Davis and Jones trying to heat up in Game 2 (O's win 5-2)

Chris Davis remains in the lineup tonight for Game 2 of the Orioles' doubleheader after going 0-for-3 and being hit by a pitch in the opener.

Davis probably would make a "contact" joke at his own expense. He's been scuffling at the plate, going 0-for-14 in his last four games and 1-for-18 in his last five to lower his average to .204

Though he didn't strike out today, Davis had whiffed eight times in the previous four games. He's hit one home run since April 23.

Davis continues to receive treatment on his left thumb after injuring it during his slide/dive into second base in an April 26 game at Tropicana Field.

Davis poked the ball down the left field line against the shift and was credited with a hustle double, which didn't come with style points. He raced home on Mark Trumbo's single into left field, never breaking stride and receiving postgame praise from manager Buck Showalter.

The effort was respected, but it came with a price.

"It was one of those instinctual moments that I wasn't necessarily thinking about sliding head first or sliding feet first," said Davis, who's had the thumb wrapped in ice after games. "I was just trying to be safe. But yeah, I just kind of jammed it in the bag.

"Obviously, with the cold weather it doesn't make it any better. But it's getting better. I'm starting to get a little bit of range of motion back and I don't think it will be an issue."

Davis has maintained his sense of humor. It's the power and hits that are missing.

"I feel it every time when I'm on defense, when I'm swinging, anytime I make contact, which hasn't been very often lately," he said. "But yeah, just one of those things early on that I have to battle through."

Adam Jones is fighting his own battle, his average tumbling to .198 after going 0-for-4 in Game 1.

Jones hit the ball hard twice to right field, but it found Josh Reddick's glove. He had an RBI on a fielder's choice grounder and was robbed by Danny Valencia's diving stop and throw along the third base line.

Fan speculation centers on Jones' health. He's been bothered by soreness in his rib cage area and his shoulder barked a little after a diving attempt in center field. He can be found wearing multiple ice packs while sitting at his locker after games.

"I really don't care what people think in that fashion," he said this morning. "There's times that you're hot and times that you're not. My defense is pretty good, though. Offense isn't an easy thing. I look at it as I take hits away from people and right now they're taking hits away from me, so continue grinding. I've struggled before. It's not going to be the last time I struggle in my career, so keep swinging.

"Professionals don't make excuses. Others do."

Update: Jones had an RBI single and Davis hit a two-run homer as part of a four-run third inning that gave the Orioles a 4-0 lead.

The first run scored on Hyun Soo Kim's grounder to second after Caleb Joseph singled and Manny Machado collected his 15th double to lead the majors.

Update II: The Orioles extended their lead to 5-0 in the fourth on singles by Jonathan Schoop and Ryan Flaherty, an error on A's first baseman Yonder Alonso and Joseph's double play grounder.

Schoop extended his hitting streak to 10 games.

Update III: The A's got on the board in the fifth on Alonso's leadoff double off the center field fence and Josh Phegley's RBI single. A second run scored with two outs on Josh Reddick's infield hit.

Update IV: The Orioles gained a split with a 5-2 win in Game 2.

Jimenez allowed two runs and nine hits in eight innings, with one walk and six strikeouts. He was done after 104 pitches, and Zach Britton recorded his seventh save.

The Orioles are 17-12.