Some O's and Nats notes, plus more advice for Jones for the Home Run Derby

Maybe the Nationals have the Orioles right where they want them - at Camden Yards. It's a place where the Orioles win 51 percent of their games as opposed to the road where they win 58 percent. They also score fewer runs at home as we've detailed here often this year. Actually, the Orioles have not hit much in the last two games, save for one inning where they exploded for six runs. They have scored four runs in the other 19 innings in the last two games against the Nationals. Now tonight they will try to beat left-hander Gio Gonzalez (6-4, 3.52 ERA). Over his last three starts, Gonzalez has pitched 21 scoreless innings and allowed just nine hits. He takes a scoreless innings streak of 22 straight into tonight's start. More notes on the O's and Nationals: * The Orioles were trying to move 10 games over .500 with a win last night for the first time since Sept. 17, 2013 when they were 80-70. * Over these last two games with the Nats, Manny Machado is 8-for-10 with a double, two homers and three RBIs. In four games since returning from his suspension, he is 12-for-21. Machado has hit five homers over his last eight games and is batting .431 (22-for-51) over his last 12 games. * The Nationals played their 13th straight game without an error last night. It is the longest streak in the majors this year and ties for the longest ever by the Nats. They also went 13 straight from June 2-15, 2011. * Nelson Cruz went hitless last night. But over his last four games he is 11-for-19 with three doubles, two homers and five RBIs. * Adam Jones has an eight-game home hitting streak. He is batting .481 (13-for-27) in that span with three doubles, two homers and six RBIs. In 36 games since June 1, Jones is batting .338 with 10 homers and 24 RBIs. * With Wednesday's win, the Nationals are 40-3 when scoring four runs or more and 34-12 when scoring first. Before yesterday's game, Chris Davis was asked if he had some advice for Jones. Davis took part in the Home Run Derby last year and Jones is taking part this year. "My biggest thing going into it last year was don't swing and miss," Davis said. "So, foolishly I went out there and said I'm going to try and hit a nice line drive and I did. You know, don't change anything. It's batting practice. You are going to have a little more adrenaline and it's going to be worth more, but at the same time go out and just have fun." Davis was asked about some players choosing to not take part in the competition and that whole does it mess up your swing thing? "I think it is up to the individual," Davis said. "Some guys don't want to mess with what works. Some are particular about their routines. I understand that, but if you have the opportunity to do something you wanted to do for a long time, go out and enjoy it. I think the whole slump thing and people being afraid of that, it gets to be old after a while."