Adam Jones, Gerardo Parra and Caleb Joseph comment after O's blowout win over A's

Just four days after being no-hit, the Orioles today tied their club record for hits in a game. They had 26 in an 18-2 romp over the Oakland A's. Since that no-hitter on Wednesday at Seattle, the Orioles have scored 30 runs the last three games on 48 hits with 10 homers and a team average of .375.

"A lot of guys were (ticked) off at what happened," catcher Caleb Joseph said. "This club is capable of games like this. We have a lot of talent. After two walk-off wins, it might have been easy to come out flat. But this team is full of fire.

"Winning is a lot of fun. Whether it is a walk-off in the 13th or you win by a lot," Joseph said after setting a career high with four RBIs on a 3-for-4 day. Joseph had what at the time was a very big hit when he delivered a two-out, two-run double in the second to give the Orioles a 3-1 lead.

"At that point of a close game, you are just trying to get the runners in," he said. "The guy had a nasty sinker and I swung over it. Then I got a slider to put in the corner there. You never know which runs will decide it and it felt big at that moment. You have no idea then you will score a lot more. I learned a lot from J.J. (Hardy). He seems to never really pump up when he is going for that RBI situation. In the past, I've had times I tried to do too much."

Was there a point today when Joseph thought, 'This is crazy'?

"When (Gerardo) Parra got his fifth hit," Joseph said. "People don't realize how hard that is. Five hits in one day? C'mon. Then he squared up that ball in the eighth. He's been a great addition to our club."

In his first 11 games as an Oriole, Parra had nine hits and was batting .196. He matched that hit total the last three days going 9-for-15 against Oakland with two homers, seven runs and four RBIs.

"I feel more comfortable with the team," he said. "Just not trying too hard. Just help us get a win. It's nothing about me, just the team. I feel right now like it's the playoffs with the stadium full every night. But don't want to think too much about the playoffs, just take it day-by-day and win-for-win,."

Parra's five hits tied his career high for the third time. He came up in the eighth against Ike Davis, a position player who was on the mound and lined out to left.

"One guy told me if I got a hit get to third base to hit for the cycle. It's not easy, but just tried to make a winning play," Parra said.

Adam Jones hit two homers today. It was his eighth career multi-homer game and the 11th by an Oriole this year. His second came during the Orioles' nine-run fifth inning - their biggest inning of the year.

"Long inning. Been on both sides of it," Jones said. "That was good. More like follow the leader, the guy ahead of us is having a good at-bat, so have one yourself. That's a lot of hits, but I don't know the records here. Franchise has been here for 60 years. Lot of things have gone on in this organization. Cool."

Jones was asked about the big offensive outburst just days after the no-hitter.

"All you guys keep wanting to dwell on the damn no-hitter. But a loss is a loss. We came out ready to swing the bat today," he said.

The game included O's pitcher Jason Garcia batting in the eighth inning. When designated hitter Steve Clevenger went in to play first, the O's lost the DH. Garcia went up against Davis and drew a four-pitch walk.

"Hilarious," Jones said. "(Jonathan) Schoop struck out against the (position player) pitcher and (Garcia) got a walk. It's part of the game. You get a game like today and Buck wants to get some guys a rest and those things happen. I was hoping Mychal Givens could go live his lifelong dream to make it to the big leagues as a hitter. That would have been cool."

With today's win, the Orioles moved into a tie for the second American League wild card with Los Angeles, pending the outcome of the Angels game tonight at Kansas City.

"We have 46 games remaining. We control our own destiny. Just go out and win games," Jones said.

Joseph said: "We control of our destiny and that is how we like it. There are not 25 people in the city of Baltimore that want to do it more than us. It's now or never so let's get after it."

In the final tally today, the Orioles scored 18 runs on 26 hits, which included 11 for extra bases (with seven doubles and four homers) and went 12-for-23 (.522) with runners in scoring position. They scored runs in six of their eight innings.