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 Jones hit a pair of two-run home runs to give the Orioles a 4-2
victory over the Los Angeles Angels on Monday night in front of
39,028 at Angel Stadium.
Baltimore right-hander Bud Norris (8-6) induced nine groundouts and
struck out eight in 6 2/3 innings while allowing two runs (one
earned), eight hits and two walks. Left-hander Zach Britton pitched
a perfect ninth inning for his 17th save.
The Orioles' third victory in five games enabled them to expand
their division lead over the New York Yankees and Toronto Blue Jays
to four games. The Angels fell two games behind the idle Oakland
Athletics in the American League West.
Jones, the American League's starting center fielder in the All-Star
Game, offered a simple explanation for his success against a pitcher
he never previously faced, Angels right-hander Matt Shoemaker.
"When you go up there, the best way to figure things out is trial
and error," Jones said. "I mean, I swing. I'm hackin'. Sometimes,
you run into the ball."
 Jones broke a 2-2 tie in the top of the sixth inning by hitting a
1-1 slider from Shoemaker over the center field wall for his second
two-run drive of the game. The homer was Jones' 19th of the season.
"That guy doesn't make many mistakes," Baltimore manager Buck
Showalter said of Shoemaker. "Adam made him pay for two of them."
Jones gave the Orioles took a 2-0 lead in the top of the first
inning with a blast into the left field stands. After that homer,
Shoemaker retired the next 15 batters, striking out eight of them as
the Angels forged a 2-2 tie.
Los Angeles scored an unearned run in the bottom of the first. After
right fielder Kole Calhoun singled, center fielder Mike Trout hit a
ground ball to Baltimore shortstop J.J. Hardy, who tried to start a
double play. Hardy's wide throw to the left of second baseman
Jonathan Schoop enabled Calhoun to reach the base. Calhoun came home
on a single by left fielder Josh Hamilton.
The Angels tied the score in the fourth and had a chance to get more
runs. After second baseman Howie Kendrick hit a ground-rule double
down the right field line and scored on catcher Hank Conger's
single, the Angels loaded the bases with two outs and Trout at the
plate.
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Norris threw a 95 mph fastball on the outside corner that Trout took
for a called third strike. Trout argued with plate umpire Eric
Cooper, to no avail.
"Mike usually doesn't say much at all," Los Angeles manager Mike
Scioscia said. "He plays the game, and we're sure he felt those
pitches weren't in the zone."
Shoemaker (7-3) tied his career best with 10 strikeouts and did not
permit a walk in 5 2/3 innings. He allowed four runs on five hits.
NOTES: Baltimore recalled RHP Bud Norris from Double-A Bowie to
start Monday's game. Norris was sent down to make a minor league
start during the All-Star break, and he lost that outing. The
Orioles optioned C Steve Clevenger to Triple-A Norfolk. ... Orioles
LHP Wei-Yin Chen celebrated his 29th birthday Monday. ... Los
Angeles signed free agent C John Buck to a minor league contract.
Buck, 34, has played for seven teams in his 10-year career. The
Seattle Mariners released Buck last week after he compiled a .226
average in 27 games. ... The Angels also outrighted INF Ian Stewart
to Triple-A Salt Lake, three days after designating him for
assignment. ... Angels 2B Howie Kendrick had the major league's best
average this month, .409 (27-for-66), entering Monday's play. ...
Angels SS Erick Aybar performed light agility drills before Monday
night's game and said he would be ready to return to the lineup
Tuesday. Aybar did not make the starting lineup for the third
consecutive game because of a sore left groin but grounded out as a
ninth-inning pinch hitter.
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