Notes and quotes before tonight's game (O's win 8-2)

Most of the early talk during manager Buck Showalter's pregame session with the media today involved college football, the Ravens and new ESPN baseball analyst Jessica Mendoza, a four-time All-American softball player at Stanford.

Showalter keeps suggesting that reporters look up her career stats. OK, I did. She batted .416 with 70 doubles, nine triples, 50 home runs and 188 RBIs in 259 games. She also stole 86 bases and posted a .719 slugging percentage.

"I talked to her today," Showalter said. "She's pretty impressive. Especially her stats. Check out her stats at Stanford. Really? It's like she's playing Wiffle ball. That's how good they are.

"She may be the best women's college outfielder ever. Would I get an argument there? We should know if we don't. I looked up her stats. Unbelievable.

"Very impressive in the pregame meeting. She knows her stuff."

Showalter and executive vice president Dan Duquette are waiting for Triple-A Norfolk, down two games to one to Columbus in the best-of-five International League playoffs, to finish its season before deciding on call-ups. He mentioned how first baseman Christian Walker is "deserving." He also sounded as though he'd approve of having pitcher Tyler Wilson return.

Nolan Reimold is starting for the seventh consecutive game. He's 7-for-21 this month with three home runs, seven RBIs, five walks and eight runs scored.

Managers always warn against falling in love with spring and September stats. That rule doesn't always apply to a veteran such as Reimold.

"It's a proven method for failure if you go completely on September or spring, but there are guys who do it well, too," Showalter said. "Nobody's going to be productive if they're not healthy. Not just Nolan. But I think a lot of things will be a little more public about some of the challenges our guys have faced physically over the course of the year when the season's over, but they don't want to talk about it now.

"I think Nolan, I look at him as a lot younger than (31) because he hasn't really play much in the last two or three years. And he's very hungry and very driven. He's all about baseball. Until you take the time to really talk to him and get to know him, he's a sharp and engaged guy in the competition, and nobody works harder at his trade than Nolan. But he's had to work a little smarter and more's not always better. He's constantly doing some stretching and different things to keep everything in line, and he's worked very hard to get back here.

"He's not one of those guys you're going to appreciate unless you really know him. Clubs that take him off waivers for a week or 10 days, you really aren't going to get to know what he's capable of bringing."

The Orioles are facing two more left-handers in the Red Sox series with Eduardo Rodriguez and Henry Owens.

"It's amazing to me how the number of left-handed starters we've seen has multiplied as the season went on," Showalter said. "We actually have a better record against left-handed starters than right-handers. We saw like four, then five the next month. Now we're seeing eight, nine and 10 this month."

The Orioles are 19-16 versus left-handers and 49-57 versus right-handers. The Royals are sending right-hander Johnny Cueto to the mound tonight.

For the Royals
Alex Gordon LF
Ben Zobrist 2B
Lorenzo Cain CF
Eric Hosmer 1B
Kendrys Morales DH
Mike Moustakas 3B
Salvador Perez C
Alex Rios RF
Alcides Escobar SS

Johnny Cueto RHP

Update: Adam Jones hit a three-run homer in the first inning to give the Orioles a 3-0 lead. The ball traveled an estimated 450 feet and landed in the Orioles' bullpen.

Jones has homered in back-to-back games and has hit three in the last seven games.

Update II: So much for a shutdown inning. Chen gave up two runs with two outs in the second on doubles by Salvador Perez and Alex Rios and an RBI single by Escobar on an 0-2 pitch.

Cueto keeps giving up home runs. Jonathan Schoop took him deep leading off the bottom of the second, the ball approaching the Royals' bullpen. Orioles 4, Royals 2

Update III: Schoop homered again in the fourth inning, this time to center field to give the Orioles a 5-2 lead.

Schoop's other multi-home run game occurred on May 26, 2014 in Milwaukee.

The Orioles are 24-4 when Schoop homers in his career.

Update IV: Chris Davis homered in the fifth to give the Orioles a 6-2 lead. Cueto has surrendered four home runs tonight and seven in two starts against the Orioles this season.

Davis and Brady Anderson are tied for the third-most home runs hit at Camden Yards with 91. Rafael Palmeiro has 124 and Jones has 106.

Update V: The Orioles added two more runs in the seventh to lead 8-2. One run scored on Manny Machado's ground ball following a double by J.J. Hardy and a single by Nolan Reimold. Jones delivered an RBI double.

Chen allowed two runs and six hits in seven innings, with no walks and two strikeouts. He threw 105 pitches, 70 for strikes.

Update VI: The Orioles defeat the Royals 8-2 and win back-to-back series for the first time since July 24-29 versus the Rays and Braves.

O'Day and Britton each worked a scoreless inning.

The Orioles scored 28 runs in the three-game series.

The Orioles and Rays are tied for third place in the American League East.