Another look at the Pedro Alvarez power surge, plus other notes

CHICAGO - Not only is Pedro Alvarez on a homer tear right now for the Orioles, but he is hitting big home runs. He homered in the second inning last night to give the Orioles a one-run lead over the Chicago White Sox. When he batted in the eighth, the O's were up by two and his blast added a big run.

In his last three games, Alvarez has hit two, one and two homers. He is 7-for-12 in that stretch with five homers and five RBIs. Over a seven-game stretch he is 13-for-28 (.464) with six homers and seven RBIs.

When a reporter suggested to Alvarez last night that his slow start, which is now long since over, might have had something to do with changing leagues, he did not disagree.

"Yeah, you are facing different pitchers," Alvarez said. "You have to face them a couple times before you can get more comfortable. Yeah, different leagues, different stadiums, a whole lot of different things you are not used to. You know your best teacher is experience and you get experience by getting repetitions."

On the year, Alvarez is now averaging a homer every 13.2 at-bats. By comparison, major league homer leader Mark Trumbo averages a homer every 13.8 at-bats. Since June 1, Alvarez has homered 15 times in 134 at-bats for a homer every 8.9 at-bats.

In addition to the latest Alvarez power display last night, the Orioles' offense broke out during a 7-5 win over the White Sox. The seven runs is the Orioles' most since scoring 12 on June 29 at San Diego. The 16 hits is the most since they banged out 17 on June 28 at San Diego.

Alvarez said it was big to see the offense put up those numbers.

"It is always important," Alvarez said. "Anytime you can get the ball rolling with defense, pitching, offense, you can use whatever momentum you can. This is an offense perfectly capable of doing what we did tonight. And you know it won't be the last one."

The win kept the Orioles tied for first with the Toronto Blue Jays, winners of four in a row. Alvarez told reporters he is not yet looking much at the standings in the American League East.

"No," Alvarez said. "You know our focus is that game at seven o'clock and that opponent in the other dugout. Today is over with and tomorrow we've got these guys again. A good club in the White Sox and that is our focus."

The Orioles are bashing homers again. They have hit nine in the last four games, but all nine have been solo home runs. Of the Orioles last 14 homers, 13 have been solo shots.

Last night's starting and winning pitcher was right-hander Yovani Gallardo. He was asked as well about checking the division standings. He also is not doing it much yet.

"Not really," Gallardo said. "Honestly, the number one thing is we have to take care of what we have to take care of. We have to keep going out there and winning ballgames. We can't worry about who's in front of us, who's behind us in that type of situation. That's how it is in our clubhouse. Everybody out there, we understand what we have to do. We come out, enjoy the one today and come back tomorrow to try and do the same thing."

For just the fifth time in his 14 starts on the year, Gallardo went six innings last night. He gave up two runs on seven hits. The White Sox went 0-for-6 with runners in scoring position against him. On the year AL batters hit just .226 against Gallardo with RISP.

What is the key to getting some of those big outs with runners at least halfway home?

"I think it's just getting ahead of guys, making big pitches whenever I have to," he said. "Sometimes, just allowing myself the opportunity, just by the way the game starts. Just pounding the zone and getting guys to swing the bat early, it just opens everything else to where you're able to make some big pitches, whether it be a little bit off the plate or that sort of thing. There was some good defense behind me today."

Over the last five games, O's starters have pitched to an ERA of 2.93. Gallardo is now 1-0 with a 1.06 ERA in three career starts versus the White Sox. Miguel Gonzalez gave up four runs (three earned) and 10 hits over six innings against his former team to take the loss. In the first four innings last night, O's hitters went 9-for-20 against Gonzalez. In six starts this season against the AL East, Gonzalez is 1-2 with a 5.14 ERA.

The Orioles have won four of five and are 20-7 versus teams from the AL Central.

The O's are 50-15 when scoring four runs or more, 36-13 when scoring first, and 23-29 in road games.