Tuesday's blast was the first of the year for Jones, but the second-year center fielder has flashed considerable gap power with five doubles and a triple in eight games. Most of his extra-base hits have gone the opposite way, to right-center field.

The Orioles will not put pressure on Jones to hit home runs. His spot as the No. 2 hitter suggests the club would like him to continue going the opposite way and setting the table alongside leadoff man Brian Roberts.

But a breakout season with the home run bat would be a welcome sight for the Orioles, who are devoid of a 30-plus-homer hitter. Aubrey Huff and Luke Scott homered Tuesday, but Jones and Ty Wiggington are the only right-handed hitters on the active roster with the potential to hit 20-plus home runs.

Jones could double his nine-homer output from last year, and he could approach 40 doubles in 2009.

ORIOLES 7, RANGERS 5 (10 innings): The Orioles scored four runs in the top of the 10th and weathered two Rangers runs in the bottom of the frame to take a 2-0 series edge. Before closer George Sherrill allowed two runs in the 10th, the Baltimore bullpen had tossed 7 2/3 shutout innings.