Wrapping up another loss and a 1-7 road trip

CHICAGO - The Orioles had a chance to at least end a disappointing road trip on a good note today. But they could not do it.

The White Sox scored four runs in the last of the sixth to break a 1-1 tie and beat the Orioles 5-2 in front of 20,139 at Gauranteed Rate Field.

A White Sox team that began this series having lost nine of 11 just took three of four from the Orioles. The O's head back to Baltimore tonight where at least they have played well this year. This road trip was a 1-7 disaster that dropped the team further back from the American League East's top spot. They were 2 1/2 games out when the trip began and are seven games back pending the Yankees game tonight. The Orioles fell back under .500 at 32-33.

"It's all fixable because we've shown that sometimes those are strengths for us," manager Buck Showalter said of issues with both hitting and pitching. "We've got to get back to that. I'm not one of those guys that hangs it all around one phase of the game. This is a game where when one is lacking, the other part of the game picks it up. That's something we've done well and been known for. We aren't doing it right now."

In losing seven of eight on the trip, the Orioles were outscored 71-29.

On a day that right-hander Chris Tillman felt he pitched much better, it got away from him and the Orioles during the White Sox's four-run sixth. That inning featured a misread on a bunt that Tillman said was his fault. He didn't get to the third base line quick enough with Manny Machado back covering third with two runners on that inning. Kevan Smith's bunt went for a hit to load the bases and ignite the big inning that provided the Sox a sizable lead.

"I mean, made a pretty crappy pitch to the leadoff guy and walked the next guy. I blow the bunt play. Able to get an out and not do anything from there," Tillman said of that inning.

Reliever Jimmy Yacabonis came on and walked three of four hitters he faced, one forcing in a run with the bases loaded. He allowed two inherited runners to score that were charged to Tillman. He threw 20 pitches but just seven strikes. Was he nervous in his third major league game?

"Not necessarily," Showalter said. "He's had a track record of having command issues. It's kind of carried over here, but he's been able to get away with it at the level behind."

Tillman gave up five runs and a season-high 11 hits to fall to 1-5 with a ERA of 8.07. Still, he said he takes some positive momentum from this game.

"Yeah. I think it was much better, tell you the truth. Pitch here and there could have been better, but for the most part it was a step in the right direction," he said.

Catcher Caleb Joseph shared that sentiment.

"I told him when he exited the game and I reminded him again when we got in the clubhouse, I thought he did a tremendous job," Joseph said. "He had seven groundball hits within two or three inches of defenders' gloves. He had good zip on his fastball. I think it was a huge step forward for him. It's just terrible luck, in my opinion. Terrible luck."

On offense, the Orioles got an RBI double from Joseph in the fifth and a Welington Castillo solo homer to center off David Robertson in the ninth, his second to that spot in two games. But they went 1-for-8 with runners in scoring. This was the 32nd time in 65 games they have scored three runs or less. The Orioles are 8-24 in those games.

Tillman said the players simply have to start pitching better and playing better.

"I mean, we've lost before," he said. "A loss is a loss no matter how you look at it. But we've got a good club. We've got a good team and we know what we're capable of. Just got to keep moving forward and play better baseball."

Without a win on the field, Showalter took something positive from injury news today. Zach Britton's simulated game went well at Single-A Frederick and Darren O'Day, who is on the disabled list, had a pregame throwing session. But he won't be ready to be activated when he is eligible on Saturday, the skipper added.