Machado: "I think this is what the city needed" (plus more clubhouse quotes)

With the sports spotlight on Baltimore today, Adam Jones was asked what he would like fans from around the nation to take from today.

"The Orioles support the city of Baltimore," Jones said. "On everything. We are out there playing for the fans and the city. That is what is across our chest, and we are trying to represent them in the best way. They support us through the good and the bad, and as players, we support them."

Manny Machado said it was important for the Orioles to get back on the field today.

"It means a lot," he said. "I think this is what the city needed. A win, a W. We heard the fans (outside the stadium) out there. They were supporting us and that meant a lot."

But there were no fans allowed into the stands, which made for a strange and quiet afternoon.

"(You could) hear everything single thing," Jones said. "You could hear everything. This was different, but hey, you have to make the adjustments."

Chris Davis hit a loud three-run homer in the first inning of the Orioles 8-2 win over Chicago, but only quiet followed.

"And no noise," Jones said. "It's weird, it's different. But the guy at the plate had the whole entire dugout behind him."

There was a small but vocal group of fans just outside the gates and a group of fans on the balcony of a room at the Hilton Baltimore hotel. Could the players hear those fans?

"Oh yeah. You could see them. It was good to have them out there. I heard some White Sox fans, too. It was an unfortunate situation, but it was what we had to do," Jones said.

Machado had a 3-for-4 day, with a double, a single and a solo homer in the fifth inning. Another silent homer.

"That is weird," Machado said. "First time ever I ran the bases and didn't hear anything but my teammates clapping. It was a cool experience, believe it or not. Something everyone in here will remember. We got the win, that was the biggest thing."

Catcher Caleb Joseph, who went 2-for-4 with two RBIs, talked about the fans that were outside the stadium.

"Kudos to those people out in left-center field," he said. "We could hear them, and it did resemble somewhat of a home game. We heard that Orioles chant. In between innings was the most awkward part of the game when you are used to the Kiss Cam and the in-between entertainment. It was definitely different. Some times, I think we take for granted the impact of fans that they have on the game."

Joseph even had a pretend autograph session today when he went through the motions of signing for a fan that was not there.

No fans? No problem! @McGrattan17 still signs autographs and waves to the stands! #IBackTheBirds pic.twitter.com/BlwX1jFFtF

-- Orioles on MASN (@masnOrioles) April 29, 2015

"Well now fans can't blame me for not signing," he said, laughing. "It was something that came to me yesterday. Thought it would be fun. Kudos to the fans outside the gates, their presence was heard and felt."

Ubaldo Jimenez gave the O's rotation another solid start today, allowing just three singles and two unearned runs over seven innings.

"I was able to have good command of the fastball and all of my pitches were working," he said. "The guys scored me six runs in the first inning. That made it more comfortable too. Plus there were some fans that we could hear outside the stadiuim. They were really loud.

"It was important (to play today). We all know what the city has been though. Something sad right now with everything they are going through."

Jimenez is 2-1 with an ERA of 1.59 in four starts this year. Over his last six Camden Yards starts, he is 5-0 with a 2.72 ERA.