Stevie Wilkerson hit his first major league homer, John Means pitched five effective innings on his birthday and the Baltimore Orioles beat the Chicago White Sox 4-3 Wednesday night to secure their second winning streak of the season.
Baltimore won two of three to capture its first series since April 1-3 in Toronto. The two straight victories are the Orioles' most since a four-game run that began at Yankee Stadium on March 30.
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Stevie Wilkerson hit his first major league homer, John Means pitched five effective innings on his birthday and the Baltimore Orioles beat the Chicago White Sox 4-3 Wednesday night to secure their second winning streak of the season.
Making his third major league start, Means (3-2) marked his 26th birthday with a career-high six strikeouts. The lefty allowed one run and four hits.
Still trying to regain the form that enabled him to win 16 games for Minnesota in 2017, Santana gave up four runs in 4 2/3 innings. The 36-year-old has a 9.45 ERA in three starts with Chicago after going winless last year during an injury-riddled season with the Twins.
WRIGHT MOVE
"We were pulling for him to have success here, and now he's getting an opportunity with another big league club," manager Brandon Hyde said. "Happy for him. Seattle is getting a really good person."
Wilkerson's second-chance solo shot off Ervin Santana (0-2) put the Orioles up 4-1 in the fourth. Earlier in the at-bat, Wilkerson walked to first base after apparently being hit by a pitch, but a replay proved otherwise. Three pitches later, he capped his 53rd big league at-bat by sending a hanging slider into the center-field bleachers.
Chicago White Sox pitcher Ervin Santana throws against the Baltimore Orioles in the first inning of a baseball game, Wednesday, April 24, 2019, in Baltimore. (AP PhotoGail Burton)
Making his third major league start, Means (3-2) marked his 26th birthday with a career-high six strikeouts. The lefty allowed one run and four hits.
Mychal Givens worked the final two innings for his first save. After allowing an RBI double to José Abreu in the ninth, Givens threw a wild pitch. The right-hander then got Yoan Moncada to hit a two-out grounder to shortstop Richie Martin, who made a nice grab moving to his left before throwing to first.
Martin had entered as a defensive replacement in the top of the inning.
Baltimore Orioles' Dwight Smith Jr. follows through on a double against the Chicago White Sox in the first inning of a baseball game, Wednesday, April 24, 2019, in Baltimore. (AP PhotoGail Burton)
Still trying to regain the form that enabled him to win 16 games for Minnesota in 2017, Santana gave up four runs in 4 2/3 innings. The 36-year-old has a 9.45 ERA in three starts with Chicago after going winless last year during an injury-riddled season with the Twins.
The Orioles went up 2-0 in the first when Dwight Smith Jr. and Renato Núñez hit successive two-out doubles and Rio Ruiz delivered an RBI single.
Down 4-1, the White Sox got a run in the sixth and threatened for more. After Baltimore reliever Evan Phillips hit Ryan Cordell with a pitch to force in a run, Jose Rondon struck out and Paul Fry came in to retire pinch-hitter Nicky Delmonico on a grounder.
Baltimore Orioles' Renato Nunez follows through on an RBI-double against the Chicago White Sox in the first inning of a baseball game, Wednesday, April 24, 2019, in Baltimore. (AP PhotoGail Burton)
WRIGHT MOVE
The Orioles obtained minor league infielder Ryne Ogren from Seattle for right-hander Mike Wright, who was designated for assignment by Baltimore on Sunday.
Wright was 0-1 with a 9.45 ERA this year and 10-12 lifetime over five seasons.
Baltimore Orioles pitcher John Means throws against the Chicago White Sox in the first inning of a baseball game, Wednesday, April 24, 2019, in Baltimore. (AP PhotoGail Burton)
"We were pulling for him to have success here, and now he's getting an opportunity with another big league club," manager Brandon Hyde said. "Happy for him. Seattle is getting a really good person."
Ogren, 22, was drafted in the 12th round by the Mariners in 2018. The Orioles assigned him to Class A Delmarva.
TRAINER'S ROOM
Chicago White Sox center fielder Adam Engel leaps but is unable to catch a fly ball hit by Baltimore Orioles' Dwight Smith Jr. in the first inning of a baseball game, Wednesday, April 24, 2019, in Baltimore. Smith Jr. earned a double on the play. (AP PhotoGail Burton)
White Sox: Starter Lucas Giolito (hamstring) will throw from the mound on Friday. Manager Rick Renteria was encouraged by the right-hander's progress, saying, "As long as he's doing well and we're comfortable, he'll be back sometime soon." ... John Jay (groin) took batting practice and was throwing on Wednesday, but there is no timetable for his return.
Orioles: RHP Nate Karns (forearm tightness) will make a rehab appearance Thursday with Class AA Bowie.
UP NEXT
White Sox: After taking Thursday off, Chicago starts Carlos Rodón (3-2, 2.89 ERA) in the opener of a three-game series against the visiting Detroit Tigers.
Orioles: Following an off day Thursday, Baltimore begins a three-game series in Minnesota on Friday night. The Orioles haven't defeated the Twins since the 2018 season opener.
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