Burres throws 8 shutout innings as White Sox beat Orioles 5-1 in doubleheader opener
By RICK GANO | Associated Press | Apr 26, 08 3:08 PM CDT in
Sports
Brian Burres allowed three singles in eight shutout innings and Guillermo Quiroz hit his first major league homer Saturday as the Baltimore Orioles beat the Chicago White Sox 5-1 in the first game of a split doubleheader.
The game was a makeup from Friday night's rainout.
Burres (3-1) had faced one batter in the bottom of the first Friday before rains halted play and the game was eventually called.
But the lefty was plenty sharp coming back Saturday, giving up singles to Jim Thome in the first, Carlos Quentin in the second and Toby Hall in the sixth.
Winning a pitcher's duel against Chicago southpaw John Danks, Burres retired 20 of the final 21 batters he faced. He walked none and struck out four in his 98-pitch performance. The eight innings marked the longest outing of his career.
Reliever Matt Albers started the ninth, but the White Sox loaded the bases on two singles and a walk. George Sherrill then hit Quentin with a pitch to force in a run before retiring Joe Crede on a fly to right to earn his ninth save in nine chances.
Danks (2-2) pitched perfect ball for the first five innings before Adam Jones singled to left leading off the sixth. Quiroz followed with a homer to left, snapping Danks' scoreless streak at 19 2-3 innings and putting the Orioles ahead 2-0.
Danks lasted 6 1-3 innings, giving up four hits and the two runs.
The Orioles added three runs in the top of the ninth off Octavio Dotel, the big hit a two-out RBI double by Brian Roberts off the glove of Chicago center fielder Alexei Ramirez.
Chicago lefty Mark Buehrle, who threw six pitches in the first inning Friday night, was not supposed to start again until Monday. But he convinced manager Ozzie Guillen he could go Saturday and will start the second game of the split doubleheader.
"I told them I feel fine so let me out there," Buehrle said.
Guillen, after consulting the team's medical staff, trainer, pitching coach Don Cooper and GM Ken Williams, decided to let Buehrle pitch. Reliever Nick Masset was supposed to start the second game.
Notes:@ Burres' previous longest outing was 7 2-3 innings against the Angels last season. ... In his previous start against the White Sox last July 5 at U.S. Cellular Field, Burres gave up six hits and seven earned runs in 1 1-3 innings. ... The Orioles have already had three rainouts this season.
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