Orioles 4, White Sox 2: Two Brians, a Matt, and a Felix

Brian Matusz pitched his second consecutive strong game and Matt Wieters, Felix Pie, and Brian Roberts provided the offense as the Orioles defeated Mark Buehrle for the second time this season and even the series with the White Sox.

Buehrle kept the Orioles off the board through the first four innings allowing just two hits (a single by Markakis in the first and a single by Pie in the second). In the fifth, Pie led off the inning with a walk, his first since 29 July in Kansas City. In a shocking turn of events Matt Wieters didn't ground into a double play, instead doubling to left field. Pie scored from first as the ball rattled around in the corner and gave the Orioles a 1-0 lead. Three batters later and Wieters was on third base for Corey Patterson who singled him in.

The O's added single runs in the 6th and 7th innings. Ty Wigginton got things started with a walk and though Luke Scott grounded out, another hit by Felix Pie moved Wiggy to third with just one out. Again Wieters came to the plate and again he came through, this time with a long fly ball to center field. Wiggy scored and Pie tagged up and moved to second where he'd be stranded by Cesar Izturis. The O's fourth and final run came on a Brian Roberts solo HR the next inning.

Matusz was simply fantastic tonight, pitching seven innings and allowing just one run on three hits. That one run came in the sixth on a solo home run by Gordon Beckham (has that kid been eating his Wheaties or what?). The only other two hits Matusz allowed came in the second, singles by Paul Konerko and A.J. Pierzynski. Matusz looked to be in some trouble with runners on the corners and one out, but Josh Bell turned a nifty double play on a ground ball by Andruw Jones to end the inning.

Other than that it was smooth sailing for Matusz. He struck out five and he retired the side in order in the first (thanks to a great catch by Nick Markakis), third, fifth, and seventh innings, with just a two out walk to Konerko in the fourth. Mike Gonzalez relieved Matusz and pitched a scoreless 8th and Koji Uehara earned his second career save despite Corey Patterson's best efforts in left field to blow it. After retiring the first two batters, Konerko lined a ball to the left field corner that Patterson couldn't get to, but he did make a good throw to hold Konerko to a single. Carlos Quentin followed with another fly ball to Patterson. It was hit deep but he really should have been able to catch it. It hit off his glove and Corey hit off the wall and collapsed in a heap allowing Konerko to score and Quentin to get to third.

That cut the lead to two and Koji said enough is enough. No more letting people hit fly balls to Corey Patterson! And so he struck out A.J. Pierzynski to end the game.