Jones notches two RBIs as DH vs. Blue Jays

TORONTO -- Orioles center fielder Adam Jones' right shoulder passed all of his early tests on Friday, playing catch and taking some early batting practice, but manager Buck Showalter made a late lineup change and cautiously inserted Jones as the designated hitter for the series opener at Rogers Centre.

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Showalter said he knew Jones, who hasn't started since Monday, was close, but he decided after the first round of the team's official batting practice that DH'ing was the safest move. Jones went 1-for-3 with two RBIs in the O's 5-4 loss and the expectation is he will return to the field on Saturday.

"It started to get sore," Jones said of what happened during BP. "I am not going to push it in June."

The Orioles have been extra cautious with Jones as they are hoping to avoid a lengthy absence or trip to the disabled list. Jones' shoulder checked out structurally earlier in the week, but by putting David Lough in center field, Jones had another chance to rest his throwing arm.

"I told you all [preagme], I had two lineups, one he was at DH and one at center field," Showalter said. "It's like that second warmup -- he threw and felt OK. When he threw [to] the bases and everything, talking to [first-base coach] Wayne [Kirby] and Adam, I didn't like the description of the way he was feeling. Decided to wait another day. Except him to be in the lineup tomorrow."