Orioles gain series split, clip Sox's string of leads

By wire services
Published May 16, 2005

CHICAGO - The White Sox did not lead for the first time this season, thanks to two very unlikely sluggers.

Sal Fasano and David Newhan hit their first home runs of the season, and each drove in two runs in the Orioles' 6-2 victory Sunday.

Chicago set a major-league record by having a lead in 37 straight games to begin a season. That also tied the 1934 Yankees and 1942 Cardinals for the third-longest overall streak with a lead.

"The only streak I care about is the winning streak and the losing streak," White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen said. "It was nice to be in the book and it was a nice run. Hopefully, we'll start another."

The Orioles used seven strong innings from Erik Bedard and two RBIs apiece from Fasano and Newhan to build a 4-0 lead on their way to a split of the four-game series between division leaders.

"It's a hell of a thing," Jermaine Dye said of the streak. "But that's not something as players in the clubhouse that we think about. We just want to win series."

Fasano, a suburban Chicago native, led off the third with a homer in his first major-league at-bat since September 2002, when he was with the Angels. It was his first home run since Sept. 6, 2001, when he was with the Rockies.

"My immediate family came," Fasano said. "Hitting a home run is always a bonus. A win and a home run, so it's a good day."

The well-traveled 33-year-old catcher, who was called up from Triple-A Ottawa on Wednesday, added a run-scoring single in the seventh, going 2-for-4.

"He can still contribute," Orioles manager Lee Mazzilli said. "That's the key."

Newhan came into the game hitting .156 (5-for-32) with one RBI. He homered leading off the sixth and added a sacrifice fly in the seventh.

"Like the fans out in leftfield tell me, even a blind squirrel finds a nut now and again," Newhan said. "He made a bad pitch, left a splitter up there and I was able to hit it on the barrel."

The White Sox were hitless from the second inning until the seventh, when Carl Everett and Dye hit back-to-back homers.

Tadahito Iguchi hit into double plays in the first and third innings. Chicago had four baserunners from the second through sixth.

Bedard won his fourth straight decision, giving up five hits, including the two homers, in seven-plus innings. He was pulled in the eighth after giving up a leadoff single to Scott Podsednik.

"Bedard was strong today and tremendous," Mazzilli said. "He was throwing strikes and getting his curveball over."

MARINERS 5, RED SOX 4: Struggling Miguel Olivo had three hits, including his first homer of the season, and host Seattle overcame Manny Ramirez's 400th home run.

Ramirez became the 39th player in major-league history to reach 400 when his three-run shot, an estimated 404 feet into the seats in right-centerfield, with two outs in the fifth brought Boston within a run.

But he flied out with the tying run on second to end the game as the Red Sox lost a series for the first time this month. Seattle won a series for the first time since taking two of three April 26-28 at Texas.

Ramirez is the 13th player to reach 400 before his 33rd birthday and just the fourth since Harmon Killebrew in 1969. He is the fifth fastest to 400 in number of at-bats, behind Mark McGwire, Babe Ruth, Killebrew and Jim Thome.

TWINS 5, RANGERS 2: Shannon Stewart snapped a tie with a three-run homer in the sixth, helping Brad Radke to his fourth win. Stewart drove in four runs for the host Twins, who avoided their first three-game sweep of the season.

ANGELS 9, TIGERS 3: Bengie Molina's three-run double capped a six-run third inning and John Lackey won for the third time in four starts for visiting L.A.

BLUE JAYS 5, INDIANS 2: Roy Halladay pitched 72/3 superb innings and Vernon Wells hit a three-run homer as visiting Toronto avoided a series sweep.

[Last modified May 16, 2005, 01:22:06]