5-run rally in ninth can’t bail out Bundy
ANAHEIM, CALIF. – Orioles right-hander Dylan Bundy took the mound Wednesday night hoping to put the memories of his worst big league start behind him.
Tagged by the Tampa Bay Rays for a career-high eight runs and 11 hits in his previous outing, he entered Wednesday’s game against the Los Angeles Angels with the opportunity to regain the form that made him one of the American League’s best pitchers over the first three weeks of the season.
But Bundy fell victim to the long ball against the Angels, allowing a season-high three homers in the Orioles’ 10-7 loss at Angel Stadium. He was chased from the game in the fifth inning for his second straight outing, allowing seven runs — five earned — over 41⁄ innings.
“[It is the] execution of the first couple pitches in the at-bat,” Bundy said. “If I’m 2-0, then I leave the third one out over the middle of the plate and high and then, yeah, that’s a pretty easy pitch to hit out of the ballpark. You’ve either got to work ahead or make better pitches behind in the count, and I’m not doing either right now.”
Since recording a 1.42 ERA over his first five outings this season, Bundy has allowed 15 runs (12 earned) over his past two starts spanning nine innings, inflating his season ERA to 3.76.
“It’s always a concern when you know what a guy is capable of and he doesn’t do it that night,” Orioles manager Buck Showalter said. “Dylan, I didn’t think he was quite as crisp as he’s capable of.”
With the loss, the Orioles’ sixgame West Coast trip is quickly turning south.
“It’s not a good feeling,” first baseman Chris Davis said. “We know what we are capable of. We know the potential of the team and we are not playing up to that potential right now. But if you hang your head and start feeling yourself, you’re just going to get buried even more.”
After allowing just one home run in his first five starts spanning 312⁄ innings, Bundy has allowed five homers in his past two starts. The three homers allowed matched a career high set two other times.
The Orioles rallied late, making it a three-run game with a five-run ninth inning highlighted by pinch hitter Jace Peterson’s three-run triple off reliever Eduardo Paredes.
The Orioles had the tying run in the on-deck circle, but Machado struck out to end an eight-pitch at-bat and Adam Jones flied out to right, ending the game.