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Jones's Hit Helps O's Salvage Finale
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"I feel like all the pitches are there for me and that's something I didn't really have [last year]," said Guthrie, who got no decision because the Orioles' bats failed him again. "I really feel like I can throw any of the four for strikes and I have confidence behind in the count even, so I feel good about that."
With the game still tied in the eighth, reliever Jim Johnson entered. He walked leadoff hitter Kevin Youkilis, and, after RamÃrez's single, Mike Lowell delivered an RBI single to right. But Johnson managed to contain the damage, escaping a bases-loaded jam by inducing a double-play ball by Julio Lugo.
With the Orioles down a run, Jones went about erasing his teammate's sins.
Jones has worked with hitting coach Terry Crowley about the mental aspects of hitting. The eighth inning provided him with a perfect chance to put the lessons into practice.
Jones, who has been a free swinger at times, has worked on his patience at the plate. It proved key in the at-bat against Okajima, who tried to tempt Jones with a high 2-1 fastball. Jones admitted that earlier in the year he would have swung at the pitch.
"He didn't chase pitches out of the strike zone." Trembley said. "He showed real good poise, he didn't get himself out, he got himself in a good count."
At 3-1 Jones was assured of a ball to hit hard, and Okajima obliged, serving up a fastball down the middle of the plate. Jones's three-run double was enough.
"We haven't been playing as well as we wanted to, of course," said Jones, who improved to 3 for 5 with the bases loaded this season. "But to get on the plane and go to another city with a win is a lot better than a loss."
