Bob Haynie: Jones Heating Up As Birds Return Home
The Baltimore Orioles have big goals for the 2016 season. Winning the division and getting back to the playoffs are two of them.
If the Birds are going to achieve big success this year, they are going to need center fielder Adam Jones to play like the outstanding performer that he is. After a slow start with the bat, it looks like Jones is starting to get back on track.
Even though he has been splendid defensively, Jones has been struggling at the plate. He entered the rain-shortened two game series with the Minnesota Twins mired in a 3-for-24 slump and was batting just .200.
Against the Twins, he finally started looking like the five-time, All-Star that all of us have been waiting to see.
Jones went 6-for-10 with two home runs, five RBI's and four runs scored at Target Field as the Orioles swept the series. He delivered the game-winning hit in the ninth inning as the Birds won the opener 5-3 on Tuesday night.
He is hitting .350 with 10 RBI's with runners in scoring position this season. With two out and RISP, Jones is 5-for-10 with six driven in.
Not too shabby.
The Orioles are 20-12 and in first place in the AL East as the Tigers and Mariners come to Oriole Park at Camden Yards. The Birds are 13-5 at OPACY which is the best home record in the majors.
The return to form of Adam Jones will surely help the Orioles continue to win games no matter where they are playing.