Adam Jones with props for pitchers and a welcome back to three Mariners

The Orioles begin their series at home tonight with the Seattle Mariners. Right now, the Birds are leading the American League East by percentage points over Boston.

They are 23-13 overall, 16-6 at home and have won 12 of their last 17 games. Today, outfielder Adam Jones said the O's pitching staff that ranks third in the AL with a 3.53 ERA, deserves the bulk of the props.

"Our offense, you can give us all the credit you want, but if we are sitting out there on defense inning after inning, we can't produce offensively. Our pitching staff has been attacking the strikezone and letting the defense work for them," Jones said.

"The credit to me, I've said this all along, goes to our starting pitchers. And to our bullpen obviously. The starters are getting in that flow. Even if they give up some hits they are pumping the zone and keeping us active. We ask them 'Use us.' Because, not being cocky, but our defense is pretty good."

Orioles starting pitchers have nine quality starts the last 12 games and an ERA of 3.26 in that span.

In facing Seattle tonight, Jones is playing against his former team, the team that drafted him 37th overall in the 2003 draft and saw his rise as a minor leaguer. Jones was twice a Baseball America top 100 prospect with Seattle. Then the Mariners traded him to the Orioles on Feb. 8, 2008 as part of a five-for-one deal that included Chris Tillman in exchange for pitcher Erik Bedard.

"They gave me my start and created this opportunity for me in professional baseball," Jones said. "I got to meet some really, really good people that pushed me when I was 18 years and push me now at 30. There are lifelong relationships that were built there."

When Jones looks in the opposite dugout tonight, he will see three former Orioles in Nelson Cruz, Steve Johnson and Steve Clevenger.

"Nelly had the impact of a true veteran," Jones said. "Both Steves, I miss them. They are good people and good teammates. They put up good numbers in Triple-A and I didn't get to play with them as much here. But I am happy to see them doing well there.

"I saw Clevenger have a helluva at-bat the other day. Steve Johnson, I contacted him the other day through Facebook and then he got his first win (since May of 2013). I am glad they are in the majors and getting their shot," Jones said.

Jones brings a sizzling bat into tonight's series opener. He is batting .520 (13-for-25) his last six games with five multi-hit contests. During an eight-game hitting streak, he is batting .441 (15-for-34) with four homers and 10 RBIs. Jones has at least one RBI in six straight and eight of his last nine games.