CHICAGO - I'm heading to the airport shortly for my flight back to Baltimore, where it better be warmer. But first, here are some quotes from Jim Johnson, Pedro Strop and Adam Jones. Johnson: On the late drama: "You said it. I wasn't trying to make it as dramatic as it was, but it's good to get three out of four here. We want to keep it going." On getting his sixth save: "It's just the way the game's being played. We're battling. We're had a lot of close games this whole road trip....

CHICAGO - Orioles manager Buck Showalter thought starter Jason Hammel had "good stuff" today in the Orioles' 5-3 victory at U.S. Cellular Field. It wasn't always easy for Hammel, but he made it through the sixth and held the White Sox to two runs while also tying his career high with 10 strikeouts. Gary Thorne catches up with Buck Showalter following the Birds' 5-3 win over the White Sox "We elongated an inning behind him today with the wild pitch, couple other things that got his...

In his pregame session with reporters, Davey Johnson was asked what he thinks of Steve Lombardozzi's defensive play at shortstop. "He's adequate. I've had a lot worse out there," Johnson said. Quite a ringing endorsement for the guy who will be Johnson's starting shortstop tonight. Ian Desmond gets a breather tonight, as Lombardozzi will hit leadoff and play short. The last time Lombardozzi started a game, he went 4-for-5 with two RBIs in Monday's win over the Astros. While Desmond...

It got shaky there in the last of the ninth but the Orioles won another close one today, beating Chicago 5-3 to improve to 8-5 on the season. The White Sox loaded the bases against Jim Johnson in the last of the ninth, but he fanned Alex Rios to end the game and strand the bases loaded. Johnson is now six for six in saves this year and has recorded 14 consecutive saves dating to last August. Last year the Orioles won just five road series all season. After this win today, they are now 2-0 in...

CHICAGO - Pedro Strop allowed a run in the bottom of the eighth on a leadoff walk to Paul Konerko, Alex Rios' double and Alexei Ramirez's ground ball. Strop struck out Dayan Viciedo and Tyler Flowers, and the Orioles are taking a 5-3 lead into the ninth. Strop's fastball reached 99 mph. Jim Johnson is getting ready in the bullpen. He's converted 13 straight save opportunities. And no, I'm not trying to jinx him. Nick Johnson drove in his first run today with a grounder, but he's...

Ian Desmond has gotten off to a nice start this season, hitting .300 with a homer, four RBIs and a .333 on-base percentage. Tonight, the Nationals' starting shortstop will get his first day off of the 2012 campaign. Steve Lombardozzi will play shortstop and hit leadoff for Davey Johnson's Nats tonight as they look for the sweep against Bud Norris and the Astros. If they can pick up another win tonight, the Nats would earn their first four-game home sweep since arriving in D.C. in 2005....

CHICAGO - The Orioles have released pitcher Wynn Pelzer, who appeared in three games at Double-A Bowie this season. Pelzer was 0-2 with a 9.00 ERA in three innings. He allowed three runs and four hits, walked two and struck out four. He went 5-7 with a 4.14 ERA in 29 appearances with the Baysox in 2011. The Orioles acquired Pelzer from the San Diego Padres on July 29, 2010 for Miguel Tejada. Pelzer just tweeted the following: "Want to take the time to thank the entire #Orioles organization...

When Gilman and Mt. St. Joseph meet Saturday at Camden Yards in the finals of the President's Cup high school tournament, the opportunity to play on the same field used by the Orioles will be only one of the highlights for two prep teams. Former Orioles player and manager Frank Robinson, a member of the National Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, N.Y., will throw out the ceremonial first pitch before Saturday's 1 p.m. game. The Greyhounds and Gaels are the survivors in a 16-team,...

The Orioles will host Gilman and Mount St. Joseph in the President's Cup Championship Game at Oriole Park at Camden Yards this Saturday, April 21. The President's Cup is a 16-team, single-elimination tournament that gives public and private schools in Baltimore City an opportunity to compete against one another. The game is scheduled to begin at 1 p.m., with gates opening at noon. Pregame ceremonies will begin at 12:30 p.m., highlighted by a ceremonial first pitch by former Orioles...

I don't expect everyone to share this opinion, but I think Nick Johnson did a good job in the top of the first inning today, even though he made another out. Johnson is now 0-for-17 on the year and that is the most at-bats by anyone so far this year without a hit in the majors. He came up today with a run in, after an Adam Jones RBI double, and runners at second and third with one out. He was down 0-1 on the count when he hit a groundout to second base to score a run and give the Orioles a...