A few observations after the latest Orioles win which featured the latest escape by Tommy Hunter as he picked up his 10th save in 11 chances: * The most analyzed and over-analyzed Oriole I can ever remember, Adam Jones, got his homer swing back last night. He crushed two balls to center field and not one person complained he swung at the first pitch. At least not to me. Jones was due to hit some homers with just one on the year before the game. Many theories were thrown out about Jones here...

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - Adam Jones isn't going to change his aggressive approach at the plate. And he's certainly not going to spit on pitches teed up for him. Jones got two balls to hit tonight in his first two at-bats from Rays starter Cesar Ramos, and he swung for the fences. Two pitches, two home runs. "They were right down the middle, weren't they?" he said. "That's the rule of thumb. I put some good swings on some pitches I should have drove." Jones had one home run before tonight...

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - Orioles manager Buck Showalter walked up to MASN's Gary Thorne last night to start his post-game interview and mumbled, "Textbook." We got the joke. The Orioles didn't take the easy path to their 4-3 victory over the Rays, allowing a run in the ninth and putting runners on the corners with one out. Closer Tommy Hunter walked the tightrope again, but he didn't fall, recording his 10th save in 11 tries by inducing two line drives that found gloves - the last his...

The longball returned to the Orioles offense tonight. Tied for 12th in the American League in homers at game time, the O's blasted three tonight as they beat Tampa Bay 4-3 at Tropicana Field. It got interesting in the last of the ninth. Tampa Bay's Ryan Hanigan singled with one out to bring Tampa within 4-3 and put runners at first and third. But Tommy Hunter got out of the jam, getting a soft line drive to second and then a liner back to the mound that he gloved to end the game. It's...

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - Rookie Jonathan Schoop has hit three home runs this season. None of them have been cheap. When he gets hold of one, he really gets hold of it. Schoop's two-run shot to left field off Rays reliever Brandon Gomes in the seventh inning gave the Orioles a 4-2 lead at Tropicana Field. Steve Pearce singled with two outs and Schoop connected on an 0-2 pitch from Gomes, who couldn't get a 90 mph fastball past him. Gomes threw two cutters before going with a two-seamer. Orioles...

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - Adam Jones hadn't hit a home run before tonight since April 8 in New York, a span of 22 games. The Orioles center fielder was due, folks. Jones belted No. 2 leading off the top of the second inning to give the Orioles a 1-0 lead over the Rays. He jumped on the first pitch from Rays left-hander Cesar Ramos, an 89 mph sinker, and deposited it over the center field fence. Jones was 1-for-8 lifetime against Ramos before tonight's game. He had six hits in his last 37 at-bats...

The Washington Nationals, following today's 3-2 home win over the Dodgers, optioned first baseman/outfielder Tyler Moore to Syracuse of the Triple-A International League. Nationals President of Baseball Operations and General Manager Mike Rizzo made the announcement. The 27 year-old Moore is 6-for-30 (.200) with a double, two home runs, three RBI and three walks in 18 games for Washington this season. In Moore's five starts (three at first base, two in left field) this year, Washington's...

The Washington Nationals today returned from rehab and reinstated catcher Wilson Ramos from the 15-Day Disabled List and optioned right-handed pitcher Blake Treinen to Syracuse of the Triple-A International League. Nationals President of Baseball Operations and General Manager Mike Rizzo made the announcement. Ramos, 26, returns to the Nationals after missing 32 games with a hamate fracture in his left hand, suffered on Opening Day, March 31 at New York (NL). In two Minor League rehab...

Manager Matt Williams said Stephen Strasburg did not have to make any changes to his strategy after four hits and two runs allowed in the first inning. "He got what he wanted in the first inning, couple of grounders that got through," Williams said. "Just found holes. I don't think there was any major adjustments after inning No. 1. He had good location the rest of the game, good breaking balls. But I don't think it was any different than inning No. 1." Williams said Strasburg is up to...

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - Orioles catcher Matt Wieters doesn't have a term for the condition of his right elbow. He's just relieved that the word "surgery" wasn't attached to it. "You'd have to call Dr. (James) Andrews," Wieters said, smiling. "Just discomfort." That's pretty much what Andrews told Wieters and the Orioles. "He's just kind of said that everybody's elbow looks different," Wieters said. "It's more about going by feel, and all the tests we did tested fine for...