SEATTLE (AP) - Michael Pineda once again gave Seattle a great chance to win. That was more than the Mariners' hitters accomplished Wednesday.

Locked in another close game, the Mariners wound up with a 2-1 loss. Adam Jones had three hits, including the go-ahead homer into the upper deck in the eighth inning, and a highlight-reel catch against the wall in center field against his former team.

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Seattle lost for the third time in 14 games, many of them decided by a run or two.

``Every game we are playing is tight,' manager Eric Wedge said. ``Our starters have done a great job, bullpen has done a great job. Every now and again you're going to get snake-bit, but I can't say enough about the job they are doing.'

The Mariners managed just four hits off Baltimore starter Brain Matusz. He went 5 2-3 innings and allowed one run in his season debut after spending the first two months of the year on the disabled list.

``We've got to come out and swing the bats, because one run, that's not fair to Pineda,' shortstop Brendan Ryan said.

Pineda threw seven marvelous innings and gave up one run and six hits, including a home run by J.J. Hardy. Baltimore got only one runner into scoring position over the course of the game

Pineda wound up with a no-decision, leaving the rookie with a 6-2 record and 2.30 ERA in 11 starts. He retired 11 of 12 batters in the middle innings before running into some trouble in the seventh.

Hardy had a broken-bat single with one out and Pineda walked his lone batter of the game, Mark Reynolds, putting a runner in scoring position for the first time all game. Pineda buckled down and struck out Robert Andino with a 96 mph fastball to end the threat.

But one swing of the bat from Jones on a sinker over the heart of the plate by Jamey Wright (1-2) proved to be enough to hold off the Mariners. Jones launched a rocket for his seventh home run of the year and a 2-1 lead.

``I threw a sinker that didn't sink, at all, just flattened out,' Wright said. ``Inside, right into his barrel. I couldn't have put it on a tee any better for him.'

Jim Johnson (4-1) allowed one hit while retiring four batters to pick up the victory. Kevin Gregg pitched the ninth inning to earn his ninth save of the season.

Seattle's lineup included three players with batting averages under .190. The trio of Mike Wilson, Luis Rodriguez and Michael Saunders combined to go 0 for 9.

Wedge said that he needs to see more from certain players.

``I just want to see us do a better job making adjustments, recognizing why we're not having success we need to have in different areas of our club, and react to it and be better with it,' Wedge said.

``Sometimes, you've got to be extreme with your adjustments. You've got to be willing to take some risks. What you can't do is go up there and do the same damn thing over and over again and expect different results.'

Hardy gave Baltimore an early lead when he hit a 1-2 slider from Pineda into the Orioles' bullpen beyond the left-field wall.

Miguel Olivo led off the Seattle second with a single, moved up on a flyout and scored on a two-out single by Jack Wilson. Olivo hit catcher Matt Wieters, who had extended his left leg to block the plate.

Wieters missed the ball and it went to the backstop. Olivo reached back to touch the plate and immediately checked on Wieters to see if he was OK - Olivo is the Mariners' catcher, and players in that position often have a mutual respect for each others. Wieters was all right and stayed in the game.

NOTES: Matusz was activated from the DL before the game. Utilityman Jake Fox was designated for assignment to make roster space. ... Baltimore's Nick Markakis started at 1B for the first time. He hadn't played the position since high school. ... RF Ichiro Suzuki served as the DH for the second time this season. Wedge said he wanted to get Suzuki off his feet for the day. ... Ryan had his career-high 11-game hitting streak end. He was 0 for 4.