Chicago Powers Past Mussina

Rookie Jeff Abbott homered twice and Mike Sirotka pitched his first complete game in the majors as the Chicago White Sox won their first series of the season by defeating Baltimore, 8-2, Thursday at Baltimore.

Albert Belle and Ray Durham also homered for the White Sox, who connected three times against Mike Mussina (2-2). Abbott and Belle hit successive 400-foot shots in the fifth inning to give Chicago a 5-0 lead. It was Belle’s first homer.

After the game, the Orioles revealed that Mussina has been bothered by a wart on the index finger of his pitching hand since the beginning of spring training.

“He could continue to pitch with it, but it’s being traumatized every five days,” Oriole Manager Ray Miller said. “I don’t foresee him making his next start and the disabled list is a possibility.”

Sirotka (2-1) gave up seven hits, walked one and struck out three. The 26-year-old left-hander never lasted beyond eight innings in 16 previous starts.

Abbott entered the game with two career home runs. His second homer of the game came in the ninth off Armando Benitez.

Baltimore had not lost two consecutive games before Chicago came to town.

Mussina, who did not give up a homer in his previous three starts, gave up five runs and eight hits in five innings. He struck out five and walked one.

“It’s gotten too frustrating to deal with. I just can’t go out there like this,” Mussina said of his injury, adding that it was probable that he would end up on the disabled list.

NEXT SERIES FOR ANGELS

WHO: Baltimore Orioles

WHERE: Edison Field

WHEN: Monday, 7

Tuesday 7 p.m.

Wednesday 7:30 p.m.