Reimold's tiebreaking three-run homer lifts O's over White Sox

After seeing a 3-1 lead disappear tonight over the sixth and seventh innings and turn into a 3-3 tie, the Orioles moved quickly to get back in front. Their old friend the longball showed up just in time.

Nolan Reimold's three-run homer to right snapped the 3-3 tie and lifted the Orioles to a 6-3 win over the Chicago White Sox at chilly Camden Yards.

The Sox came to Camden Yards with a American League-best 16-6 record, but the O's have taken the first two games of the four-game series. The Orioles improved to 14-8 on the year and upped the majors' best home record to 9-1.

Against Sox starter Carlos Rodon, Matt Wieters and J.J. Hardy singled to start the seventh. Reimold then hit the first pitch just over the high wall in right for a three-run shot, his third homer.

Earlier, down 1-0, the Orioles took a 3-1 lead in the last of the fifth. two White Sox errors helping their cause. Adam Jones drew a four-pitch walk to start the inning against Rodon, who had blanked the Orioles on 51 pitches through four innings. Wieters then reached and Jones advanced to third on an error by second baseman Brett Lawrie, who booted what looked like a sure double play ball.

Hardy hit a grounder to third and Jones was out in a brief rundown between third and home. Reimold's infield single then loaded the bases for Jonathan Schoop.

Schoop hammered a two-run single to center that gave the Orioles a 2-1 lead. Schoop had been in a 4-for-38 drought and that was his 200th career hit. Joey Rickard grounded to second and in trying to turn two, shortstop Jimmy Rollins threw wildly past first, with Reimold scoring for a 3-1 lead. A Manny Machado single followed, but Rickard was thrown out at the plate by right fielder Adam Eaton. It was a three-run, three-hit, two-error inning.

In the top of the sixth, the Orioles turned a spectacular inning-ending double play to temporarily stay in the lead. Jose Abreu's RBI single had cut the O's lead to 3-2 and Chicago loaded the bases with one out. The White Sox had O's starter Mike Wright on the ropes.

Melky Cabrera lined a pitch to center, Jones made a running catch and threw a strike to home for an 8-2 double play. Wieters made an outstanding backhanded catch and tag of the runner on the back end of the play.

But while the White Sox could not pull even then, they did just seconds into the top of the seventh inning. Brad Brach came on for Wright and leadoff hitter Lawrie homered to left for the 3-3 tie.

Wright went six innings, allowing five hits and two runs with two walks and six strikeouts. He left with a lead, but gets a no-decision. O's starting pitchers have an ERA of 2.54 over the last five games. Brach got the win, even though he let the lead get away. Darren O'Day pitched a scoreless eighth and Zach Britton worked the ninth to record his sixth save.

The White Sox brought a major-league leading 2.24 ERA to Camden Yards yesterday, but have allowed 16 runs so far in this series.

On Saturday night, Kevin Gausman (0-1, 1.80 ERA) faces right-hander Matt Latos (4-0, 0.74 ERA).