Baltimore Orioles’ Adam Jones: Hometown boy makes good

Adam Jones returned to his hometown last night and set the tone with an early home run as the Baltimore Orioles defeated San Diego 11-7.

Adam Jones of the Baltimore Orioles had a unique opportunity that sports sometimes provides last night. If you’re an athlete, odds are you’re going to end up working in a city far away from your original home. However in some cases the business of sports provides an opportunity for it’s workers to return to their original home on a “business trip.” And Jones took full advantage last night of that chance.

The Birds got five solid innings out of Ubaldo Jimenez, although it’s still not clear whether or not he’s viewed as a starter or a reliever. Jimenez’s line: 5.0 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 4 BB, 5 K. The four walks were a bit of a problem, but the fact is that Jimenez qualified for the win. His lone run given up was an Upton homer in the last of the first.

However that homer actually tied the score. Adam Jones led the game off for the Birds with a solo home run, which is how he took advantage of his “unique opportunity.” This isn’t the first time Jones has played in San Diego as a professional, nor is it the first time he’s homered there. However it has to be extra special to come back to your hometown where you grew up and where it all started for you – and have the opportunity to touch ’em all. 

SoDo Mojo

The Birds got the lead back in the fourth on Davis’ sac fly, and one inning later Kim smacked a homer of his own – this one of the two-run variety. But Chris Davis wasn’t going to be outdone, and in the top of the sixth his solo shot gave the O’s a 5-1 lead. But Kim didn’t want to be outdone either; so later in the inning he added an RBI-double.

This game ultimately turned into a donnybrooke of sorts, which almost overshadowed the story of Jones returning to his hometown. Schoop added a two-RBI double (in that same sixth inning), which was followed by a Machado two-RBI single. And before the sixth inning was done, Trumbo joined the party with an RBI-single of his own which put the O’s in command by the score of 11-1.

San Diego was able to rally a bit, putting six additional runs on the board. That included some runs in the last of the ninth. However at the end of the day it’s tough to come from ten runs down to win – unless you’re the 2009 Orioles who did just that against the BoSox. The O’s tallied 17 hits, the second consecutive game in which they’ve reached that mark.

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As I said, to me the story is Adam Jones homering in his hometown. As “civilians” we can’t quite grasp what it’s like to basically have to understand that we’re going to have to uproot ourselves and move to another city and adopt that as home. Jones has done that and then some; we all know his affinity for Baltimore. However I have to believe that for most people home is still where you grew up.

And to have the chance to go back to where you grew up and do something like hit a home run is going to be pretty special. I suppose one might draw a similarity with the idea of moving away and then returning to your hometown on business and closing a huge deal for one’s firm. But it’s still not the same as the sports analogy. That, along with the other times he’s homered or played well in San Diego have to be pretty cool moments for Jones.

Next: Baltimore Orioles must find solution to starting rotation woes

The quick two-game series will wrap up this afternoon. Yovani Gallardo will be on the mound for the O’s, and he’ll be opposed by San Diego’s Christian Friedrich. Game time is set for 3:40 PM.