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Orioles 5, White Sox 4 (12 innings): Changes coming after another collapse

Javy Guerra yields game-tying grand slam, Daniel Webb allows game-winning run on wild pitch, and Scott Downs appears to be on the way out

By Jim Margalus
Mitchell Layton

Hector Noesi took the mound in the eighth inning with a 4-0 lead and just 78 pitches to his name.

A game-tying grand slam and five innings (with a 69-minute rain delay) later, Daniel Webb allowed the winning run to score on a wild pitch.

Let's let a picture say a billion words.

White Sox fans might be advised to just watch the Sox for the first seven innings. That's when the fun stuff happens, like:

  • A starter throwing seven shutout innings, featuring unprecedented changeup command.
  • Alejandro De Aza taking a potential wall-skimming homer away from Nelson Cruz.
  • Jose Abreu hitting a homer.
  • Adam Eaton hitting an RBI triple, his fifth three-bagger of the month.
  • Tyler Flowers delivering a two-run single.

When the bullpen gets involved, that's when White Sox fans see stuff like:

  • Noesi allowing two singles to start the seventh.
  • Scott Downs walking the only batter he faced to load the bases after Zach Putnam went 2-for-2.
  • Javy Guerra allowing a game-tying grand slam to Cruz on a get-me-over fastball.
  • De Aza getting rung up on the worst strike call of the year, prompting the grimace above.
  • The Sox going 0-for-4 with runners in scoring position.
  • A potential rare third-base coach interference call that couldn't be reviewed.
  • Webb's wildness:

Really, the only positive developments over the last two hours were a potential confidence-builder for Jake Petricka, aided by a sweet play on the other side of the bag by Gordon Beckham. Otherwise, it was the kind of game that will result in a job loss or two, and it looks like the first casualty is waiting to be confirmed:

Forget it, Scott. It's Birdland.

Record: 36-43 | Box score | Play-by-play | Highlights

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