Markakis makes sensational catch to preserve Norris' lead (O's win 8-2)

CHICAGO - Bud Norris was the first Oriole on the field tonight after the top of the seventh inning. He jogged to the mound ahead of everyone else following Adam Jones' ground ball. It's understandable why Norris wanted to keep pitching. Norris retired 17 of the first 18 White Sox batters while facing the minimum number through the sixth. Jordan Danks singled in the second and was caught stealing by Caleb Joseph. Norris had thrown only 64 pitches in six innings. That's ridiculously efficient. He finally slipped up in the seventh, and he needed Nick Markakis to preserve a slim lead. Alejandro De Aza was hit on the right forearm leading off the inning and Alexei Ramirez followed with a double. Second and third, no outs and the heart of the White Sox order coming up. Jose Abreu lined to center and Adam Dunn struck out looking, but Avisail Garcia came through with a two-run single to reduce the Orioles' lead to 3-2. As Brad Brach began to warm, Conor Gillaspie sent a long fly ball to right field that appeared to be a two-run homer. Markakis sprinted to the warning track, leaped and made a sensational catch, bringing the ball back into play as he crashed into the fence. Inning over. Lead intact. Norris raised both arms and returned to the dugout, his pitch count at 82. Andrew Miller was warming for the Orioles in the top of the eighth, but now it's Darren O'Day who's throwing. Norris has never thrown a complete game. He's gone eight innings on four occasions. Norris has allowed two earned runs or fewer in 11 of his 21 starts this season. Update: So much for a close game. The Orioles scored five runs in the top of the eighth, two of them coming on Markakis' 11th home run of the season. All the scoring came with two outs. Jonathan Schoop hit a three-run double off former Oriole Matt Lindstrom and Markakis followed with his home run. Markakis hadn't homered since Aug. 4 in D.C. Schoop is 9-for-32 with two doubles, three homers and eight RBIs in his last 10 games. Steve Pearce has three more hits tonight, including two doubles. Brach has replaced Norris, who allowed two runs and three hits in seven innings, with no walks, five strikeouts and a hit batter. Norris threw 82 pitches, 54 for strikes. Update II: Game over. The Orioles defeat the White Sox 8-2 at U.S. Cellular Field. Norris improves to 11-7 with a 3.69 ERA. Brach retired all six batters he faced. The Orioles are 71-52 overall, 37-26 on the road and 11-16 vs. the American League Central. They lead the idle Yankees by 7 1/2 games and the idle Blue Jays by eight in the AL East.