Wrapping up the win over Chicago to start the road trip

CHICAGO - It was a strange night at times for the Orioles. They tied a season high by making four errors. Darren O'Day was replaced after getting just one out in the eighth. But they still had enough to hang on to a big win to start this 10-game road trip.

Pedro Alvarez produced his second multi-homer game in his last three games and continued his recent power surge as the Orioles beat the White Sox 7-5 at U.S. Cellular Field. With the Blue Jays winning again, this victory keeps the Orioles (62-46) tied for first in the American League East.

The Orioles came up with 16 hits and went 3-for-7 with runners in scoring position. Five players had multi-hit games, with J.J. Hardy, Adam Jones and Manny Machado producing three hits each. It was Machado's first three-hit game since June 28.

Alvarez hit solo homers in the second and eighth innings for his third multi-homer game of the year and 13th of his career. Over his past three games, he is 7-for-12 with five homers and five RBIs. Over his last seven games, he is 13-for-28 (.464) with six homers and seven RBIs.

"Just trying to be competitive," Alvarez said. "Like I've said time after time, always try to take advantage of every opportunity I get. Every time I'm up, see how I can contribute to the team and have good, quality at-bats.

"The good thing about this team is that, you know, anybody on any given day can get the job done and win a game. When you have that, there is no pressure on anybody to want to do extra and do more than what they could. I've never felt that and I know I never would."

Alvarez is in a real comfort zone at bat right now and he's been comfortable being an Oriole, he said, from Day One.

"You know these guys have done an amazing job of, since Day One, making me feel welcome here. (That is) from teammates and staff, so with that part, I've been comfortable from Day One. In terms of on the field, again with every rep I get, I feel more and more comfortable, and I just hope to continue to do the same."

"He's just getting comfortable," manager Buck Showalter said of Alvarez. "The first time you've been with one organization your whole life and signed and what have you, there's a period you go through ... he's strong. He's not trying to hit home runs, too. He's just trying to put a good swing on the ball and be selective."

Orioles right-hander Yovani Gallardo got the starting pitching on the road trip off to a good start. He out-pitched former Oriole Miguel Gonzalez and gave up seven hits and two runs with a walk and three strikeouts. It was just his third quality start in 14 games.

"I was able to get ahead of hitters," Gallardo said. " Start, get ahead, fastball command. That's the thing we did early - establish the fastball and be aggressive in the zone. Everything else played off that. Overall, it felt good. A good team win."

On a night when they made four errors, a defensive play combined with shaky White Sox baserunning ended Chicago's three-run last of the eighth when they cut a 7-2 O's lead to 7-5. With runners on second and third and one out, first baseman Chris Davis fielded a grounder, got the out at first and threw to third where two ChiSox runners were converging. They got a key double play to stop the bleeding. Then Zach Britton recorded his 34th save in 34 chances to end it an inning later.

"We are a good defensive club and tonight we had some challenges," Showalter said. "It's a great example of Chris' moxie. There hasn't been a better defensive first baseman all year. Not many first baseman can make that play, especially on the run."

The Orioles have won four of five to get back to 16 games over .500. They are 23-29 on the road and 20-7 versus AL Central teams. They picked up a big win to start a long trip tonight in the series opener against Chicago.