July 01, 2001|By Joe Strauss | Joe Strauss,SUN STAFF
Consecutive one-out hits by Jay Gibbons and Fordyce created a second-inning threat, but Baldwin escaped by getting Larry Bigbie and Jerry Hairston on fly balls. Fordyce created another threat in the fourth inning with a two-out double - giving him his first multi-hit game since June 1 - but Bigbie again flied out to end the inning. Even with Baldwin working a shutout, White Sox manager Jerry Manuel had seen enough after five innings.
"Tonight, he wasn't real efficient throwing 110 pitches in five innings of work," understated Manuel. "He wanted to go back out there. He likes to perform. But I know how he can get after throwing that many pitches."
The Orioles' best chance came in the fifth inning after they loaded the bases with one out. Batista popped to short. Center fielder Melvin Mora followed with a memorable at-bat in which he battled Baldwin before lining a ball toward the right-field corner. But instead of a game-changing double, he was robbed by Magglio Ordonez.
"What can I do? I thought it was on the line, but he was right there," said Mora. "If it drops, we're playing right now. But they did the little things. That's why they won."
Mora also shared Roberts' aggravation over plate umpire Chris Guccione's strike zone.
"The whole thing is you don't know where [Baldwin] is going to throw the ball. Sometimes he comes down the middle and you have to attack that ball, especially when you have somebody behind home plate who is not consistent."
Orioles today
Opponent: Chicago White Sox
Site: Comiskey Park, Chicago
Time: 2:05 p.m.
TV/Radio: Ch. 54/WBAL (1090 AM)
Starters: Orioles' Jason Johnson (6-5, 3.56) vs. White Sox's Rocky Biddle (1-4, 4.44)
