First homer for Jones
When Adam Jones' plaque is being readied for Cooperstown, it will say his first homer in an Orioles uniform came in Vero Beach against former Oriole Matt Riley. Jones, who led off for the Orioles and had struck out in his first two at-bats, smacked Riley's second pitch over the left-center-field wall in the fifth inning, giving the Orioles a 2-1 lead in a game that ended a 4-4 tie. It was a golf shot that was probably aided by a wind gust, but the Hall of Fame doesn't need to know that. Mike Costanzo hit a homer to a similar part of the park in the eighth inning.
An alumni game
Pardon Orioles management if it had painful flashbacks in the middle innings yesterday. Former Orioles starter Jason Johnson pitched the third and fourth innings for the Dodgers, followed by Riley, who pitched the fifth. Johnson, 34, is trying to make it back to the majors after pitching in Japan last year. Riley, 28, is attempting to come back from a second ligament-reconstruction surgery on his elbow. They combined to give up one run, though the Orioles loaded the bases against Johnson in the third but couldn't score. There's no truth to the rumor that Orioles trainers accidentally walked to the mound while Johnson and Riley were pitching for old times' sake.
Hot-hitting Moore
Scott Moore might not have a set position, but if his bat keeps sizzling, the Orioles will find him a place. Moore went 3-for-4 with a walk yesterday, lifting his spring average to .571 (8-for-14). He scored two runs yesterday and has doubled in his past three games.
On deck
The Orioles come back to Fort Lauderdale today. They host the St. Louis Cardinals. Left-hander Adam Loewen gets his second start of the spring. Right-handers Jim Hoey and Ryan Bukvich also are expected to pitch. Anthony Reyes starts for the Cardinals.