when they loaded the bases against reliever Matt Albiers, and George Sherrill hit Carlos Quentin. However, Sherrill retired Joe Crede on a fly to right for his ninth save.

White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen is growing tired of seeing ineffective hitting. Saturday's lineup for the first game had only two batters in it hitting over .246, although center fielder Jermaine Dye missed the game with a groin strain.

"Our offense is real flat right now and I think we have to get better to make our pitchers have a lead and relax once in a while," Guillen said.

"Every time we go out there, all the pitchers have got to throw a perfect inning every time because we're not hitting well right now. I think we have to pick it up in intensity and score some runs."