Edwin Jackson tosses second consecutive 10-strikeout game
Edwin Jackson had another strong showing for the Chicago White Sox on Thursday helping them defeat the Orioles 8-0. With the win, the White Sox continue to chase the Minnesota Twins trailing them by 3.5 games in the American League Central division.
Jackson pitched eight shutout innings, striking out 10 and allowing just three hits and two walks. Acquired from the Arizona Diamondbacks at the trade deadline, Jackson has now pitched back-to-back 10-strikeout games and is now 2-0 in four starts in a White Sox uniform with an earned run average of only 0.96. In 21 start for Arizona this season Jackson had just one 10-strikeout game.
"It was just one of those games where you put the pressure on the offense on the other side," Jackson said. "Just come out and control the game and not let the game control you."
Jackson did not allow a hit until the fourth inning and was so impressive that he didn't allow more than one baserunner in any of his eight innings.
"The biggest thing is he was just locating his fastball," Orioles outfielder Corey Patterson said of Jackson. "When you do that, all your other pitches work pretty effectively."
Alex Rios also had a strong game for the White Sox with a two-run homer, three RBIs and going 3-for-4 at the plate. Paul Konerko and Carlos Quentin also chipped in with each getting two hits an RBI and a run scored.
Jake Arrieta took the loss for the Orioles dropping his record to 4-6 after allowing four runs and seven hits in four innings of work.
The White Sox were able to strike early in the game scoring two runs in the first inning. After walks to Omar Vizquel and Alex Rios, Quentin hit a two-out single to start the scoring bringing in Vizquel.
In the third, Rios singled and stole second and later scored on a Konerko single. Alex Ramirez then drove in Konerko with two outs to build a 3-0 lead.
Rios also figured in on the scoring in the fourth by bringing in Juan Pierre to make it 4-0, after Pierre had reached on a bunt single, went to second on an error and stole third. It was Pierre’s league-leading 50th stolen base of the season. The White Sox eventually built up a 6-0 lead after the fifth.
Rios then closed out the scoring in the eighth inning with a two-run homer to make the final 8-0.
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