Whenever things manage to go well for these Orioles — and an 8-4 win over the Chicago White Sox to avoid a series sweep that would have tied them for the club record with 107 losses on a sun-splashed afternoon at Camden Yards wholly qualifies — it seems two players are at the heart of it: Cedric Mullins and Jonathan Villar.
The former was promoted in mid-August to take over in center field down the stretch, and had his first career four-hit day atop the lineup Sunday. Villar, a middle infielder who has played mostly second base for the Orioles since being acquired from the Milwaukee Brewers on July 31, had three hits, including a Eutaw Street home run, to help the team to its second win this homestand and put off the record-tying loss for at least one day.