Jones jump-starts offense batting leadoff

CLEVELAND — Sometimes when the going gets tough, changes need to be made. That was certainly the mindset of Orioles manager Buck Showalter leading up to the series opener against the Indians on Friday, when he inserted center fielder Adam Jones in the leadoff spot for the first time since May 6, 2010.

“I don’t like to get too predictable,” Showalter said. “Like my sister used to say, ‘It’s great to be organized.’ Every once and awhile, you got to be a little spontaneous.”

Through his first two at-bats, it has seemed to work to perfection. Jones rolled a single up the middle in the first and later scored from second on a single by shortstop Manny Machado. In Jones’ second at-bat, he yanked a single into right. It marked his first multi-hit game since May 15. During that span, Jones was 3-for-37 with 10 strikeouts in nine games.

Baltimore entered the opener on a four-game skid. The offense has been the major culprit for the team’s longest losing streak of the season, …

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