Beckham's blast carries Sox to a win in series opener

One swing by Gordon Beckham broke up a good pitchers duel tonight in Chicago. He hit a 2-2 pitch from Jeremy Guthrie for a three-run homer to center in the last of the seventh and that broke a 2-2 tie and put the Sox ahead 5-2 on their way to a 7-5 win over the Orioles on Tuesday night. It was game one of a series and road trip for the Orioles who fall to 12-9 under Buck Showalter. It was the first time they had lost the first game of a series since Showalter took over after going 6-0.

The O's took a 2-0 lead in the fourth on a Luke Scott solo homer and Matt Wieters RBI groundout. Scott tied his career high with his 25th homer and it was his third over the last three games. Down by five runs entering the ninth, the O's scored three times on RBI hits by Brian Roberts and Nick Markakis. Another run scored when Ty Wigginton grounded into a double play. Guthrie falls to 7-13, 4.13 and has given up 11 ER over 14 2/3 over his past two starts. Gavin Floyd got the win to go to 9-10, 3.91 as he gave up two runs over seven innings. Floyd is 3-1, 2.55 in five career starts vs. the Orioles. Felix Pie went 3 for 4 with a double as the O's fall to 17-44 on the road and 44-82 on the season. Adam Jones left the game in the fourth inning after suffering a left shoulder contusion when he was hit by a pitch. The White Sox, who began the day 4 ½ games out in the AL Central, won for just the third time in nine games, but are a Major League-best, 44-24 since July 9th.