Orioles get best of Jenks, rally to stun White Sox

Orioles 7, White Sox 6

CHICAGO (AP) -- The fans at U.S. Cellular Field starting cheering for Mark Buehrle as he warmed up, telling him they wanted him to stay on the South Side of Chicago.

And when he left with a comfortable lead Monday night, it looked like the White Sox's left-hander would have a win -- with or without a contract extension.

But the Baltimore Orioles wrote a different ending, scoring five times in the final two innings and beating the White Sox 7-6 on Monday night. It was the first time in 39 games this season the Orioles trailed after eight innings and won.

"We did a great job of putting together some great at-bats," said Kevin Millar, who singled in the go-ahead run in the ninth off White Sox All-Star closer Bobby Jenks.

"I think this is the biggest comeback for this club this year," Orioles interim manager Dave Trembley said. "It's probably one of the better wins I've ever been involved in. It's great for our team."

With Baltimore trailing 6-5, Corey Patterson led off the ninth with his fourth straight hit, a double. Patterson scored the tying run on Brian Roberts' RBI single off Jenks (2-4), who blew his third save in 25 chances.

After a sacrifice, an intentional walk to Nick Markakis and a double steal, Millar delivered the single to left to give the Orioles a 7-6 lead.

Rob Bell (1-1) pitched the eighth for the win. Chris Ray struck out the side for his 14th save in 18 tries, and first since June 8.

"Trembley called us over in the dugout before the [ninth] inning started and he said, 'Guys, we're going to play to win. Corey, you're going to get on base. We're going to steal bases and we're not going to bunt,'" Millar said. "He's got the confidence in us."

Trailing 6-2, the Orioles got three unearned runs in the eighth.

Buehrle gave up a double to Chris Gomez and one out later, White Sox third baseman Josh Fields fumbled Millar's grounder for an error. Buehrle got Aubrey Huff to fly out for the second out but Ramon Hernandez greeted reliever Ryan Bukvich with an RBI double and then Jay Payton hit a two-run triple.

Buehrle gave up nine hits and four runs -- two earned -- on a night when his future with the club remained unsettled. Juan Uribe, Jim Thome and Fields hit two-run homers off Erik Bedard as the White Sox built their 6-2 lead.

Negotiations between the team and Buehrle's agent on a contract extension slowed over the weekend, the impasse created by the team's refusal to give a full no-trade clause. Chicago general manager Ken Williams said before the game he was hopeful an agreement could still be reached.

Buehrle can be a free agent after the season, and his name has been linked to many trade scenarios. That meant Monday night's outing could conceivably have been the popular and consistent left-hander's final one for the White Sox.

But Buehrle agrees that a deal can be reached. "I think both sides are being stubborn," he said.

"I feel 100 percent I'll make my start on Saturday. I don't feel that is the last one. ... "I think something can still get done. I was traded to Boston and I'm passing up on some deal and going to Atlanta. I've heard so much stuff. Until I get that tap on my shoulder and say you've been traded or we're going to sign you to the extension that's all kind of rumors."

Buehrle got an ovation as he came in from the bullpen before the game and a much louder one as he was introduced and went to the mound. Hanging from a mezzanine box was a large sign: "Extend Buehrle." And in the sixth inning, the crowd began to chant "Re-Sign Buehrle."

And when he exited with two outs in the eighth, he was greeted by roaring ovation and waved his hat to acknowledge it before heading into the dugout.

"I didn't know I was liked that much here," Buehrle said.

Uribe broke a 2-2 tie in the fifth with his seventh homer of the season after a walk to Luis Terrero. Fields lined a homer to right in the sixth. Thome homered in the first.

Bedard yielded five hits and six runs in 5 2/3 innings.

The Orioles used a pair of two-out hits to tie the game at 2 in the third. Patterson doubled to lead off and after Roberts and Gomez were retired, Markakis doubled past third to make it 2-1 and then scored on Millar's RBI single.

Game notes
Jermaine Dye returned to the White Sox's lineup after missing nine game with a sore quad. ... Orioles third baseman Melvin Mora was out of the lineup with a bruised left foot a day after he collided with Angels catcher Mike Napoli at home plate.