More clubhouse chatter following 4-3 win

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - Adam Jones isn't going to change his aggressive approach at the plate. And he's certainly not going to spit on pitches teed up for him.

Jones got two balls to hit tonight in his first two at-bats from Rays starter Cesar Ramos, and he swung for the fences. Two pitches, two home runs.

"They were right down the middle, weren't they?" he said. "That's the rule of thumb. I put some good swings on some pitches I should have drove."

Jones had one home run before tonight and his average was down to .252.

"Felt good to get the ball out of the infield," he said, smiling. "It's a process. You've got to stay after it. You got to keep swinging. Eventually I was going to do something. I'm just glad we got the W."

Jonathan Schoop played a major role in the win with his tiebreaking two-run homer in the seventh.

"It was really nice, especially to come through there and especially to get a W," he said. "That's all this game's about, the win. I was real happy, especially to finish with a W."

Schoop drove an 0-2 pitch from Brandon Gomes over the left field fence.

"I was just trying to see the ball up and put one in play," he said. "The guy put a fastball in and just react and I put the ball out."

Schoop has experienced some rough moments in the field, especially at third base, but he performed exceptionally well at second tonight.

"I can not make any excuses. I have to play good defense, because good defense you have the chance to win with," he said.

"I have to continue to get better. The Orioles are about defense. You play good defense and you have a better chance."

Jones has been impressed by the rookie and he remains supportive.

"That guy has been improving his defense," Jones said. "Not just his offense, his defense is improving, his mindset is improving. He's starting to see the level up here and it's fun to see his progress.

"It's awesome. You can't protect these guys forever. You're going to have to throw them in the fire. And we're in the East. It's always a fire. So if he's going to be in there playing every day, if (Buck) Showalter has the confidence in him, he has to have the confidence in himself. And go out there no matter what and have good at-bats and put the ball in play, hit the ball hard.

"The kid is talented. It's fun to see his progression over the first month."

The leadoff hitter reached base in each of the first five innings against Orioles starter Bud Norris, who was charged with two runs in 5 2/3.

"You're obviously trying to get the first guy out, but some tough at-bats and some walks," he said. "Obviously, I'm frustrated, but I know I can get some double play balls during the game. You can't let it faze you too much. You've got to get the next guy out too."

Norris was working with Caleb Joseph, making his major league debut behind the plate.

"He was all right back there," Norris said. "There's obviously some things he's going to have to go back there and look at, some tendencies with me that I like to do. Shaking and freezing and stuff like that, but for the most part he's a great kid. He works really hard, has got a great approach back there. He's energetic, great frame.

"He's got some things he can learn from and that's what experience up here does for you."