The theme of tonight's game was bad pitching and sloppy defense. The Orioles scored 8 runs and still managed to leave 11 men on base. The White Sox scored 12 runs, 7 of which were scored by runners who reached base via walk or HBP. Each team made two errors in the field and of the 10 pitchers who were used in the game, only three didn't give up a run (Octavio Dotel and Tony Pena each pitched one scoreless inning for the White Sox, Kam Mickolio pitched 1.2 scoreless for the Orioles). Every other pitcher gave up at least two runs.
Jim Thome had a hell of a night, hitting two home runs, the first a 3 run HR and the second a grand slam. The funny/pathetic thing about the grand slam is that the three guys on based reached on two walks and a HBP. That's right, the Orioles walked two guys and hit another with a pitch to get to the man with over 550 career home runs. I didn't catch the distance on the Thome grand slam (hit off of Danys Baez), but it was basically a line drive to straight away center that only stopped when it hit a wall.
If you're looking for positives, there were plenty to be had in the offense. Nick Markakis and Adam Jones both homered, with Adam Jones' HR being a liner to the opposite field. Brian Roberts, Nick, Adam, Aubrey Huff, Nolan Reimold, and Melvin Mora all had multi-hit games, and even Cesar Izturis got in on the action with an RBI double. You might not believe it if you didn't see it, but one of Brian's hits was a bunt single. No lie! And Aubrey Huff hauled ass down the first base line for an infield hit in the 6th inning. Aubrey was obviously well rested from the break.
The O's and White Sox face off again tomorrow at 4:05 for the Fox game of the week. Thankfully Brad Bergesen will be on the mound so the national embarrassment should be kept to a minimum. Mark Buehrle goes for the White Sox.