Wilson Leads ChiSox Over O's

The Baltimore Orioles hit three homers that traveled 1,147 feet, then ended up losing on a bloop that barely got out of the infield.

Craig Wilson had three RBIs and Brook Fordyce drove in the tiebreaking run with an eighth-inning single off his fists as the Chicago White Sox beat the Orioles 4-3 Saturday in the opener of a day-night doubleheader.

It was the seventh win in nine games for the White Sox, who had at least one hit in every inning and 14 in all. Paul Konerko was the only Chicago starter without a hit.

With the score 3-3 in the eighth, Carlos Lee hit a one-out double off Al Reyes (0-1). After Wilson struck out, Fordyce hit a bloop that turned around Minor at third and ultimately landed at his feet as pinch-runner Brian Simmons came around to score.

"It was a play I definitely should have made. I thought it went farther than it did," said Minor, a rookie who has been playing in place of the injured Cal Ripken.

"As I turned around the bill of my cap blocked my view," he added. "It's a big play in the game, he hits a little pop and it drops in. That's not suppsed to happen."

The White Sox earlier turned a bunt and a strikeout into runs.

"It's a tough loss in the way their runs scored," Orioles manager Ray Miller said. "Ryan broke back to the ball, turned around and it fell at his feet. That's a tough play for a young kid."

White Sox manager Jerry Manuel gave credit to Fordyce for battling Reyes and making contact on a tough pitch to hit.

"He had a pretty good at bat. He fought him off as much as he could," Manuel said.

"It was a heck of a pitch, down and in. The hit just found a place," Fordyce said.

Bill Simas (5-2) pitched a perfect seventh for the White Sox and Bob Howry, the fifth Chicago pitcher, worked the ninth for his 21st save.

Anderson hit the second pitch from Chicago starter John Snyder over the center-field wall, his 16th homer of the season and first in 16 days. It was 34th time he opened a game with a home run, third on the career list.

Wilson tied it with an RBI double in the third, then put Chicago up 2-1 in the fourth. Chris Singleton reached first base when Linton threw a wild pitch on a strikeout, and one out later Wilson doubled into the right-field corner.

The same duo produced another run in the sixth. Singleton hit a leadoff double, took third on a grounder and scored on Wilson's opposite-field single to right.

"Willie's a good baseball player. He knows how to get big hits, knows how to go the other way," Manuel said. "He probably hasn't played as much as he'd like this season but when he's gotten the chance he's made the most of the opportunity."

Wilson, a third baseman, sympathized with Minor on the game's pivotal play.

"If you watch it again, the ball came off the bat funny," Wilson said. "It's not hard to overrun those I've been there."

Conine lead off the Orioles' half with his 11th homer and Minor connected one out later, his second home run in five at-bats after going his first 63 in the majors without one.

Baltimore starter Doug Linton, recalled from Triple-A Rochester on Friday, allowed three runs and 10 hits in six innings. He struck out four, but twice the batter reached base on a wild pitch.

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