Thome's Power Surge Jolts Loewen, Orioles

Slugger's 3-Run HR in First Is Difference: White Sox 3, Orioles 1

BALTIMORE, April 16 -- One night after the bullpen was forced to work 6 2/3 innings, Baltimore Orioles Manager Dave Trembley needed starting pitcher Adam Loewen to deliver a quality start. He did, escaping some tough spots to allow three runs in six innings.

But the left-hander's longest outing of the season served as little more than a consolation prize as the Orioles' offense again failed to capitalize on its chances in a 3-1 loss to the Chicago White Sox before 12,080 at Oriole Park at Camden Yards.

Despite mechanical adjustments he made during two bullpen sessions this week, Loewen continued to have trouble controlling his fastball.

"I really didn't feel comfortable with my fastball today, and sometimes that can be a scary thing," he said. "That's what everything comes off of. By the fifth inning, I just didn't throw it much anymore, and I had to pitch with everything else I had."

While Loewen showed improvement as the night progressed -- he survived by hitting his spots with a sharp curveball -- he finished with five walks and a wild pitch while falling behind White Sox hitters in 11 three-ball counts. He also allowed six hits.

"My point is he didn't give in," Trembley said. "My point is he found a way to pitch out of it. When he left, there were only three runs on the board. But obviously, when you walk five guys, it's not the command that you want."

Loewen didn't escape his self-inflicted trouble in the first inning. He yielded a leadoff single to Nick Swisher before walking Orlando Cabrera. Those mistakes set the table for White Sox designated hitter Jim Thome, who jumped on Loewen's belt-high fastball and sent it over the right-center field fence.

Thome's 400-foot shot gave the White Sox all the offense they needed.

"That's the big difference this year," said Loewen, back after missing most of last season recovering from elbow surgery. "I've given up four home runs, and that's going to cost me later down the road. I have to work on eliminating that and get back to what makes me successful."

Things could have been worse if not for the Orioles' defense. Right fielder Nick Markakis unleashed a throw to retire the slow-footed Thome as he tried to advance to third base on Paul Konerko's single in the third inning. In the fifth, left fielder Luke Scott retired the White Sox with a perfect throw from the outfield to nail Cabrera trying to score from second.

The plays helped keep Loewen in the game until he threw a season-high 109 pitches.

By contrast, White Sox starter José Contreras cruised through seven innings behind an array of forkballs and sliders that he threw from various arm angles.

Contreras entered the game with a 6.17 ERA, and opponents had hit .340 against him. Still, the Orioles' offense again failed to generate hits with runners in scoring position.

Baltimore's best chance for a big inning came in the fourth after Orioles designated hitter Aubrey Huff scored Markakis with an infield single. But with runners on first and third and one out, Contreras won an extended battle and got Scott on strikes. Adam Jones then grounded out to third base after swinging at Contreras's first pitch. For Contreras, the two critical outs began a streak of 11 Orioles retired in a row.

"Sometimes with him, you can get a high pitch count and you try to get him right there and work him," Orioles first baseman Kevin Millar said. "But he worked ahead of the count all night so you tip your cap to him because we could never get after him."