Headlines of April 30 2015 “O's, White Sox experience a game like no other” … Paul Hagen, MLB.com “White Sox go quietly after Samardzija's rough start” … Brittany Ghiroli and Todd Karpovich, MLB.com “White Sox find unique scene in Baltimore” … Todd Karpovich, MLB.com “Abreu looks to add All-Star starter to growing resume” … Scott Merkin, MLB.com “White Sox, Twins open four-game set at Target Field” … Todd Karpovich, MLB.com “Jeff Samardzija, White Sox say unique game atmosphere no excuse for loss” … Colleen Kane, Chicago Tribune “White Sox lose to Orioles 8-2 in 'strangeness' of empty ballpark” … Colleen Kane, Chicago Tribune “Up next: White Sox at Twins” … Chicago Tribune “Wednesday's recap: Orioles 8, White Sox 2” … Colleen Kane, Chicago Tribune “Empty ballparks, Tom Ricketts in Fargo and Masahiro Tanaka watch” … Paul Sullivan, Chicago Tribune “White Sox check out early on historic, 'weird' day” … Daryl Van Schouwen, Sun Times “At empty stadium, Orioles get to Samardzija early, roll to 8-2 victory over White Sox” … Daryl Van Schouwen, Sun Times “White Sox, O's prepare for sounds (and cheers) of silence” … Daryl Van Schouwen, Sun Times “White Sox's play not worthy of an audience” … Doug Padilla, ESPNChicago.com “Orioles defeat White Sox at Camden Yards with no fans in attendance” … Associated Press, ESPN.com “Rapid Reaction: Orioles 8, White Sox 2” … Doug Padilla, ESPNChicago.com “White Sox hope Wednesday's surreal atmosphere was one-time event” … Dan Hayes, CSN “Orioles rout White Sox in historic game” … Dan Hayes, CSN “White Sox, Orioles have mixed emotions about making MLB history” … Dan Hayes, CSN “'Strange' setting awaits as White Sox, Orioles play in empty park” … Dan Hayes, CSN “Orioles start fast in empty park, emerge from surreal day with 8-2 win over White Sox” … Dan Connolly, The Baltimore Sun “Preview: Twins vs. White Sox” … AP, Fox Sports “White Sox hope for some normalcy in opener with Twins” … Sports Network, Fox News “Orioles win at empty Camden Yards, and hope 'this was something good'” … Paul White, USA Today Sports

O's, White Sox experience a game like no other Players react to first contest in big league history without fans By Paul Hagen / MLB.com | April 29, 2015 BALTIMORE -- Orioles starter Ubaldo Jimenez struck out White Sox leadoff hitter Adam Eaton in the first inning and the home crowd cheered in approval.

Except that the crowd in this case was maybe a hundred people gathered outside Oriole Park at Camden Yards, peering in from afar through the iron-grilled gate on Camden Street behind left-center field.

This was a day like no other in baseball history. Civil unrest in the wake of the passing of Freddie Gray, an African-American man who died while in police custody, touched the park on Saturday night, and it caused the postponement of Monday and Tuesday night's scheduled games against the White Sox. The series finale was moved up to Wednesday afternoon, and in an unprecedented move to allow police resources to be deployed where they were needed most, fans weren't allowed to attend.

Orioles broadcaster Jim Hunter opened the telecast, saying, "This is in no way a normal day in the ballpark. The lifeblood of Major League Baseball, its fans, will be missing."

As a result, the game was played before three scouts and 45,968 empty forest green seats.

Before the game, several players said they expected the atmosphere to be similar to morning "B" games on a back field in Spring Training. And that turned out to be about right. The chatter from the dugouts, the fielders calling to each other, the umpires -- all were easily heard across the diamond. O's manager Buck Showalter said he could hear the bullpen phone ringing when he called from the dugout.

It was different," Showalter added. "I think everybody was real careful what they said in the dugout, because everybody on the field could hear it, [including] the umpires."

The Orioles made noise early, though, scoring six runs in the bottom of the first and cruising to an 8-2 win.

Five-and-a-half hours before the first pitch, a handful of fans were lined up at the ticket windows outside. But they were there exchanging tickets, not buying them for the game that would start in a few hours.

Since there were no fans, there were no ushers. Foul balls hit into the stands eventually rolled to a stop and then remained there.

The scoreboard was operational, and the public address announcer introduced each batter. John Denver's "Thank God I'm A Country Boy" played as usual during the seventh-inning stretch, but the O's mascot, the Bird, didn't dance along on top of the dugout.

Nobody was allowed on the main concourse, where all the concession stands were closed. So was Dempsey's restaurant and the other businesses in the iconic warehouse behind Eutaw Street, which was also shut down.

This announcement was made in the press box in the bottom of the seventh: "For record-keeping purposes, today's official attendance is zero." Normally the number is based on tickets sold, not turnstile count.

Outside the park, it was quiet, with the exception of the hardy souls who strained to follow the action. One was Jake Trout, who carried a black-and-orange sign that read "We Are All One Baltimore" and wore an Adam Jones jersey.

"I'm here to cheer on the team," he said. "I think the biggest reason is that it just shows -- everybody who's here shows -- that we're not afraid. Just because there are people who are trying to take advantage of a terrible situation, we're not going to hide. We're not in fear. We're not going to slink away."

Trout said he would have liked to have watched from a seat inside.

"It's unfortunate," he said, "but it makes sense to try to keep the police personnel and everybody like that in areas where it's needed more."

Across the street, popular watering holes Pickles and Sliders were open for business. At Pickles, the game was being shown on the numerous television sets, but the crowd was sparse despite the Game Day Special: a foot-long hot dog smothered in nacho cheese with bacon, jalapenos, diced tomatoes, onions and a side of sweet slaw.

Showalter's pregame media availability started with the usual injury updates but quickly took a more serious turn. The manager was emotional when talking about a meeting with owner Peter Angelos on Tuesday morning.

"Everything he talked about was about what's best for the city of Baltimore and the safety of our fans and our citizens. Not once did anything about revenue or money arise," Showalter said. "The other thing was that he wanted to make sure that all resources … that the city needs are in the city and not here at Camden Yards."

Showalter said Angelos also expressed concern for the gameday employees and the area businesses that were impacted, not just from Wednesday's action but the fact that the next three home games will be played at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg instead.

There were no fans in the stands, and yet there was a sense that the whole world was watching.

"I talked to the players about the people who were going to be sitting around our city -- I understand about the country and whatever -- but who were sitting around our city watching our game," Showalter said. "How many things have gone normal in the last few days? So that's kind of what I took out of it."

Reliever Tommy Hunter shook his head.

"There was nothing normal about that game," he said.

White Sox go quietly after Samardzija's rough start By Brittany Ghiroli and Todd Karpovich / MLB.com | April 29, 2015

BALTIMORE -- For the first time in Major League Baseball history, the Orioles and White Sox -- because of protests in Baltimore -- played a game closed to fans. But the O's did their best to make up for the lack of atmosphere, piling on Chicago starter Jeff Samardzija with a six-run first inning, including Chris Davis' three-run homer, that led to an 8-2 win on Wednesday afternoon.

Orioles starter Ubaldo Jimenez, who waited two extra days to pitch against the White Sox because of the pair of postponements earlier in the week, didn't disappoint. The righty struck out six and held Chicago to three hits over seven innings, allowing just two unearned runs.

"We all know everything the city is going through," Jimenez said, referring to some of the violent protests in Baltimore spurred from African-American Freddie Gray's death in police custody. "So that's something you put in your mind, you have to go out there and do something that would be good for the fans."

Samardzija lasted five innings and allowed eight runs (seven earned) on 10 hits and one walk in the afternoon contest, which was pushed up because of the citywide 10 p.m. ET curfew. Chicago scored a pair of unearned runs in the fifth inning following Manny Machado's throwing error.

MOMENTS THAT MATTERED

Orioles' bats make some noise: The Orioles batted around in the first inning, setting the tone early in an eerily silent stadium. Davis provided the big knock, while Machado went 3-for-4 with three runs scored and Caleb Joseph went 2-for-4 and picked up two RBIs.

"We were yelling, and then we kind of felt bad because we're like, 'Show some sportsmanship a little bit, too," closer Zach Britton said of the home dugout's reaction to Davis' homer.'" You don't want to over-do it because you knew everyone could hear you. It was just weird because it kind of tempered our celebration a little bit."

Ubaldo stays hot: The right-hander continued to enjoy a renaissance of sorts, bouncing back from a rough 2014 season to turn in his third start -- in four games -- without an earned run. Jimenez walked just one in the 89-pitch outing.

"Probably after the first batter I faced, it was the same [as a regular game]," Jimenez said of the atmosphere. "I felt like it was one of those Spring Training 'B' games, or one in the Minors. But after the first guy, I was like, 'This is the situation. This is a game you have to win.'"

Tough outing for Samardzija: The right-hander, who got the start after appealing his five-game suspension for last week's benches-clearing incident against the Royals, struggled early. Samardzija allowed six runs (five earned) in the first inning when he loaded the bases with no outs. Davis did most of the damage with a towering three-run homer to right field. First baseman Jose Abreu also had a costly throwing error that eventually led to a run.

Quiet bats: The White Sox have traditionally been successful against Jimenez, who entered with a 5.01 ERA in 10 starts against them. However, Chicago could not get much going against the right-hander. An error by Machado gave the White

Sox their first run in the fifth, and then a groundout by Geovany Soto cut the lead to 7-2. But that was as much as they could muster against Jimenez.

QUOTABLE

"It was just a surreal environment. I really don't think we want to play in another one like this. I don't think they do either." -- White Sox manager Robin Ventura, on playing in an empty stadium

"Hopefully, [those watching on TV] see the positive side of things. I hope they see the good side of the city and the people who are out there helping to clean up and rebuild and help get the city back on its feet. I hope that even though the game was closed to the public, what our focus was. We didn't want to take the Guards or the police officers, the people who are protecting the city, you didn't want to take them away from their job and be a distraction. I hope the win kind of gives us a shot in the arm and picks everybody up." -- Davis, on the national attention of Wednesday's game

"Everything in life, this too shall pass. Something's bad if you keep repeating it. We hope to take out of it a starting point for our city." -- Orioles manager Buck Showalter on the magnitude of the game

SILENT STADIUM

Despite the official attendance of zero, a small crowd of fans watched the game from outside the gates of Camden Street and nearby hotel balconies. In lieu of an actual crowd, with only a few scouts seated behind home plate, the typical in-game entertainment was limited and the concourses were completely blocked off. Players from both teams tried to create some atmosphere with clapping and yelling, and Soto threw a ball into the empty bleachers at the end of the second inning to mimic a regular game. The Orioles still played their customary "Thank God I'm a Country Boy" by John Denver for the seventh-inning stretch.

JONES SOUNDS OFF

The Orioles' leader and one of the city's most popular African-American athletes, Adam Jones had some powerful words pregame regarding what's going on in Baltimore. Jones, who has a home nearby, has been a fixture in the community since coming to Baltimore.

"This is their cry. This isn't a cry that is acceptable, but this is their cry and, therefore, we have to understand it," Jones said of the violent protests which have enveloped the city. "They need hugs. They need love. They need support. As much as I can give, as much as I know people on the opposition can give, I'm going to try and give as much as I can, because the city needs it.

WHAT'S NEXT

White Sox: Left-hander Chris Sale (2-0, 2.37 ERA) has appealed his five-game suspension for his role in the incident with the Royals, and he will face the Twins on Thursday at Target Field at 7:10 p.m. CT. Sale has been stellar so far, as he goes for his third win in four starts.

Orioles: Baltimore's weekend series against the Rays will shift to Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg because of safety concerns, and the O's will board a plane on Thursday's off-day in advance of Friday's 7:05 p.m. ET opener. The O's will still wear white uniforms and hit second during the series, with Chris Tillman taking the hill.

White Sox find unique scene in Baltimore Empty stadium believed to be an MLB first By Todd Karpovich / Special to MLB.com | April 29, 2015

BALTIMORE -- Nothing in baseball had prepared White Sox second baseman Micah Johnson for what he experienced at Oriole Park at Camden Yards on Wednesday afternoon.

The White Sox and Orioles played in the first Major League Baseball regular-season game without any fans in attendance. The move was prompted by the recent riots in Baltimore over Freddie Gray, who died April 19 in police custody.

The Orioles took control with a six-run first and cruised to an 8-2 victory. Johnson said being stuck in a hotel for three days while the city was in turmoil was a challenge.

"It was weird," Johnson said. "You can't compare it to anything. It was definitely weird. It was quiet, there's nothing going on. You hear everything. The atmosphere, it's just not how baseball is [supposed] to be played."

After two postponements, nothing went right for Chicago from almost the opening pitch. Ace Jeff Samardzija, who got the start after appealing his five-game suspension for his role in a benches-clearing incident with the Royals last week, struggled from the outset. He allowed six runs (five earned) in the first inning and left after the fifth, trailing 8-2.

"It was just a weird day," White Sox manager Robin Ventura said. "It was such a surreal experience that you get past it and get ready for tomorrow."

The Orioles' Chris Davis did most of the damage with a towering three-run homer to right field in the first. First baseman Jose Abreu also had a costly throwing error on a potential double play that led to a run.

Samardzija did not blame any of the outside factors with the empty stadium for his performance. Instead, he said the Orioles' powerful lineup was the difference.

"It had a little Spring Training feel to it," Samardzija said. "It was a good lineup. They jumped on me in the first, and that was that."

Johnson, however, said the atmosphere was much different than a spring game. He could hear different kinds of noises when he went to the plate, and it was disconcerting.

"There's no comparison to that," Johnson said. "It's weird out there, especially on defense, you've got the glare from all the empty seats from the sun. It's something you don't ever have to deal with or prepare for. Hopefully, that never happens again."

The White Sox are actually looking forward to a four-game series in Minnesota after their experience in Baltimore over the past few days.

"It was just a surreal environment," Ventura said. "I really don't think we want to play in another one like this. I don't think they do either."

Before the game, center fielder Adam Eaton tried to add to a bit levity to the situation via Twitter, writing, "We are gonna do our best to take the crowd out of it early.. Wish us luck.."

The White Sox center fielder then clarified his thoughts with another tweet: "Take it easy people. Just trying to lighten the mood. I have the up most respect for Baltimore and its people. Always have, always will."

When asked if the game should be played, Eaton, who went 0-for-3, said: "That's a tough question, and I'm glad that I just work here and I don't have an opinion in that matter. But if I did, life has to go on at some point. One part of me says it's bigger than baseball, and another part of me says that we shouldn't adjust to what people do outside of the stadium. I'm trying to be as delicate as possible in that matter. It is a situation higher than us, but at the same time, I think normalcy would be good for the fan base and good for the people around the city to get their mind off of it. Again, I just work here, and whatever they say for me to do, I'm going to do."

Abreu looks to add All-Star starter to growing resume By Scott Merkin / MLB.com | @scottmerkin | April 29, 2015

CHICAGO -- Jose Abreu picked up a number of honors from his banner first Major League season with the White Sox, including being selected as a first-time All-Star.

Abreu has a chance to not only make the All-Star team again but become a starter at first base as part of the American League All-Star ballot. Through the first 17 games this season, Abreu is hitting .313 with five homers, 14 RBIs and a .642 slugging percentage. Through his first 162 games overall as a big leaguer, Abreu has a .316 average, 41 homers, 40 doubles, 121 RBIs and a .969 OPS.

Fans can cast their votes for starters at MLB.com and all 30 club sites -- on their computers, tablets and smartphones -- using the 2015 Esurance MLB All-Star Game Ballot until Thursday, July 2, at 10:59 p.m. CT. For the first time, voting is exclusively online, where fans may submit up to 35 ballots.

Fans may also receive the ballot by texting VOTE to 89269 (USA) or 101010 (Canada). Or text VOTA for a ballot in Spanish. Message and data rates may apply. Up to five messages. No purchase required. Reply STOP to cancel. Reply HELP for info.

Following the announcement of the 2015 All-Stars, be sure to return to MLB.com and cast your 2015 Esurance MLB All-Star Game Final Vote for the final player for each league's All-Star roster. On Tuesday, July 14, watch the 2015 All-Star Game live on FOX, and during the game visit MLB.com to submit your choice for the Ted Williams Most Valuable Player Award presented by Chevrolet via the 2015 MLB All-Star Game MVP Vote.

MLB.com will provide extensive online coverage of All-Star Week festivities.

The 86th All-Star Game will be televised nationally by FOX, in Canada by Rogers Sportsnet and RDS, and worldwide by partners in more than 200 countries via MLB International's independent feed. ESPN Radio and ESPN Radio Deportes will provide national radio coverage of the All-Star Game. MLB Network and SiriusXM will also provide comprehensive All-Star Week coverage. For more information, please visit allstargame.com.

Joining Abreu on the ballot from the White Sox are Micah Johnson at second base, marking the rookie's first appearance. Alexei Ramirez is at shortstop, Conor Gillaspie is at third base, Tyler Flowers is at catcher, Adam LaRoche is the designated hitter representative and Melky Cabrera, Adam Eaton and Avisail Garcia are in the outfield.

Chris Sale, Abreu and Ramirez were the White Sox All-Star representatives last season.

White Sox, Twins open four-game set at Target Field By Todd Karpovich / Special to MLB.com

The White Sox will look to get back to some normalcy with a four-game series against an American League Central Division rival, the Minnesota Twins, starting Thursday at Target Field in Minneapolis.

Chicago had two of its three games against the Orioles postponed because of riots in Baltimore, and then dropped an 8-2 decision Wednesday in the first MLB game closed to the public.

Chris Sale (2-0, 2.37 ERA), who appealed his five-game suspension for last week's incident with the Royals, will look to pick up his third win four starts against Twins right-hander Trevor May (1-1, 4.91 ERA).

Three things to know:

• The White Sox have 18 of 22 games in April against AL Central opponents. They have gone 8-9 so far over that stretch.

• May is able to make the start after getting hit on the right elbow by a liner off the bat of Seattle's Kyle Seager on Saturday. He was pulled from the game in the fourth inning, but he has not had any lingering effects.

• The White Sox took two of three games from the Twins on April 10-12 in Chicago. Minnesota will be looking to rebound after dropping two of its past three games to another division foe, Detroit.

Jeff Samardzija, White Sox say unique game atmosphere no excuse for loss Colleen Kane, Chicago Tribune | April 29, 2015

BALTIMORE — White Sox players spent the better part of their trip to Baltimore in their team hotel, experiencing the unrest that was going on in the streets around them only through news reports.

When they returned to the field after two postponements, it was in the bizarre atmosphere of an empty ballpark, a historic publicly closed game because of safety concerns in the city.

Add in a brawl with the Royals and a rainout, and it has been a strange week-long stretch for the Sox, one they capped Wednesday with a hard-to-watch 8-2 loss to the Orioles at Camden Yards.

Sox right-hander Jeff Samardzija said he wasn't "going to put too much into how we played" given the circumstances, but he also wasn't going to blame his poor outing entirely on a disrupted routine.

"You know, there are bigger things going on than baseball," Samardzija said. "As just a person, you're watching what has happened and you hope and pray … that everyone is OK.

"We also understand we have a job here to do too. In baseball, you have to be used to adjusting to schedules and adjusting to routines. It was just a different day, and it didn't turn out how I wanted it to."

Samardzija allowed eight runs — seven earned — on 10 hits with one walk and five strikeouts in five innings. Manager Robin Ventura chalked it up to a "surreal" experience.

"Today started off bad and got worse," Ventura said. "… It was just a weird day. You move on and get ready for the next one."

Behind the 'pen: Sox right-hander Scott Carroll could hear the shouts of the spectators outside the ballpark while he was sitting in the bullpen Wednesday. Fans gathered behind the fence in left-center field and on the balconies of a nearby hotel to catch glimpses of the game, and Carroll said the relievers were trying to figure out where the noise was coming from.

Carroll, who pitched two scoreless innings in relief, recognized the novelty of the experience.

"It's going to be a part of history, playing a game with nobody here," Carroll said. "It's cool to go into the history books, but we wanted to win."

From the booth: The game wasn't just an odd experience for the players.

Sox broadcaster Ken "Hawk" Harrelson said he "didn't have any barometer" for what he was stepping into calling a game at an empty park.

"I played 10 o'clock games in the morning when absolutely nobody was there, but that was as a player," Harrelson said. "It actually wasn't as bad as I thought it would be. It wouldn't have bothered me one bit if we had won."

Sox second baseman Micah Johnson said he could hear the announcers in their booths while he was on the field. Harrelson said he was a bit more conscious of what he was saying without the ambience of a crowded game filling up the broadcast.

"It's always interesting to be a part of history in some way," Harrelson said. "This was interesting, but I'm sure there will be a lot more people who think about it later on than me."

White Sox lose to Orioles 8-2 in 'strangeness' of empty ballpark Colleen Kane, Chicago Tribune | April 29, 2015

LTIMORE — The crack of Orioles first baseman Chris Davis hitting a three-run homer in the first inning Wednesday at Camden Yards was accompanied by a single voice rather than the roar of the crowd.

“Goodbye! Home run,” Orioles broadcaster Gary Thorne said on the call from his TV booth.

His voice carried out over the nearly 46,000 empty seats as muted cheers bounced back from onlookers peeking into the private game through a fence beyond the outfield.

The White Sox and Orioles met on a pleasant, sunny day for what is believed to be the first major-league game closed to the public, a result of security concerns after unrest in Baltimore surrounding the death of Freddie Gray, who was injured while in police custody.

Every noise from inside the ballpark was distinct — media members’ computer keyboards clicked, foul balls rattled around the vacant stands, outfielders’ calls wafted in toward home plate.

The attendance will go in the record books as zero, but the ballpark wasn’t completely empty for the Orioles’ 8-2 victory over the Sox. Scouts occupied three seats in front of home plate, photographers weaved their way through empty rows and 92 assigned seats in the press box were filled, approximately three times more than for Monday’s scheduled series opener.

The Sox called the atmosphere “weird” and “different.”

“It was just a surreal environment,” Sox manager Robin Ventura said. “I don’t think we really want to play another one like this. … I don’t think (the Orioles) do either.”

Those who might have truly appreciated the Orioles jumping to a 6-0, first-inning lead against Sox right-hander Jeff Samardzija were separated from the ballpark by a fence or their television sets. The Orioles and Major League Baseball officials decided Tuesday to keep the paying public from the game after violent protests that stemmed from the death of Gray, a 25-year-old man who suffered a spinal injury while in police custody earlier this month.

The Orioles still tried to maintain some normalcy.

The national anthem was played. The players warmed up to music between innings and walked to the plate while the announcer spoke their names over the sound system. The videoboard displayed the lineups, the players’ pictures and stats.

They even played “Take Me Out to the Ball Game” for the seventh-inning stretch, though nobody was around to stand up and head to the vacant restrooms or unmanned concession stands.

For the players, it was anything but normal.

Sox second baseman Micah Johnson said the glare of the unoccupied seats was distracting on defense. He could hear the TV announcers in the booths and the Orioles in their dugout. And he was self-conscious about his own vocal reactions to mistakes as he called out “no” and “my bad.”

“I can’t even compare it to anything, but it was definitely weird,” Johnson said. “It’s quiet. There’s nothing going on. You hear everything. Obviously it was better for the Orioles than us today. The atmosphere, it’s not how baseball is supposed to be played.”

Nobody truly wanted to see the game played under these conditions after two straight postponements. But a packed major-league schedule — and the city’s desire not to divert the attention of police and National Guard forces — made it the option of choice. The Sox will return to Baltimore next month for a doubleheader to make up the other two games.

Up next: White Sox at Twins Chicago Tribune | April 29, 2015

l games on WSCR-AM 670.

Season series: Sox 2-1.

Thursday: 7:10 p.m., CSN-plus.

LH Chris Sale (2-0, 2.37) vs. RH Trevor May (1-1, 4.91).

Friday: 7:10 p.m., CSN.

LH Jose Quintana (1-1, 6.55) vs. RH Kyle Gibson (1-2, 4.84).

Saturday: 1:10 p.m., WGN-9.

RH Hector Noesi (0-2, 5.23) vs. TBA.

Sunday: 1:10 p.m., CSN. LH John Danks (1-2, 5.64) vs. TBA.

Who's hot: Avisail Garcia is on a five-game hitting streak. Quintana gave up two earned runs over seven innings in his last outing. Joe Mauer is hitting .317 with seven RBIs over his last 10 games.

Who's not: Conor Gillaspie and Tyler Flowers each have one hit in their last 10 at-bats. The Twins' Torii Hunter is 1-for-17 in his last four games.

Wednesday's recap: Orioles 8, White Sox 2 Colleen Kane, Chicago Tribune | April 29, 2015

The summary

The historic game in an empty Camden Yards was a dud for the White Sox, who fell behind by six runs in the first inning Wednesday on the way to an 8-2 loss to the Orioles. Sox starter Jeff Samardzija allowed eight runs (seven earned) on 10 hits over five innings.

At the plate

The Sox's runs were unearned, and they totaled just four hits, two from Avisail Garcia.

On the mound

Samardzija, who gave up two home runs, snapped a streak of 11 consecutive starts in which he pitched at least six innings.

In the field

First baseman Jose Abreu gave the Orioles a big boost in the first inning when he committed a throwing error trying to start a double play but instead gave the Orioles two runners on with no outs.

The number

2:03 — Time of game in front of no paying fans.

The quote

"With two strikes I was a little too much on the plate. … You have to bury balls, bounce them and not give them a chance to make a play. Two strikes, you're in a power situation, and you have to take advantage." — Samardzija

The quote II

"It was kind of weird, but you can't blame (the loss) on (no) crowd. We just played a bad game, and that's it. It's not anyone's fault. It's our fault playing the way we did today." — Abreu

Up next

At Twins, 7:10 p.m. Thursday, CSN-Plus.

Empty ballparks, Tom Ricketts in Fargo and Masahiro Tanaka watch Paul Sullivan, Chicago Tribune | April 29, 2015

One of the classic Charlie Sheen stories took place back in 1996 when the actor bought 2,615 seats in left field at Anaheim Stadium to try to catch a home run.

Sheen paid $6,500 for the seats to have the section to himself (and three friends), saying he wanted to catch a Cecil Fielder homer.

“I didn't want to crawl over the paying public,” Sheen explained. “I wanted to avoid the violence.”

Sheen didn’t get a home run, but he got a lot of publicity and a great story to tell his children.

I thought of Sheen when envisioning the fun someone could have chasing down home runs or foul balls during the Orioles-White Sox game Wednesday at empty Camden Yards.

The game will be played without fans because of MLB concerns over safety in the riot-scarred city.

While MLB officials were put in a difficult position by the civil unrest in Baltimore, they dropped the ball on this one. An easy solution to move the games to Nationals Park went unexplored for reasons that weren’t explained, though the animosity between the two owners is a good guess. Remember the Cubs and Astros played a game at Miller Park in 2008 that was moved from Houston due to Hurricane Ike, and Carlos Zambrano even threw a no-hitter.

Apparently, no thought was given to the idea of having a doubleheader at U.S. Cellular Field Wednesday, which would’ve cost the teams some money. Instead, they’ll set a record for fewest fans at a major-league game, taking away the supposed home-field advantage for the Orioles.

Cubs manager Joe Maddon was asked Tuesday if he’d ever been in an environment like that.

“It’s called Instructional League,” Maddon quipped. “No, I don’t think so. It’s really unfortunate it’s gotten to that point, obviously. I’m ashamed to say I have not followed it really closely to this point. But it will be very awkward for the players, I can tell you that.”

Maddon did recall managing a minor-league game in 1982 Walla Walla, Wash. between his Salem Angels and the Walla Walla Padres, when he said there were about 50 fans in the stands.

“It was almost like the other day at PNC (Park),” Maddon said. “You could hear the radio broadcaster broadcasting the game. This was like a high school field, and (the announcer) was literally 35 feet behind home plate.”

Hopefully, Sox broadcasters Ken “Hawk” Harrelson and Steve Stone set up shop within earshot of the umpires so they can hear a few “dadgummits” after calls go against the Sox.

Most players know what it’s like to play in a near-empty ballpark in the minors. I was at a Class-A game in Tampa, Fla., in August of 2013 to see Cubs prospect Kris Bryant, and there were no more than 75-100 people in the stands by the end of the night.

But this noise-free environment will be eerie nonetheless. Even the lowest-attended major-league games have a thousand or so fans, and with concessionaires selling beer, pop and hot dogs, there’s always some background noise even if the fans are relatively quiet.

Fittingly, Jeff Samardzija gets the start for the Sox while appealing his five-game suspension for his involvement in the brawl with the Royals. One Cubs player joked Tuesday that his old friend, Samardzija, pitched so well in front of a small crowd at U.S. Cellular Field last week he’ll probably throw a no-hitter with no one in the stands to watch him.

“That would be perfect,” he said.

There would be plenty of media there to record it, since the press box was jammed.

Unfortunately for Samardzija, he gave up six runs in the first inning and seven earned runs over five innings in one of his worst starts in recent memory.

Fargo road trip: Cubs Chairman Tom Ricketts wouldn’t talk to the local media contingent to address the opening-night restroom disaster at Wrigley Field, and went out of his way to avoid bumping into reporters on the field before Monday’s game, using a circuitous route through the dugout.

But the Cubs owner was extremely chatty the other day when a Fargo, N.D., paper called to ask him about a Jack White concert he attended last week.

Ricketts told reporter Chris Murphy from the Forum newspaper of Fargo that White was his “favorite performer.” When he heard White was playing a surprise concert in Fargo, Ricketts was all in.

“Through the back channel, we knew he was going to be in Fargo, so I just grabbed some buddies and said, ‘Let’s go to Fargo,’ ” Ricketts told the Forum.

Ricketts, who met White at Wrigley Field, was among the crowd of around 800 at the concert.

“It was great,” Ricketts said. “If you’ve seen him before, a lot of the times, obviously it can be a really loud show in terms of a lot of electric guitar and just a lot of high energy. I thought the acoustic set was great because it reminds you of what a great voice he has.

“It was really unique, really special. I think that everyone that was there knows what an incredibly special event that was.”

When Murphy asked if White could perform at Wrigley, Ricketts demurred.

“I’m not going to go there,” he said with a laugh. “I’ll let him lead his private life.”

Yankees ingenuity: Last week's news: “Everything’s really starting to come together," pitching coach Larry Rothschild said of starter Masahiro Tanaka.

This week's news: Tanaka will miss at least a month with right wrist tendinitis and a right forearm strain, and could face Tommy John surgery.

"We want to make sure that this doesn't lead to the more horrific problems that we're trying to avoid," general manager Brian Cashman said.

Good thing the White Sox's and Cubs’ bids were too low on Tanaka, who signed a seven-year, $155 million deal before the 2014 season.

White Sox check out early on historic, 'weird' day Daryl Van Schouwen, Sun Times | April 29, 2015

BALTIMORE—Needless to say, the White Sox won’t want to do this again.

Play in an empty stadium? No thanks.

Play bad baseball?

Better not.

Be out of it in the first inning — with one of their top pitchers going?

It just can’t happen.

After waiting around a hotel for three nights, through two postponed games because of rioting in Baltimore, the Sox finally got around to playing baseball again Wednesday afternoon. And before they even had a chance to soak in the eerie, strange feeling of playing in an empty stadium, they were down 6-0 in the first inning.

“Today started off bad and got worse,’’ manager Robin Ventura said.

“It was just a weird day.”

Major League Baseball decided to have this game played in the afternoon and, for security reasons, close Oriole Park at Camden Yards to the public. Media were allowed, and a few scouts watched from behind home plate.

When Chris Davis homered against Jeff Samardzija with two runners on to give the Orioles a 4-0 lead in the first, Orioles radio broadcaster Gary Thorne was heard yelling “outta here.” Fans outside the park peered in through a fence and cheered. Another group, with a Wrigley Field-like rooftop view, could be heard cheering from a hotel balcony.

The scene on a sunny, pleasant day was strange and highly unusual, of course, as foul balls landed harmlessly in the seats before being picked up by a stadium employee. Ballgirls picked up foul balls on the field and kept them in their possesson. Players were heard all the way up in a full press box cheering each other on and yelling “cut” and “got it” on defense.During the seventh inning stretch, “Take Me Out To The Ball Game” was played and “Thank God I’m a Country Boy,” an Orioles tradition, was blared on the speaker system. Before it started, plate umpire Jerry Layne waved to the media in the press box, and then to the empty seats.

Sox rookie Micah Johnson said he heard play-by-play announcers on the field. He said “weird” five times describing the experience.

“It’s quiet, there’s nothing going on,’’ Johnson said. “You hear everything. Obviously it was better for the Orioles than us today. The atmosphere, it’s not how baseball is supposed to be played.’’

The Orioles’ big first inning seemed to take the life out of the game, although it was hard to tell because of the eerie silence. In the pressbox, the paid attendance was announced as “zero.” It was the first time a game was played with no fans.

The only good thing about this one is that it passed in a 1960s-like two hours and three minutes, almost an hour faster than an average game.

And they can say they were part of history, for what that’s worth.

“I was talking to my friends and family last night, it’s going to be a part of history no matter what, playing a game with nobody here,’’ said right-hander Scott Carroll, who pitched two scoreless innings. “I think it’s cool to go into the history books but we wanted to win.’’

The Sox (8-10), who will return to Baltimore for a doubleheader on May 28 to make up for the two postponed games, left for Minneapolis, where they open a four-game series Thursday night. Samardzija wasn’t sharp, Jose Abreu made a key error in the first and Ubaldo Jimenez held them to three hits over seven innings. Ventura was clearly unhappy with his team’s performance.

“You give them opportunities,’’ Ventura said, “they take advantage of it. I don’t think we were all that selective offensively, either. It was just a weird day. You move on and get ready for the next one.’’

At empty stadium, Orioles get to Samardzija early, roll to 8-2 victory over White Sox Daryl Van Schouwen, Sun Times | April 29, 2015

BALTIMORE — The Baltimore Orioles pounced on the White Sox for six runs in the first inning and cruised to a 8-2 victory in the first major league game ever played without fans.

It was an eerily quiet scene when the Orioles took the field with only media in the press box and a few scouts in the fifth row behind home plate watching as the Orioles erupted for six runs in the first inning against Sox right-hander Jeff Samardzija.

After Orioles right-hander Ubaldo Jimenez struck out Adam Eaton to open the game, Melky Cabrera rolled out to Jimenez and Jose Abreu struck out. A group of fans peering through a fence beyond the left-center field wall and a group on the deck outside the Hilton Hotel beyond left cheered.

When Chris Davis homered inside the right-field pole with two runners on to give the Orioles a 4-0 lead, the Orioles radio broadcaster was heard yelling “outta here.”

The Orioles had six hits in the first inning but Samardzija may have deserved better. After De Aza walked, Jimmy Percedes hit a potential double-play grounder to Abreu at first, but after making one move toward first, Abreu spun and threw to second, his throw pulling shortstop Alexei Ramirez’s foot off the bag. Ramirez’s return throw was late, setting up a big inning for the Orioles.

The scene was strange and highly unusual, of course, as foul balls landed harmlessly in the seats before being picked up by a stadium employee, players were heard in the pressbox cheering each other on and barking “cut” and “got it” on defense.

The Orioles’ big first inning seemed to take the life out of the game, although it was hard to tell because of the eerie silence. In the pressbox, the paid attendance was announced as “zero.”

During the seventh inning stretch, “Take Me Out To The Ball Game” was played and “Thank God I’m a Country Boy,” an Orioles tradition, was blared on the speaker system.

Samardzija (1-2) allowed eight runs (seven earned) on 10 hits and one walk. He struck out one. Carlos Rodon made his second appearance, pitching one perfect inning in the eighth.

The first two games of the series were postponed because of rioting in Baltimore. For security reasons, MLB decided to play this one with no fans.

White Sox, O's prepare for sounds (and cheers) of silence Daryl Van Schouwen, Sun Times | April 29, 2015

BALTIMORE — There was lots of media, and some scouts, but not a single fan in the house.

Aside from a few birds scouring the unoccupied box seats for crumbs, the seating areas were empty as the White Sox and Baltimore Orioles prepared to play the first game ever closed to the public on Wednesday afternoon.

On the field, players took batting practice to the sounds of a Led Zeppelin medley cranking on the public address system, business as usual in any pregame setting.

“It’s a little bit difficult to keep loose when you see what is happening in the city and the entire situation,” Sox first baseman Jose Abreu said through an interpreter. “Our job is to keep the focus on the game and try to win today.”

Looting and rioting near Camden Yards forced the postponement of the first two games of the series. With a 10 p.m. curfew imposed by Baltimore’s mayor, baseball officials decided to play the third scheduled game at 2:05 p.m. Eastern with no fans.

“We’re playing baseball; it’s not like we’re doing anything different,” Sox manager Robin Ventura said. “It’s just there’s not going to be anybody in the stands.”

Ventura compared it to playing on spring training back fields or when he played at Fenway Park on in the Cape Cod League as a collegian.

“I don’t think anyone is prepared to play in this atmosphere,” he said. “It’s going to be strange. There’s no way around it, for us the focus is to go out and play baseball.”

Quipped Sox center fielder Adam Eaton: “I think guys will react differently and I understand the circumstances, but we’re going to try to take the crowd out of it early and go from there.”

Sox infielder Gordon Beckham said players talked about silent cheering from the dugout, “just to kind of add to it. If somebody gets a hit, give them [a silent clap] without saying anything to kind of add to the ambiance. So we’ll see.”

Silent cheers or not, umpires will hear more than usual from players. Pitchers will speak softly with catchers during conversations. The sounds of baseball are a big part of the game.

“Hearing is huge for an outfielder,” Eaton said. “You hear balls in the gap, how hard it’s hit, how weakly it’s hit. You know if a ball gets by the catcher, if a guy is stealing, you can hear that all from the crowd. So it is going to be different but we’ve done it before when we were in the minor leagues and we’ll have to bring those senses back and really pay attention.”

White Sox's play not worthy of an audience Doug Padilla, ESPNChicago.com | April 29, 2015

BALTIMORE -- Save for some media, there was nobody around Wednesday to see the Chicago White Sox get thumped by the Baltimore Orioles at Camden Yards, yet everybody, it seemed, was watching.

In a game that took on added interest because of the novelty of playing without a crowd, the White Sox came out of the gate with a first inning that wasn’t worth watching outside of Baltimore anyway.

Plenty of baseball fans did want a peek inside from television, though, to see how it all went down.

For the record: The Orioles defeated the White Sox 8-2, Ubaldo Jimenez was the winning pitcher, while Jeff Samardzija took the loss and the attendance officially was listed as zero. Then there were the White Sox, who were a mess while playing on two days of hotel food, after inhaling nearly 48 hours' worth of zero-humidity air conditioning.

"It's weird, man,” said the White Sox's Micah Johnson, who had been a major leaguer for all of 23 days when the first pitch was thrown. "I can't even compare it to anything but it was definitely weird. It's quiet, there's nothing going on. You hear everything. Obviously it was better for the Orioles than us today. The atmosphere, it's not how baseball is supposed to be played."

The Orioles, at least, had the advantage of staying in their own homes for the past two days, the comforts of their own ballpark when play resumed and maybe 100 or so hard-core followers that yelled their support through a fence beyond center field, some 650 feet from home plate.

The difference was one inning when Samardzija didn't have a put-away pitch and the Orioles knocked him around for six opening-frame runs. That was it. All that was left was for this one to end, and it did in a brisk 2 hours, 3 minutes.

There you go, commissioner. You want fast games? Tell the fans to stay home.

For Samardzija, even the quick day lasted too long. He looked more like the pitcher that gave up a combined nine runs over his first two starts than the one that gave up a single run over his past two outings.

Samardzija acknowledged the odd experience Wednesday, stopping short of blaming it.

"You know there are bigger things going on than baseball," Samardzija said, referencing the local civic unrest that forced the postponement of games Monday and Tuesday. "As just a person, you're watching what has happened and you hope and pray for everybody's safety and that everyone is OK.

"We also understand we have a job here to do, too. These things happen in baseball so you have to be used to adjusting to schedules and adjusting to routines and this and that. It was just a different day and it didn't turn out how I wanted it to."

It wasn't just Samardzija. Jose Abreu, the franchise's cornerstone, had a brutal afternoon with a first-inning throwing error that opened the door for the Orioles' early success, and an 0-for-4 day at the plate, where he struck out twice and grounded into a double play.

"The first at-bat I didn't realize what he was throwing and I know that I looked bad," Abreu said through an interpreter. "I tried to battle in the next two at-bats against him, but I tried to do too much. Sometimes you have bad games like this and you have to move on. It was a very awful game for me on offense and defense, but that kind of thing happens and I just try to focus on an everyday basis. Now my focus is on tomorrow's game and how to win games."

The unexpected asides from an odd day of baseball went beyond the ability of a gaggle of fans to be heard from a side street. When Chris Davis crushed a home run off Samardzija in the opening inning, Orioles broadcaster Gary Thorne easily could be heard yelling his call from an upstairs radio booth.

Players could be heard calling for fly balls from the outfield. And while there were no arguments with umpires, a quick verbal disagreement from Johnson registered on the audio scale.

"I'm sure you heard me [yell] 'No!' on strike three," Johnson said. "It's weird. I said, 'my bad' out loud [to the umpire]."

It seems as if the only thing the White Sox did right on this day was to be available to make sure the historic game was official.

"I was talking to my friends and family last night, that it's going to be a part of history no matter what, playing a game with nobody here," said pitcher Scott Carroll, who gave the White Sox two scoreless innings. "I think it's cool to go into the history books, but we wanted to win."

Adam Eaton said the team was able to do some bonding in their nearby hotel this week, so maybe the effects of that will show up when the club gets to Minnesota for a four-game series that opens Thursday.

"It was kind of weird, but you can't blame that on the crowd," Abreu said. "We just played a bad game today and that's it. It's not any one's fault, it's our fault playing the way we did today."

And you didn't need a seat in the building to realize it.

Orioles defeat White Sox at Camden Yards with no fans in attendance Associated Press, ESPN.com | April 29, 2015

BALTIMORE -- The cheers from the small group of Orioles fans gathered outside the locked gates beyond center field echoed throughout an empty Camden Yards every time the home team scored a run.

There was no roar of the crowd inside the ballpark on this surreal day.

In what was believed to be the first major league game played without fans in attendance, Chris Davis hit a three-run homer in a six-run first inning Wednesday and the Baltimore Orioles beat the Chicago White Sox 8-2.

"It was kind of like instructional league, Gulf Coast League, Arizona League," Orioles manager Buck Showalter said of the lack of fans.

The game was closed to fans out of concern for their safety following recent rioting in Baltimore after Freddie Gray, a 25-year-old black man, died in police custody.

The unusual decision to play the game was made because it was the best time to fill out the schedule for both teams.

In a crisp 2 hours, 3 minutes, Baltimore won its third straight since snapping a five-game losing streak.

"It was just a surreal environment," White Sox manager Robin Ventura said. "I really don't think we want to play in another one like this. I don't think they do either."

Ubaldo Jimenez (2-1) continued his rebound from last season's struggles, allowing two runs -- one earned -- on three hits with six strikeouts and just one walk over seven innings. Manny Machado hit his fourth home run among his three hits and Caleb Joseph had a pair of RBIs.

"We all know everything the city is going through," Jimenez said. "So that's something you put in your mind, you have to go out there and do something that would be good for the fans."

White Sox right-hander Jeff Samardzija (1-2) allowed a season-high eight runs -- seven earned -- on 10 hits, including two homers, over just five innings. Entering the game, he had not allowed a run over his previous 10 innings.

The Orioles batted around against Samardzija in the first. With the bases loaded, Adam Jones hit a sacrifice fly and Davis followed with a three-run homer that landed on a nearly empty Eutaw Street. A double by Everth Cabrera and a single by Joseph rounded out the scoring.

Samardzija continued to labor, allowing another RBI single to Joseph in the third.

"It had a little spring training feel to it," Samardzija said about the atmosphere. "It was a good lineup. They jumped on me in the first and that was that."

Machado's fifth error in the past eight games on a grounder by Alexei Ramirez gave Chicago its first run in the fifth. A ground-out by Geovany Soto later that inning pulled them to 7-2. Machado made up for his mistake with a solo homer that inning.

At the end of the day, the players were happy to move on from the experience.

"A game with no fans, but they were out at the hotel," Jones said. "You could see on the balcony, you could hear them outside the gates. A lot of people were telling me to look up the check-ins on Facebook. So there were people around supporting, just not inside the stadium. But there was still some support."

EUTAW STREET

Davis got his sixth career Eutaw Street home run, tying former Oriole Luke Scott for the most by any player. It was also the 80th homer to land on Eutaw Street.

TRAINER'S ROOM

Orioles: SS J.J. Hardy (left shoulder strain) felt much better after receiving a cortisone shot last week and will travel with the team to Tampa Bay over the weekend. He hopes to begin a rehab assignment next week.

UP NEXT

White Sox: Chris Sale, who appealed his five-game suspension for his role in a brawl with the Royals, will look to pick up his third win four starts on Thursday against Minnesota.

Orioles: Chris Tillman (2-2, 7.58 ERA) will open the series Friday against the Rays, which has been moved to Tropicana Field from Baltimore. The Orioles, though, will be the home team.

Rapid Reaction: Orioles 8, White Sox 2 Doug Padilla, ESPNChicago.com | April 29, 2015

BALTIMORE -- Playing in Major League Baseball's first game without fans, the Baltimore Orioles rolled to an 8-2 victory Wednesday over the Chicago White Sox.

How it happened: In his first outing in a week, Jeff Samardzija was roughed up by the Orioles right out of the gate, giving up six runs (five earned) in the first inning. The White Sox had just four hits, getting two runs in the fifth inning on an error and a ground out. Carlos Rodon made his second-ever appearance for the White Sox, delivering a perfect inning on five pitches, much better than the struggles he had in his debut April 21 when he had location issues in a 2 1/3 inning outing.

What it means: How much the mental side of pitching in an empty stadium affected Samardzija can be up for debate, but he clearly wasn't locating well. After a rough start to the season, when the right-hander gave up nine runs over his first two starts, he settled down with one run over his next two starts. But since his April 22 outing, Samardzija was in a bench-clearing brawl Thursday, was suspended five games (he has appealed, making him eligible to pitch) and then saw this start pushed back because of safety concerns in Baltimore that forced two postponed games.

Outside the box: It was a bad day for Samardzija to have his issues, especially since he was facing a red-hot offense. The Orioles entered with an average of 6.11 runs over their past nine games. In their most recent game, at home Sunday, they scored 18 runs against the Boston Red Sox.

Off beat: While there were no fans in Camden Yards, a group of three scouts sat in the field-level seats behind home plate the entire game. Otherwise the park was empty, save for about 100 media members in the press box. Fans could be heard cheering and participating in Orioles-related chants from the gates beyond center field. The game was played in a tidy 2 hours, 3 minutes.

Up next: The White Sox will send left-hander Chris Sale (2-0, 2.37 ERA) to the mound Thursday at Minnesota in the opener of a four-game series. The Twins will counter with right-hander Trevor May (1-1, 4.91) in the 7:10 p.m. ET start from Target Field.

White Sox hope Wednesday's surreal atmosphere was one-time event Dan Hayes, CSN | April 29, 2015

BALTIMORE -- They didn’t know what to expect from the first closed stadium game in baseball history, but if they have

their choice the White Sox won’t do it again.

Whether it was 45,900-plus empty seats, a lack of atmosphere, a stadium so quiet you could hear everything or even the

glare off the seats, the White Sox didn’t enjoy their surroundings during an 8-2 loss to the Baltimore Orioles on

Wednesday afternoon at Oriole Park at Camden Yards.

Here’s a collection of what five White Sox players and coaches thought of the scene:

— Second baseman Micah Johnson: “Can’t even compare it to anything, but it was definitely weird. You guys were there.

It’s quiet, there’s nothing going on. You hear everything. Obviously it was better for the Orioles than us today. The

atmosphere, it’s not how baseball is supposed to be played.

“There’s no comparison. Absolutely zero. It’s like, weird out there. Especially on defense you get the glare from the empty

seats. The signs. You don’t ever have to deal with that. Hopefully that never happens again.”

— Relief pitcher Scott Carroll: “You never really know what to expect in a situation like that. But as the game went on I

came more to the realization that it’s not going to change obviously and you just have to make do and separate yourself

from the fact that nobody’s there. To me it wasn’t much different from throwing in spring training on a backfield.”

— Manager Robin Ventura: “You couldn’t really hear anything. There wasn’t much going on. It was just a surreal

environment. I don’t think we really want to play another one like this. I don’t think anybody does. I don’t think they do

either.”

— Starting pitcher Jeff Samardzija: “This was a weird day. I’m not going to put too much into how we played today. It

was an awkward situation where we sat around for a few days so we have to get back into a little rhythm and play some

games in a row and keep going, keep working.”

— First baseman Jose Abreu: “It was kind of weird. But you can’t blame that on the crowd. We just played a bad game

today and that’s it. It’s not any one’s fault, it’s our fault playing the way we did today.”

Orioles rout White Sox in historic game Dan Hayes, CSN | April 29, 2015

BALTIMORE — Jeff Samardzija and the White Sox defense got off to a rough start and Wednesday afternoon’s historic

game was effectively over in quick fashion.

Without a soul in attendance other than scouts and media members, the Baltimore Orioles scored six times in the first

inning and rolled to an 8-2 win over the White Sox at Oriole Park at Camden Yards.

After citywide unrest Monday resulted in the cancellation of the first two games of the series, Samardzija took the loss

Wednesday at the first game in Major League Baseball history to be closed to the public. Samardzija allowed eight runs

(seven earned) and 10 hits in five innings while Ubaldo Jimenez pitched seven dominant innings for the Orioles.

“This was a weird day,” Samardzija said. “I’m not going to put too much into how we played today. It was an awkward

situation where we sat around for a few days so we have to get back into a little rhythm and play some games in a row

and keep going, keep working.”

With about 50-75 fans cheering and chanting from beyond the gates in left-center field and another dozen on hotel

balconies across the way, the White Sox and Orioles finally played after games on Monday and Tuesday were cancelled in

the aftermath of Monday’s riots. In deference to law enforcement efforts, the Orioles and White Sox agreed to play in

front of an empty stadium.

After Jimenez struck out two batters in a scoreless first inning, the Orioles offense picked up the energy. Coming off an

18-run outburst on Sunday, the Orioles took advantage of several freebies in the first.

Samardzija issued a leadoff walk to Alejandro De Aza but appeared to get a double play-ball off the bat of Jimmy Paredes

only to have Jose Abreu throw high to second base. Chris Davis followed a Delmon Young single and an Adam Jones’ RBI

sacrifice fly with a three-run home run on to Eutaw Street — only the 80th ball to ever reach the street beyond right field.

As Davis’ shot traveled out of the park, Orioles’ play-by-play man Gary Thorne could be heard yelling his home run call

with no crowd to drown out the noise.

Everth Cabrera later doubled in a run and Caleb Joseph had an RBI single for the Orioles, who grabbed a 6-0 lead.

“Today started off bad and got worse,” White Sox manager Robin Ventura said. “It was just right from the beginning. You

give them opportunities. They take advantage of it. I don’t think we were all that selective offensively either. It was just a

weird day. You move on and get ready for the next one.”

Pitching with a cushion against an aggressive offense, Jimenez was extremely efficient. He faced the minimum in six of

seven innings and only got into trouble once after his defense struggled in the fifth inning.

That’s when the White Sox were able to break through for a pair of runs. Machado, who homered in the fifth inning and

finished a triple shy of the cycle, made a throwing error that allowed Adam LaRoche to score. Geovany Soto also had an

RBI groundout as the White Sox got within 7-2 in the fifth.

But Samardzija gave up one last run on Machado’s homer in the bottom of the fifth and the White Sox offense only sent

13 batters to the plate over the final four innings.

“I tried to do too much,” Abreu said through an interpreter. “Sometimes you have bad games like this and you have to

move on. It was a very awful game for me on offense and defense but that kind of thing happens.

“(The atmosphere) was kind of weird, but you can’t blame that on the crowd.”

Nothing could have truly prepared both teams’ players for what they would face. Each team hit the field in the 30 minutes

leading up to first pitch with pregame music blaring over the sound system.

But once the game began, an eerie vibe dominated the scene as the two teams took the field at 2:05 p.m. EST in front of

45,971 empty seats. A prerecorded National Anthem was played and so was the Seventh Inning Stretch. Walkup music

accompanied each player to the plate.

But in between, players could hear everything on the field from the opposing dugouts to normal chatter to Hawk

Harrelson and Thorne calling the game from the broadcast booth above.

Fans outside the stadium did their best to support the Orioles, chanting “Manny, Manny” when Machado homered and a

number of “Let’s Go O’s.” Foul balls banged off empty seats and the occasional police and news choppers hovered

overhead.

But perhaps it wasn’t what they heard that offered the strangest comparison — the crowd.

Whereas Machado’s fifth-inning homer into the left-center field bullpen normally would have been accompanied by a roar,

the only sound was the delayed cheers of fans beyond the gate and a few claps from the Orioles.

“You hear some of the announcing when you got up there,” second baseman Micah Johnson said. “That’s how quiet it

was. You hear fans outside the stadium, literally everything. I’m sure you heard me like ‘No!’ on strike three. It’s weird. I

said ‘My bad’ out loud.”

“There’s no comparison.”

White Sox, Orioles have mixed emotions about making MLB history

Dan Hayes, CSN | April 29, 2015

BALTIMORE — Opinions are divided on whether or not the White Sox and Baltimore Orioles should have played

Wednesday afternoon following several days of civil unrest that led to the cancellation of the previous two games.

But with a need to make up any missed contests and a more peaceful night Tuesday, the White Sox said they are glad to

play at least one game at Oriole Park at Camden Yards — even if it made history. The two teams are playing in the first

ever game in Major League Baseball history that is closed to the public in an attempt to ensure law enforcement

resources aren’t tied up in an effort to protect the event.

“I’m not happy that I’m the first to do it and I wish it never would have happened but it is what it is,” White Sox

outfielder Adam Eaton said. “I’m excited to do this and what’s going on outside, it’s hard to speak upon. But you’ve got to

play the games and get them in and this is the best way they feel is necessary to do it.”

Whereas Monday’s pregame coincided with the beginning of riots that resulted in 200-plus arrests, 159 fires and 20 police

officers injured, Tuesday was much calmer as a weeklong citywide curfew was imposed at 10 p.m. Though it’s been

surreal and “scary,” the reduced tension left players and coaches feeling as if they could play Wednesday.

“We don’t feel the same way we did on Monday,” White Sox manager Robin Ventura said. “Yesterday there was a little

concern of being able to be in here and keep it safe. They didn’t necessarily want to move security or National Guard

down here just to protect us while playing a game. Yeah, it’s different today.”

Orioles outfielder Adam Jones said he understands why no fans attended the contest but also believes it would have been

a unifying event for the city at a time it needs it most.

“It's not an easy time for anybody right now,” Jones said. “It doesn't matter what race you are.

"We need this game to be played, but we need the city to be healed first.

“To have fans, it would be awesome because it can give them three hours of distractions, and that’s what sports brings,

it’s a small distraction from the real world. I think the people of Baltimore need that, but at the same time the safety of

those people are very important to those people, the Orioles, Major League Baseball and to the city of Baltimore.

Therefore it’s understandable why they’re not allowing any fans. It’s going to be weird, but it’s understandable.”

'Strange' setting awaits as White Sox, Orioles play in empty park

Dan Hayes, CSN | April 29, 2015

BALTIMORE -- The White Sox and Baltimore Orioles will make major league history on Wednesday afternoon when they

play in front of a closed stadium.

But at this point, that’s all White Sox players and coaches know about what to expect when they take the field at 2:05

p.m. EST with nobody else inside Oriole Park at Camden Yards aside from media, scouts and team officials.

Their three-game series halted for two days because of Monday’s citywide unrest, the White Sox and Orioles are set to

play for the first time this week with one caveat -- they’ll do it front of 45,971 empty seats. The silent venue is just

another twist on what has been a surreal and somewhat scary week for the White Sox, who head to Minneapolis to open

a four-game series Thursday.

“I don’t think anyone is prepared to play in this atmosphere or not,” White Sox manager Robin Ventura said. “It’s going

to be strange. There’s no way around it. For us the focus is to go out and play baseball. But it’s going to be strange, for

sure.”

Since word came down on Tuesday afternoon that the series would resume on Wednesday, several players have

suggested the experience would be akin to spring training B games and similar minor league experiences. But those

games take place on backfields at major league training facilities where a few dozen fans can sit on aluminum benches

and not in one of Major League Baseball’s most pristine parks.

Though MSNBC reported early Wednesday that the Orioles plan to run their regular in-game operations, including walkup

music and players announced as they hit as well as the National Anthem -- the team isn’t commenting on the process, a

spokesperson said.

“I don’t think the strangeness has set in right now,” infielder Gordon Beckham said. “I’ve never played in a big league

stadium that was empty. The closest I came was at the end of the season in Cleveland when there was like 1,000 people

there. It’ll be interesting. We’ve talked about possibly doing some cheering without any noise just to, kind of, add to it. If

somebody gets a hit, give them (a silent clap) without saying anything to kind of add to the ambiance. So we’ll see.”

Adam Eaton was asked about the cues crowds provide on how hard a ball has been hit or if a pitch gets past the catcher.

He expects that to be an added element to the uniqueness of the affair.

“Hearing is huge for an outfielder,” Eaton said. “You hear balls in the gap, how hard it’s hit, how weakly it’s hit. You know

if a ball gets by the catcher, if a guy is stealing, you can hear that all from the crowd. So it is going to be different, but

we’ve done it before when we were in the minor leagues and we’ll have to bring those senses back and really pay

attention.”

Without a crowd, players expect to hear broadcasters, who are situated about 180 feet behind home plate. They’ll be able

to hear each other, including third-base coaches shouting instructions at players. And there will be an absence of hecklers

from the stands, too.

“It will be a different feeling,” designated hitter Adam LaRoche said. “You get used to fans, whether it’s 5,000 or 50,000,

you get used to that. Anytime you do something you’re not used to or something that’s a little odd it’s going to be

different.”

Orioles start fast in empty park, emerge from surreal day with 8-2 win over White Sox

Dan Connolly, The Baltimore Sun | April 29, 2015

When Orioles first baseman Chris Davis slammed a three-run homer over the right-field scoreboard in the first inning

Wednesday during an historic afternoon at Camden Yards, there was no wild cheering.

There was virtual silence. Crickets, with light typing from a hushed press box mixed in.

Mid-Atlantic Sports Network broadcaster Gary Thorne’s call from the third-floor press box, “Goodbye, home run,”

resonated off the empty seating bowls. And there were muffled shouts from a small gathering of fans behind the stadium

gates beyond left-center field and from the balcony of the Hilton Baltimore, where another small group had congregated.

“When you’re rounding the bases, and the only cheers you hear were from outside the stadium, it’s a weird feeling,”

Davis said. “I’ll take any home run I can get at any time I can get it, but it’s definitely more fun when there are fans in

the stands.”

That was the extent of the celebration in a six-run first that propelled the Orioles to an 8-2 victory over the Chicago White

Sox in the only contest played between the two this week.

The others were postponed — and rescheduled for a doubleheader here on a mutual off-day May 28 — due to prolonged

civil unrest that escalated Saturday and again Monday following the death of city resident Freddie Gray while in police

custody.

Because the club did not want to pull security resources away from potential riot scenes in the city — and because it did

not want to postpone all three games of the series — the teams played Wednesday in what is believed to be the first

contest in Major League Baseball history without any fans.

“It was definitely weird,” Davis said. “Kind of like at a spring training intrasquad game, but even then I feel like we have 30, 40 fans. It’s definitely different.”

The stadium’s seating section, capacity 45,971, was empty with the exception of two scouts, the pitch-information scoreboard operator and the occasional news photographer. No family members, no ushers, not even the stadium vendor with the shrill “beer” call that has become ubiquitous over the years.

“I could hear every word you all were saying up there,” Orioles manager Buck Showalter joked with reporters after the game. “It was kind of like instructional league, Gulf Coast League, Arizona [Fall] League. … I was real proud of our guys, their concentration level.”

Wednesday’s official attendance was announced as “zero,” breaking the Orioles’ game-low of 655 on Aug. 17, 1972 at Memorial Stadium for a makeup game against the White Sox. It’s believed that the lowest recorded attendance in MLB history had been six between Worcester and Troy of the National League in September 1882.

There was no anthem singer Wednesday — a recorded version was used and only a few “Ohhhs” were audible from the fans outside. And no videos were shown on the board between innings — “Guess the Attendance” simply didn’t have the same intrigue.

But players were still announced over the loudspeaker, Zach Britton entered in the ninth to his typical AC/DC song and “Thank God I’m A Country Boy” still blared during the seventh-inning stretch.

That’s about the extent of the normalcy on Wednesday, which included a very un-Oriole-like time of game — it lasted just 2 hours, 3 minutes, by far the shortest of the year. It was so eerily quiet that on a popup in the third inning, White Sox first baseman Jose Abreu’s, “I got it,” and Orioles first base coach Wayne Kirby’s, “Run it out,” were crystal clear.

Several times, Davis caught an inning-ending out at first base and then flipped the ball into the stands, as he would do if fans were there.

“A fun thing to help everybody kind of relax,” Davis said. “The first few were in the lower section, and then I gave some love to the fans in the upper deck.”

Catcher Caleb Joseph also wanted to bring some levity, so he performed a brief pregame routine that he thought would be respectful, but keep guys loose. As he walked to the bullpen to warm up starter Ubaldo Jimenez, Joseph stopped in front of the first row, high-fived the air and mimicked signing a few autographs for the grateful empty seats. He then tipped his cap.

“Laughter does something to the soul sometimes, even when you are sad or when things are going bad,” Joseph said. “We were trying to have fun with it, but still understanding there are real problems in Baltimore right now.”

Adam Jones, Buck Showalter on Wednesday's closed game, Freddie Gray demonstrations

On the field, the Orioles (10-10) scored six runs immediately against Chicago’s Jeff Samardzija (1-2), who was tagged for eight runs (seven earned) in five innings.

Davis had the big blast in the first, homering onto Eutaw Street, the sixth of his career to land on the walkway behind right. Manny Machado had three hits, including a solo homer against Samardzija in the fifth.

It was plenty of run support for Jimenez (2-1), who lasted seven innings, allowing three hits and a walk while striking out six. He gave up two unearned runs that were set up by a Machado throwing error. Jimenez admitted there was extra incentive for him to pitch well Wednesday.

“I thought it was pretty important, because what the city is going through right now is hard,” he said. “I know a lot of people were watching that game on TV, supporting that game for the city.”

The Orioles have won three straight – albeit in a span of five days – after losing a season-worst five straight. After an off-day Thursday, they’ll play three games at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, Fla., as the home team, batting last and wearing white uniforms. It’s another strange situation in what has been surreal month for the Orioles.

During Showalter’s postgame press conference, a young man who introduced himself only as a city resident with no announced media affiliation asked what words of encouragement the manager could offer African-American youth in the city. Showalter said he didn’t want to act as if he knew what they were going through, but added an appropriate summation of the afternoon and homestand.

“We've made quite a statement as a city, some good and some bad. Now, let's get on with taking the statements we've made and create a positive,” he said. “We talk to the players, and I want to be a rallying force for our city. It doesn't mean necessarily playing good baseball. It just means [doing] everything we can do.”

Preview: Twins vs. White Sox AP, Fox Sports | April 30, 2015

The appeal process only is delaying the inevitable for Chris Sale, who likely will have his suspension upheld for his role in a benches-clearing brawl a week ago.

Until then, he'll try to help the Chicago White Sox get back on track when they open a road series against the Minnesota Twins on Thursday night.

Sale (2-0, 2.37 ERA) has been solid on the mound through three starts, but after pitching through the seventh last Thursday against Kansas City, the left-hander charged out of the dugout in the bottom of the inning during a skirmish that started with an exchange of words between Royals pitcher Yordano Ventura and White Sox outfielder Adam Eaton.

Sale, who allowed two runs in Chicago's 3-2, 13-inning loss, was one of five players to earn suspensions. He appealed his five-game ban, allowing him to pitch until the process is completed.

"In terms of Chris' makeup or character, anything along those lines, no, there's absolutely no concern," general manager Rick Hahn told MLB's official website after the suspensions were handed down. "He has a special makeup and that's part of what makes him great."

Sale could miss his next scheduled start if the suspension is upheld, but the Twins (9-12) likely wish the process had been finished sooner. Sale is 4-0 with a 2.88 ERA and 43 strikeouts in 34 1-3 innings in his last five starts against them after giving up one run and striking out eight in six innings of a 6-2 victory April 12.

The White Sox (8-10) hope Sale can deliver another solid effort after Jeff Samardzija, who also is appealing a five-game suspension, allowed six of his eight runs in the first inning of Wednesday's 8-2 loss to Baltimore.

That contest was played in front of an empty stadium as a result of rioting in Baltimore, and was believed to be the first in major league history in which no fans attended.

The first two games of the series were postponed until May 28, when the clubs will play a doubleheader at Camden Yards.

"It was just a weird day," manager Robin Ventura said. "It was such a surreal experience that you get past it and get ready for tomorrow."

The Twins jumped ahead by four Wednesday on Trevor Plouffe's three-run homer in the fifth inning, but Detroit rallied for the game's last seven runs to win 10-7.

Oswaldo Arcia hit a two-run homer in the fourth.

Minnesota had won three of four, a stretch that began with an 8-5 win over Seattle on Saturday. Trevor May (1-1, 4.91) got the start in that contest, but he was forced to leave after 3 1-3 innings when he was struck by a line drive on the right elbow.

May, who allowed two runs and struck out five before exiting, suffered a contusion. The right-hander received medical clearance to start this contest.

"It feels good - 100 percent," May said Monday. "I don't expect anything to get worse. I'll just keep treating it and see if I can completely get it gone in the next couple days."

May allowed six runs and struck out 16 in 11 innings over two winning starts against the White Sox last season.

White Sox hope for some normalcy in opener with Twins Sports Network, Fox News | April 30, 2015

(SportsNetwork.com) - The Chicago White Sox try to get back to some normalcy on Thursday when they open a four-game set with the Minnesota Twins at Target Field.

Chicago had its first two games with the Orioles postponed this week due to the violence in Baltimore that stemmed from the death of 25-year-old man while in police custody. The teams were able to play Wednesday's finale, but did so before an empty Camden Yards, as because of the situation the game was closed to the public.

Perhaps the White Sox were thrown off by the unusual circumstances, as Jeff Samardzija surrendered six runs in the first inning and they dropped an 8-2 decision.

Avisail Garcia finished with two hits and Geovany Soto drove in a run for the White Sox, who had a two-game winning streak stopped. Samardzija (1-2) was tagged in defeat for eight runs -- seven earned -- on 10 hits over five full frames.

"It was just a weird day," White Sox manager Robin Ventura said. "It was such a surreal experience that you get past it and get ready for tomorrow."

On Thursday, the ChiSox will turn to left-handed ace Chris Sale, who is 2-0 with a 2.37 ERA. Sale did not get a decision last Thursday against Kansas City, but it was through no fault of his own, as he surrendered two runs and nine hits in seven innings of a 3-2 loss.

Sale, who has not given up more than two runs in any of his three starts, is 7-1 lifetime versus the Twins with a 2.37 ERA in 17 games (9 starts).

Minnesota, meanwhile, will turn to righty Trevor May, who has beaten the White Sox both times he has faced them. May, though, has split two decisions this season and has pitched to a 4.91 ERA in three starts.

May was forced to exit his last start on Saturday against Seattle with two outs in the fourth inning after Kyle Seager laced a liner back up the middle that hit him in the elbow.

Minnesota lost the rubber match of its three-game series with the Detroit Tigers on Wednesday, 10-7.

Phil Hughes left the game with a hip injury after allowing three runs in five innings, but the Twins' relievers were not sharp. Tim Stauffer and Casey Fien (1-2) were both charged with three runs.

Oswaldo Arcia and Trevor Plouffe each homered for the Twins, while Joe Mauer was 3-for-5 with two runs scored and two runs driven in.

Chicago took two of three from the Twins earlier in the year.

Orioles win at empty Camden Yards, and hope 'this was something good' Paul White, USA Today Sports | April 30, 2015

BALTIMORE - Chris Davis won't soon forget the sound. He and the Baltimore Orioles hope the message is longer-lasting.

"It hit me when I made contact and you can hear it echoing off empty seats," Davis says of his long first inning home run Wednesday, a ball that landed on empty Eutaw Street behind the right field wall at Oriole Park.

"Hopefully this was something good, something positive can come from this," Davis says, not so much of the six-run first inning that loosened the tension of the first major league game ever played without fans in the stadium, not even so much that the Orioles beat the Chicago White Sox 8-2.

But rather that the game could be a step toward normalcy in embattled Baltimore.

After two days of postponements because of civil unrest, that final game of a scheduled three-game series was moved to the afternoon to comply with a city-wide 10 p.m. curfew. Gates were not opened to the public so as not to take police and other public safety personnel away from duties elsewhere in the city.

"It's not an easy time for anybody," says center fielder Adam Jones, who in his eight seasons has become the team's most visible and community-involved African-American. "The last 72 hours in this city have been tumultuous to say the least."

The unique game drew international media attention, but the team's message was aimed very close to home.

"The Orioles support the city of Baltimore," Jones says. "We play for the fans. We play for the city of Baltimore. People are always watching."

The only visible fans – actually more audible than visible – were a handful on the balconies of a nearby hotel and a couple dozen who began chanting, "Let's go, O's" from outside the stadium behind center field.

And when the Star-Spangled Banner played to an empty ballpark, that same group maintained a Baltimore tradition - shouting "Ohhhhhh!" at the start of the final verse.

The game presentation was set up to be as normal as possible – with the glaring exception of sea of empty green seats.

Lineups were on the scoreboard. Orioles players got their normal personalized walk-up music as they came to bat but, as Davis lamented, there would be no crab shuffle game on the scoreboard between innings.

Orioles catcher Caleb Joseph tipped his cap – to no one – as he jogged to the bullpen to warm up starting pitcher Ubaldo Jimenez, and pantomimed signing autographs before the game.

Ball girls were along each foul line. Two scouts watched from behind home plate. The only other people in the seating area were several press photographers and the man who logs the pitch speeds on the scoreboard.

But it was undeniable that things were different once the game started.

Davis' homer gave the Orioles a 4-0 lead. But the empty stadium made the ball's landing audible even several hundred feet away. The home run call of Baltimore TV announcer Gary Thorne - "Goodbye, home run!" - was audible in the stadium.

Players on both teams grappled with balancing the desire for a return to normalcy after peaceful protests that deteriorated into riots and looting with ongoing safety issues.

"We all just need to get back out there," White Sox center fielder Adam Eaton says of his team's second game since last Friday (they were rained out Saturday in Chicago). "But one part of me says this is bigger than baseball. Another part of me says we shouldn't adjust to what people do outside the stadium. I'm trying to be as delicate as possible with that, but I think normalcy would be good for the people around the city."

The White Sox hadn't left their hotel – within walking distance of Camden Yards – for two days except for a workout Tuesday.

"It's been kind of crazy," Eaton says. "We've had movies, ordering food in, a lot of video games – you have to get your competition somewhere. It's been good team bonding. Baseball players are very good at wasting time."

Eaton joked, "We're going to try to take the crowd out of it early," then said, "There's a pureness to it. It's kind of Field of Dream-ish - just a baseball game."

But the gravity of the situation wasn't lost on anyone.

"I watched the news more in the last couple of days than I have in my whole entire life," says Davis. "Just to see the anger, the emotion, the frustration of the city the last few days was shocking. It's frustrating. I understand why people

are upset and rightfully so. It's unfortunate that it's escalated to what it has. I think a lot of people were trying to do things the right way. I think there's still a long way to go but I think we're headed in the right direction."

The baseball reality for the Orioles will be three games at Tampa Bay this weekend, a series that had been schedule for Baltimore. They also face a doubleheader May 28, previously an open date, to make up the games postponed this week.

"We need this game to be played but we need this city to be healed first," Jones says. "We've seen good. We've seen bad. We've seen ugly. Our games canceled, postponed, relocated, a city that is hurting, a city that needs its heads of the city to step up and help the ones who are hurting."

Jones sent a direct message to the youth of the city, some of whom have been in the middle of the most violent of the protests.

"Someone has your back," he said. "When you look at the picture, it looks like no one is fighting for you. There are people like myself, not only athletes but civic leaders who are effecting change."

"I'd say to the youth," Jones continued, "your frustration is warranted. It's understandable, understood. The actions I don't think are acceptable. But this is their cry. Obviously, this isn't a cry that's acceptable but it's their cry and therefore we have to understand it and accept it. They need hugs. They need love. They need support. I'm going to try to give as much as I can because the city needs it."

On this day, baseball was part of the process.

"Baseball, sports, these are things that unite communities in dark times," Jones said.

But the eerie silence made it clear how different this particular game was.

As Orioles manager Buck Showalter said, "Let's not lose sight of why we're at this point."