Talking about Jones, Davis and Connor (and 4-2 deficit)

Adam Jones just tied his career high in home runs with his 19th tonight, a two-run shot that gave the Orioles a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning. Jones also hit 19 homers the past two seasons. Blue Jays left-hander Brad Mills didn't locate a changeup, and Jones drove the ball an estimated 384 feet into the left field seats after Nick Markakis reached on an infield hit with one out. As I wrote earlier, manager Buck Showalter will explain his decision to remove first baseman Chris Davis from the lineup shortly before the first pitch. Davis spent some time in the trainers room today and he wore an ice pack on his right shoulder. It wouldn't surprise me if Davis can't play for health reasons, and Showalter doesn't want the Blue Jays to know that he's down to a three-man bench of Felix Pie, Blake Davis and backup catcher Craig Tatum. Josh Bell is a survivor tonight. He would have been optioned to Triple-A Norfolk if Davis hadn't been scratched from the lineup. Mark Reynolds is making his third start at first base this season, and his fourth appearance at the opposite corner. Showalter was asked before the game whether he was surprised that former pitching coach Mark Connor returned to the Rangers' organization. "No, not at all," Showalter replied. "He's very well-thought of over there and that job description fits him very well, where he is in his life. They're doing a very similar thing over there that he was doing before. He's very familiar with all the pitching people, and they with him. "No, it didn't surprise me at all. I know they had called Andy (MacPhail) about it." Update: The Blue Jays scored twice off Tommy Hunter in the top of the second inning to tie the game, 2-2. Third baseman Brett Lawrie, batting ninth, singled with two outs for his first major league hit and RBI. Yunel Escobar followed with a run-scoring double. Yes, the Orioles gave up two more runs with two outs. It's been a season-long issue. Update II: The Blue Jays scored two more runs in the third to take a 4-2 lead. Hunter allowed three hits and hit a batter. The Orioles failed to turn a 6-4-3 double play that would have prevented the second run from scoring. Hunter has thrown 65 pitches in three innings. Down on the farm, Double-A Bowie's Bobby Bundy has allowed five runs (two earned) and six hits in two innings, with two walks, one strikeout and one home run. Pedro Florimon committed his 21st error, and Xavier Avery was charged with his sixth.