Splitting headache: Sweep eludes O's

They miss chance in nightcap; Burres shines in Game 1

By Jeff Zrebiec | Sun Reporter

April 27, 2008

Orioles shortstop Luis Hernandez tags out White Sox center fielder Alexei Ramirez trying to steal second during the second inning. (AP photo / April 24, 2008)

CHICAGO - The Orioles had the bases loaded and one out in the top of the ninth inning last night and were one run away from bringing on closer George Sherrill and ending a long day at U.S. Cellular Field with a satisfying doubleheader sweep of the Chicago White Sox.

Instead, in the bottom half of the inning, they had to watch the White Sox celebrate with Brian Anderson's bases-loaded, two-out single off Randor Bierd breaking a tie and giving Chicago a 6-5 victory in front of an announced 34,757. Brian Burres threw a career-high eight shutout innings and faced just two batters over the minimum in the Orioles' 5-1 victory in Game 1.

Bierd, a Rule 5 selection who hadn't pitched above Double-A before this season and hadn't given up a run in 12 2/3 innings entering the game, relieved Jamie Walker with one out in the ninth after the left-hander struck out Jim Thome. Bierd walked Paul Konerko and surrendered a single to A.J. Pierzynski.

After he got the second out, he walked Joe Crede to load the bases and then couldn't finish off Anderson, who was behind 0-2. Anderson singled to left field to score pinch runner Alexei Ramirez and secure his first RBI since September.

"It's a good learning experience for him," Orioles manager Dave Trembley said. "I'm not going to say what I didn't see or what I did see. It's for other people to second-guess or whatever. But the kid has done a great job. If he gets the guy out, no one says anything. They don't question what pitches he threw or what he did. I thought he pitched the same way he pitched all year."

In the top of the ninth, the Orioles, who trailed 5-2 after five innings but rallied to tie the game with a two-run seventh, loaded the bases against All-Star closer Bobby Jenks. But third baseman Crede fielded Kevin Millar's slow roller and threw out Luis Hernandez at home, and Jenks retired Aubrey Huff on a come-backer to end the inning.

"It's just disappointing that I couldn't get that run in," said Millar, who hit a solo homer in the sixth inning off Chicago starter Mark Buehrle. "I take full credit with that. It was a bad at-bat in that situation. He made a good pitch. It was down and away, but you have to remember in that situation, the pressure is on him. I let him off the hook by swinging at an 0-0 pitch that wasn't my pitch. I couldn't do anything with that pitch."

Steve Trachsel allowed five runs (four earned) in the nightcap, walking five and giving up five hits, including a two-run homer to Nick Swisher that prompted the pitcher's exit after three-plus inning. It was the second time in three starts Trachsel couldn't make it through four innings.

It was not exactly a fitting follow-up to the performance of Burres, who improved to 3-1 with a 2.49 ERA. He has pitched 13 2/3 consecutive scoreless innings.

"He had a great feel for all of his pitches, kept the ball down [and] changed speeds," Trembley said of Burres, who retired 20 of the last 21 hitters he faced. "He pitched in and out and had a real good tempo. And we really needed it, because we were matching up [against] a guy who had [19 2/3 ] scoreless innings."

The game was scheduled for Friday but was postponed because of rain after a half inning was played. Burres got one out when the umpiring crew called for the tarp.

"That kind of thing happened to me a couple times in the minor leagues and it never really bothered me, so I knew when [Trembley] asked me yesterday if I would be good, I would be," Burres said.

White Sox starter John Danks, who entered the game with a streak of 14 2/3 scoreless innings, retired the first 15 Orioles he faced. Adam Jones broke up the perfect-game bid with a single in the sixth and Guillermo Quiroz hammered Danks' 2-2 changeup over the left-field wall for a two-run homer. It was the first of Quiroz's career.

"It's amazing," Quiroz said. "And it came in a really, really good situation in the game. Both pitchers threw the ball really, really well. I can't ask for anything more than that."

jeff.zrebiec@baltsun.com