O's game blog: Tyler Wilson on the mound in series opener

Since scoring eight runs in a win at Kansas City on Saturday night, the Orioles have scored just one, zero, one and three in their last four games.

As they try to break out on offense, they begin a 10-game homestand tonight against the team with the best pitching so far in the American League. The Orioles host the 16-6 Chicago White Sox to start a four-game series.

Chicago's 2.24 team ERA leads the American League by a wide margin. Tampa Bay is next at 3.20. The White Sox lead the AL in rotation ERA at 2.65 (the Orioles are 13th) and also bullpen ERA at 1.32 (the O's are second).

Chicago starting pitchers have cranked out 17 quality starts already and their pitchers have allowed one or zero runs in half of their games - 11 of 22.

The Sox have used that pitching to produce the best record in the AL and open a 3 1/2 game lead over Kansas City atop the AL Central. Chicago enters this series with a six-game win streak and with wins in eight of its last nine games.

On the mound at the Yard tonight, Tyler Wilson (1-0, 2.77 ERA) makes his second start of the season and left-hander John Danks (0-3, 6.23) of the White Sox makes his fourth.

Saturday at K.C., Wilson came out of the bullpen to make the start and gave up six hits and three runs over five innings, throwing 70 pitches. On the year he has worked 13 innings, allowing 12 hits and four runs with two walks and six strikeouts. Opponent batters are hitting .235 against him.

Danks has gotten better each start. He allowed seven runs in his first outing, and then five and then two the last time out. That was Thursday against the Angels. He went six innings and gave up five hits in a 3-2 loss.

Danks has lost each of his last six starts since Sept. 20, going 0-6 with a 6.21 ERA. He allows a .200 average versus lefty batters and a .309 average to right-handed hitters. In 13 career starts against the Orioles, he is 6-5 with a 3.90 ERA.

On the farm this afternoon, Triple-A Norfolk scored five runs in the bottom of the eighth to come from 5-1 down and beat Indianapolis, 6-5 at Harbor Park.

The Tides eighth featured RBI singles by Ryan Flaherty and Christian Walker, a two-run double to tie the game by Henry Urrutia and a sac fly by Francisco Pena for the 6-5 lead.

Flaherty is 5-for-10 in two games since being optioned from the Orioles. Urrutia has hit .333 with a .420 on-base percentage through 18 games. Norfolk now has three wins when trailing after seven innings this season, most in the International League. Tides relievers have seven of the team's eight victories this season.