Jimenez and Pearce on the win, Davis on playing third, McFarland on getting a start

Ubaldo Jimenez had not won at home all year and finally he got one tonight. He gave up just four hits and one unearned run over eight innings, pitching the Orioles past Texas 7-1. He entered this start 0-6 with a 6.28 ERA in eight home starts. "It feels good, finally to get the first win at home and finally being there for the team. It feels really good," Jimenez said. The fans cheered him as he left the mound after the top of the eighth. "As a ballplayer, that's what you play for, to be there for the fans, to get a good (cheer) from the fans," Jimenez said. "If you don't do good, no one will be cheering. They won't be cheering for you, but when things are going great, you know they're going to be there supporting you, so it was great. "Like I said, you want to be there for the team, you want to be there for the fans, you want to be there for everyone. But you know, this is a tough game. Sometimes things don't go your way." Jimenez walked just one tonight with seven strikeouts and threw 116 pitches, 71 for strikes. He got some early run support with a 6-0 lead after the fourth inning. "It feels good," he said. "You just have to be there and throw strikes. You get ahead right away, so you just want to get your teammates in the dugout right away." Tonight, Jimenez looked like the pitcher who had such a strong second half for Cleveland last year. "Everything was working. My mechanics, in the last two games, I've been able to feel comfortable on the mound, my mechanics are coming along," he said. "So when my mechanics are good, I'm OK to throw a fastball, throw a breaking ball in any count for a strike. "I know it's been really tough for me in the first half, but I have a lot of confidence, a lot of faith that things are going to change. They changed before. So I understand that. I always come in every day with a positive mind that things are going to change." For Steve Pearce, he doesn't need anything to change. He's swinging a hot bat and tonight produced his first career two-homer game. "It felt great for myself and it was big for the team," Pearce said. "We needed to get some runs and start the series off right. "You get into a comfort zone and you start to feel good, so I'm trying to ride it as long as possible, set the table for Adam (Jones) and (Nelson) Cruz. It's just good to spark the team. "It was a roller coaster early (for me this season), but I'm so thankful to be back here and to be able to contribute to the team. Me and my family are really happy." With Manny Machado's suspension starting tonight, Pearce said the Orioles need to stick together during this five-game stretch. "Those guys are a big part of that team. When you lose somebody like that you've got to find a way to do it," Pearce said. "(Chris) Davis was out there and did a great job. He might be doing that for the next couple days, so it's definitely good to see guys step up." Davis made his first major league start at third since Sept. 28, 2011. "Yeah, that was interesting. I definitely got my work in early this afternoon. Got a chance to go over there. Just took one of (Machado's) gloves, turned it on and let it do the rest. Screwed one up, but actually, don't think it was an error. We'll leave it at that," Davis said of the throw that was ruled to have pulled Pearce off the first base bag with a run scoring in the top of the fifth. Manager Buck Showalter confirmed after the game that T.J. McFarland will be his starting pitcher for Tuesday's game. McFarland is 0-1 with a 2.70 ERA. His 0.57 June ERA leads the American League among pitchers with 10 or more innings. Now he's ready for the challenge of this start. "I'm extremely excited for tomorrow. I'm anxious, little bit nervous. It's all good emotions. Go out there and do my best," McFarland said. "I've had some success here in the last couple of outings. I think I'm just going to keep doing the same thing. Obviously starting, it's a little different than coming out of the 'pen. You have to pitch a little bit differently, but it's still the same game."