BALTIMORE — After Baltimore’s Nelson Cruz hit a game-tying grand slam in the eighth inning, the Orioles picked up the 5-4 victory over the Chicago White Sox on a wild pitch by right-hander Daniel Webb in the 12th on Wednesday night.
Cruz is tied with Toronto first baseman Edwin Encarnacion for the major league lead with 24 home runs. He also earned the distinction of becoming the first player in the Orioles’ 60-year history to hit a grand slam and ground into two double plays in the same game.
Baltimore won two of three games in the series and pulled to within 1.5 games of the first-place Blue Jays, who lost to the Yankees, 5-3, earlier in the night. The White Sox have lost nine of their past 10 road games.
Chicago right-hander Hector Noesi allowed just two runs on nine hits with two strikeouts and no walks over seven innings. It was an impressive turnaround for Noesi, who allowed 13 runs on 21 hits over his past three starts.
White Sox rookie first baseman Jose Abreu got his 23rd homer, extending hitting streak to 10 games. Center fielder Adam Eaton went 3-for-4 and has reached base safely in 20 consecutive games for the White Sox (37-42).
Baltimore right-hander Ubaldo Jimenez remained winless in eight starts at Camden Yards this season with a 6.28 ERA. He allowed four runs on eight hits with six strikeouts and two walks over 6 1/3 innings.
Jimenez has not gotten much runs support as the Orioles have scored just five total runs when he has left the game over his past seven starts.
Right fielder Nick Markakis had three hits for the Orioles (41-36).
Stakes with an early 2-0 lead, Chicago scored twice more in the seventh when Jimenez walked right fielder Dayan Viciedo and allowed a double to left fielder Alejandro De Aza to open the inning. Catcher Tyler Flowers followed with a liner to left that scored both runners before he was eventually called out at second following a brief replay review.
After Hundley and Markakis singled to open the eighth, Noesi was replaced by right-hander Zach Putnam, who got the next two batters to pop out. Left-hander Scott Downs entered and walked Chris Davis to load the bases. Chicago right Javy Guerra then allowed the grand slam to Cruz, tying the game
After a scoreless ninth, the game was delayed one hour and nine minutes because of rain. After two scoreless innings, Webb (4-2) allowed a lead-off walk to catcher Nick Hundley and then a single to Markakis. He then bounced his first pitch to Steve Pearce that scored pinch runner David Lough.
Tommy Hunter (2-1) picked up the win for the Orioles, who improved to 18-18 at Camden Yards.
Jimenez, who leads the majors in walks with 51, cruised through the first three innings, holding the White Sox scoreless on 38 pitches with three hits and four strikeouts.
Abreu, however, managed to provide Chicago with a 1-0 lead in the fourth when he lined Jimenez’s first pitch over the left field fence for a home run.
After Jimenez allowed his first walk of the game to left fielder Alejandro De Aza to open the fifth, Eston made him pay two batters later with a triple to right that increased the margin to 2-0.
NOTES: Baltimore RHP Chris Tillman will start the second game of Friday’s doubleheader against Tampa Bay, Orioles manager Buck Showalter announced. … Orioles RHP Bud Norris continues to battle a groin injury. He threw a bullpen session before Wednesday’s game. However, there is no set time for when Norris will make his next start. … White Sox RHP Scott Carroll will make his first start Friday since May 19. He has pitched effectively out of the bullpen. … Chicago RHP Andre Rienzo was moved to the bullpen from the rotation after losing his past five starts.