masn-baseballs-orioles.jpgWASHINGTON – It’s become a tradition of sorts. The Orioles play a game, and Adam Jones hits a home run.

And he hits them a long, long way.

Jones crushed a Ross Detwiler pitch in the third inning for his 14th home run of the season, a two-run shot that extended the Orioles’ lead to 4-0. Detwiler tried to blow a 93-mph fastball past him.

Cha-ching!

The Orioles are 12-1 when Jones homers. Coincidence?

Jones has homered in four of his last five games. He didn’t hit No. 14 last year until…WASHINGTON – It’s become a tradition of sorts. The Orioles play a game, and Adam Jones hits a home run.

And he hits them a long, long way.

Jones crushed a Ross Detwiler pitch in the third inning for his 14th home run of the season, a two-run shot that extended the Orioles’ lead to 4-0. Detwiler tried to blow a 93-mph fastball past him.

Cha-ching!

The Orioles are 12-1 when Jones homers. Coincidence?

Jones has homered in four of his last five games. He didn’t hit No. 14 last year until July 15 in the Orioles’ 64th game.

Earlier tonight, Jones extended his hitting streak to a season-high 11 games with a single in the first inning.

Jason Hammel retired the first seven Nationals, striking out three, before Roger Bernadina walked in the third inning. He’s trying to record the rotation’s fifth consecutive quality start.

Update: Nick Markakis hit his second home run in two nights, a two-run shot in the fifth that increased the Orioles’ lead to 6-0.

Robert Andino led off with a double, making him 2-for-3 with two RBIs. J.J. Hardy lined to left, and Markakis homered to right.

Jones singled again in the fifth, making him 3-for-3 tonight.

The Orioles lead the majors with 64 home runs.

Hammel has allowed one hit in four scoreless innings, with one walk and four strikeouts.