The Baltimore Orioles got a solid start out of Dylan Bundy last night in Arizona. This was Bundy’s first start since coming off the IL after having tendinitis. However Bundy was solid in his first start back on the roster, and given that it begins and ends with starting pitching, his outing helped propel the Orioles to victory. Bundy’s line: 6.0 IP, 4 H, 2 R, 3 BB, 5 K.
The Orioles took a 1-0 lead in the second inning on a solo homer by Renato Nunez in the top of the second. Nunez has very quietly had a great year at the plate. That was his 24th home run of the season. He’s been given an opportunity not afforded to many in terms of playing consistently at the big league level. And to his credit, he’s taken full advantage.
The Birds would extend their lead to 3-0 later in that second inning after a two-run homer by Anthony Santander. And he’s another guy who’s really maximizing his potential in the opportunity he’s being given. This is almost a fun part of rebuilding in a way. Because part of the process is that eventually a couple of guys grasp the fact that it’s really up to them whether or not they make it in the majors. Santander and Renato Nunez are really grabbing the bull by the horns and making it nary impossible for the Orioles to not play them. And that’s a good sign.
Arizona would get to within 3-2 in the last of the second after a two-RBI single by Kelly. But that was merely a blip in the radar in a sense. Nunez added an RBI-single in the third which extended the lead to 4-2. That was only one run, but it’s a good sign. The Orioles weren’t phased by Arizona’s two runs. That was a moment when they could have just resigned themselves to the fact that Arizona was fighting back. But instead of folding up, they counterattacked further.
Later in the third inning, Dwight Smith smacked a three-run homer to extend the lead to 7-2. Again, it begins and ends with starting pitching. But a great amount of it is also the bullpen. Bundy went the aforementioned six innings, while the Orioles’ pen pitched three. Between Bundy and the bullpen, Oriole pitching threw seven shutout innings to close out the game. And with a win at that.
The series in Arizona concludes this afternoon at a Chase Field. John Means gets the start for the O’s, and he’ll be opposed by Arizona’s Taylor Clarke. Game time is set for just after 3:30 PM.
Birdland Crush 