Orioles 3, White Sox 1
Miguel Gonzalez allowed one run over seven strong innings as host Baltimore won the opener of the four-game series.
Adam Jones, J.J. Hardy and Brian Roberts all belted solo home runs as the Orioles sent Chicago to its seventh straight defeat and pulled within three games of Tampa Bay for the second wild card in the American League.
Gonzalez (9-7) struck out six while yielding four hits to match his victory total from last year and win for the first time since July 20. Tommy Hunter worked a scoreless eighth and closer Jim Johnson struck out two in the ninth for his AL-leading 42nd save.
Jones slammed his 30th homer in the first inning for a 1-0 lead before Gonzalez worked out of a bases-loaded, no-out jam in the third, allowing only one run on a double-play grounder by Alejandro De Aza.
Hardy led off the fifth by launching his 25th homer off Jose Quintana (7-6) and Roberts added a solo shot two outs later. Quintana went seven innings, allowing three runs on seven hits.
GAME NOTEBOOK: Jones not only reached 30 homers for the second straight season but also registered his first 100-RBI season with his first-inning blast. Jones and Chris Davis are the first Baltimore teammates with 30 homers and 100 RBIs since 1996. ... White Sox LF Dayan Viciedo went 2-for-3 and has hit safely in 10 of 11 games. ... Orioles RHP Jason Hammel, who started on Opening Day but has been sidelined since July 31 with a right forearm strain, was activated from the 15-day disabled list Thursday. He initially is expected to pitch in relief.