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Jones' homer lifts Orioles over Mariners

Jun 2, 2011 - 12:59 AM Seattle, WA (Sports Network) - Adam Jones' eighth-inning solo home run lifted Baltimore over Seattle, 2-1, as the Orioles avoided getting swept in the three-game series.

Jones totaled three hits against his former team, while J.J. Hardy added two hits, including a second-inning home run, to help the Orioles snap a five-game losing streak.

Jim Johnson (4-1) picked up the win for Baltimore after tossing 1 1/3 scoreless innings in relief of Brian Matusz, who made his 2011 debut after being activated from the disabled list.

Matusz had been on the DL since March 30 because of a strained left intercostal muscle, and threw 5 2/3 innings Wednesday, giving up the one run on four hits. He did not walk a batter and struck out three.

Ichiro Suzuki and Jack Wilson both had two hits for the Mariners, who lost for just the second time in their last seven games.

Jamey Wright (1-2) took the loss after surrendering Jones' solo blast. With one out, Wright dealt a 2-1 fastball over the plate and at the knees, and Jones hammered it to the second deck in left field to put Baltimore in front.

"I had a 1-0 pitch to drive and I just was under the ball and fouled it off," Jones said. "I felt that I was late on it, and then I told myself, 'stay on top of the ball' and he missed down and in and I didn't."

Wright admitted to throwing a bad pitch.

"It just flattened out, right into his barrel, bad pitch, bad location, especially for a guy that's all he's trying to do is hit the ball out of the park," Wright said.

Koji Uehara then worked a 1-2-3 eighth and Kevin Gregg earned the save, his ninth, with a perfect final inning.

The Orioles jumped in front when Hardy homered off Seattle starter Michael Pineda. He was behind in the count before slamming a hanging slider to left field.

But that was the only run given up by Pineda in seven innings. The 22-year-old Dominican native struck out seven while allowing six hits and walking one.

Seattle tied the game in the bottom half of the second inning. Miguel Olivo led off with a base hit, advanced to second on Franklin Gutierrez's fly out to second, then scored on Wilson's single.

Matusz then stymied Seattle's offense for the rest of his start, getting help from Jones in the fourth inning. Olivo blasted a ball to deep center field and Jones ranged back, making the over-the-shoulder catch as he jumped into the padded wall.

Game Notes

Baltimore designated catcher Jake Fox for assignment Wednesday as Matusz came off the DL...The Orioles improved to 5-7 against the AL West this season...Suzuki made is 247th consecutive start, the second-longest streak among active MLB players...Ryan had an 11-game hitting streak broken, going 0- for-4.