Britton's sinker, Jones' Camden Yards homers and a take on Jon Lester

Zach Britton got another save for the Orioles last night. It was No. 21 and he is now 3-2 with a 1.65 ERA, 21 saves in 24 chances and a .187 batting average against. Britton said again last night that while the impression may be that he's never thrown a sinker as well as he's throwing it this year, that is just not true. "I felt like when I was healthy in the minors this is kind of what it was doing," he said. "Not at this velocity, but the movement of course. This is probably the best command I've had and I think that is why the success is there." The Orioles have played five consecutive one-run games, winning four of them. The bullpen pitchers are confident they will protect a late lead, according to Britton. "I would hope so. I had confidence that Darren (O'Day) was going to go in and do his job and I'm confident that I can go in there and give us a good chance to win," Britton said. Meanwhile, Adam Jones hit another first-inning homer last night, his 11th this season. But he also tied Cal Ripken for fourth place on the Orioles all-time list of Camden Yards homers. It was No. 85 for Jones at the Yard. He appreciates putting his name alongside Ripken, but beyond that, made it clear he isn't getting caught up in any stats like that right now. "Nice. Something with Ripken," Jones said. "Like I said, you guys look at that stuff. When I'm done and away from this game, I'll look at all of it. While I'm playing I could care less about statistics. Now you guys can write it down, smack yourself in the face with it after you write it down. I don't care what you do with it. But, to me, it means something in terms of I'm out there helping my team. But it doesn't mean anything." OK, Adam got it. Jones will likely have more to say today when he appears on his latest live chat on MASNSports.com. Be looking for that on our homepage at around 2 p.m. Lester talk: For a while yesterday afternoon, Birdland was abuzz with the reports that the Orioles were in "advanced talks" with Boston about a deal for Jon Lester. We learned later that seemed to be an exaggeration and, as of late last night, the O's didn't seem to be the team that may land the left-hander. On the one hand, adding such a pitcher could be just what the Orioles need to win a five-game or seven-game playoff series. Remember how C.C. Sabathia pretty much made the difference for the Yankees against the Orioles in 2012? Lester could do that for some team this year. But I don't see any way the Orioles should give up top prospects for a two-month rental, even one this good. The price is simply too high for the Orioles right now it appears and I completely agree. Will anything change today and could the O's be back in hot pursuit of Lester? Sure, the price could come down as the hours and minutes to the 4 p.m. deadline dwindle. That seems unlikely to me. Someone may give Boston the high price it seeks. I just don't think there is any way the Orioles should be that team.