BALTIMORE (AP) - Dylan Bundy has been outstanding this season, allowing five earned runs in five starts while striking out 40 in just over 31 innings.
And now, the Baltimore Orioles right-hander has a victory to show for it.
Bundy pitched six innings of five-hit ball and struck out nine to help Baltimore beat the Cleveland Indians 3-1 Friday night and end a six-game losing streak.
Manny Machado homered and Trey Mancini doubled in two runs for the Orioles, who were outscored 43-22 during an 0-6 trip through Boston and Detroit.
After being victimized by a lack of run support in his first four outings, Bundy (1-2) got enough offensive backing to earn his first win since Aug. 29.
“We finally got him a win,” Machado said. “He’s a horse. He’s been throwing strikes, pounding the zone and getting outs. We just haven’t been scoring runs for him.”
Richard Bleier worked two innings - aided by a fine defensive play by Machado at shortstop - and Darren O’Day got three outs for his first save.
Cleveland starter Trevor Bauer (1-2) allowed three runs and five hits in seven innings. He retired 10 of the first 11 batters he faced before Machado sent a 3-0 pitch over the center-field wall.
Mancini put the Orioles in front in the fifth with a liner to the gap in left-center after Bauer hit a batter and gave up a single.
“I really struggled putting guys away tonight,” Bauer lamented. “My slider was terrible, and when I can’t put guys away with that, they know I’m going to throw curveballs. So when I throw bad ones like that (to Mancini), I get away with them less.”
The night started badly for Bundy, thanks in part to a defensive miscue. After Orioles catcher Chance Sisco misjudged a foul pop that landed near the Baltimore dugout, Jason Kipnis used the second chance to hit a single in the first.
The Indians loaded the bases before Bundy hit Edwin Encarnacion with a pitch to force in a run. Bundy then got two straight outs to keep a bad situation from getting worse.
“Just trying to limit the damage there,” he said. “Could have put us in a hole there.”
In the second, Cleveland’s Tyler Naquin hit a popup that landed in fair territory about 20 feet up the third-base line. Fortunately for the Orioles, third baseman Tim Beckham grabbed it after it bounced foul.
But Baltimore played solid defense when it counted. With two on and two outs in the seventh, Machado made a dive deep in the hole to grab a grounder by Jose Ramirez, then used a backhand toss to get the force at second base.
Michael Brantley had two hits for the Indians, his career-high tying fifth straight multihit game. But Cleveland didn’t do much else, mostly because Bundy was so sharp.
“Very good changeup. I mean, really good,” Indians manager Terry Francona said. “We weren’t able to make the adjustment. Once he got a feel for that, it really made his fastball and breaking ball that much better.”
TRAINER’S ROOM
Indians: 1B Mike Napoli will have season-ending knee surgery after getting hurt in the minors. … RHP Danny Salazar (rotator cuff tendinitis) is throwing bullpen sessions. “We’re cautiously optimistic he’s turned a corner,” Francona said. … INF Gio Urshela (right hamstring strain) went 1 for 3 for Triple-A Columbus and is now 2 for 10 on his rehabilitation assignment.
Orioles: Mancini left in the eighth after banging his knee against the wall during a futile chase of a foul ball. “They’re contemplating a couple of sutures but we’ll see,” manager Buck Showalter said. …. DH Mark Trumbo (right quad strain) ran Friday and said he felt “completely pain free.” Trumbo hopes to soon resume the rehabilitative assignment that was cut short earlier this month. … LHP Zach Britton (Achilles tendon) threw off a half-mound and will begin fielding drills Saturday.
FRESH ARM
The Orioles recharged their weary bullpen by recalling LHP Tanner Scott from Triple-A Norfolk and optioning INF Engelb Vielma to the minor league club.
UMBC HONORED
One month after becoming the first No. 16 seed to win a basketball game in the NCAA Tournament, the Maryland, Baltimore County (UMBC) squad assembled near the mound to hearty cheers before the game. Coach Ryan Odom threw the ceremonial first pitch.
UP NEXT
Indians: RHP Mike Clevinger (1-0, 2.70 ERA) pitches Saturday on seven days’ rest. Clevinger was 2-0 with a 1.64 ERA in two starts against Baltimore last season.
Orioles: RHP Chris Tillman (0-3, 11.91) has gone 21 straight starts since his last victory on May 7, 2017.
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