Sunday baseball: Orioles at Chicago

Game Preview Orioles (50-73) at Chicago (63-60) After splitting the first two games of this series, the Orioles and White Sox play the deciding game today at 2:05 p.m. Jason Berken (2-11, 6.72) pitches for the O's vs. Chicago's Mark Buehrle (11-6, 3.78). Brian Roberts homered twice as the Orioles won the series opener 5-1 Friday night. But John Danks limited O's hitters to a single run Saturday in Chicago's 4-1 victory. The O's and Sox have split eight games this year. The Orioles are batting .285 in the season series and have out-scored Chicago 45-36 this year. In the eight games, the O's have 22 doubles, two triples and 8 homers. The Orioles have won the season series just once in the last nine years vs. Chicago. That was in 2007. Today's winner will take the season series. The Orioles could also win their first series since the All-Star break with a win today. They are 0-9-1 in series in the second half. Baltimore is 2-3 on this nine-game road trip and 20-42 on the road on the season. Despite winning two of its last three, over a longer stretch, the O's have lost six of eight, 16 of 22 and 23 of the last 32 games. O's pitching has allowed at least one homer in seven consecutive games, giving up 15 total over that time. The Birds are 10-25 in the second half. The White Sox are in second place in the AL Central, 2 ½ games behind Detroit. They are 7 ½ out in the wild-card race. The Sox are 3-2 on this homestand and have won 20 of their past 30 home games and eight of their last nine home series. Chicago is 10-9 in August and 18-17 since the All-Star break. O's hitters on this road trip: Andino: 0-0 Aubrey: 3-7 Izturis: 3-19, RBI Jones: 2-16/0/1 Markakis: 7-20/0/1 Moeller: 0-4 Mora: 1-14 Pie: 5-11/0/0 Reimold: 6-20/1/4 Roberts: 7-20/4/8 Scott: 3-17 Wieters: 3-16/1/2 Wigginton: 4-11/0/1