Bundy’s woes continue; Orioles’ bullpen rocked in loss to Mets

BALTIMORE—After a crisp performance featuring effective pitching and home runs by Chris Davis and Adam Jones in the same game for the first time in nearly a year, the Orioles had a sobering experience.

In their first three games against the New York Mets this season, the Orioles held them to four runs, winning all three.

On Wednesday night, the Mets easily bettered that in the sixth inning alone.

The Orioles entered the sixth trailing, 5-1. By the time the inning was over, the Mets had scored nine runs on just four hits on their way to a 16-5 win. The Orioles are 36-85.

Starting pitcher Dylan Bundy allowed seven runs and 11 hits, equaling his career high, in 5 1/3 innings.

In his last seven starts since rolling an ankle while running the bases in Atlanta June 23, Bundy has allowed five or more earned runs in five of them. Bundy has given up 14 earned runs in his last two starts, and his ERA has risen to 4.99.

Manager Buck Showalter doesn’t think there’s anything wrong with Bundy, although his season began going south after the ankle injury.

“If you see his work days and the things that he does between starts physically, it would be hard to paint that picture,” Showalter said.

“Certainly you look at those things and you’re very aware of it, especially when you have that history with him and know when he’s good. An extended period where he hasn’t pitched like we know Dylan can. It’s frustrating for him.

“You can see it. He gets into a sequence when he’s got the right pitch to throw and he can’t get it where he needs to and now the count gets to where he has to give in, somewhat. And he hasn’t carried that three-pitch mix in a while.”

Bundy says there’s nothing wrong with him physically.

“I feel fine,” Bundy said. “I made some good pitches tonight and they were just able to find some holes out there. I left a few pitches up in the zone, and they were able to get me.”

Bundy hasn’t seen anything in common with his difficult starts.

“This game, I couldn’t really see too much,” Bundy said. “I looked at the pitches on video and most of them were right where I wanted them to go. I’ve just got to keep looking at video and find out where I’m going wrong.”

Bullpen woes

The Orioles used five relievers: Tanner Scott, Evan Phillips, Sean Gilmartin, Cody Carroll and Mike Wright. They combined to allow nine runs.

Phillips had the roughest time. He didn’t retire any of the four batters he faced, and all scored on Kevin Plawecki’s grand slam. Phillips, who has a 21.60 ERA, was sent to Triple-A Norfolk after the game.

Showalter needed three relievers — Scott, Phillips and Gilmartin — to navigate the sixth. Only Gilmartin wasn’t scored upon.

“We’ve got some guys trying to pitch through some inexperience and paying a tough price sometimes,” Showalter said. “The tough ones survive it. I thought Carroll was better tonight. Evan couldn’t stop the bleeding there, and it was a struggle for us in the pitching department all the way around for the most part.”

The Mets set a season high with 16 runs.

“They were a completely different hitting club than they were last night, which tells you we pitched a whole lot better last night with the personnel we had out there,” Showalter said.

Wynns getting more work

Catcher Austin Wynns has been getting more time behind the plate. He’s started four of the last six games.

Wynns has impressed Showalter. “I don’t want him to sit around too long,” he said. “He’s in a pretty good place right now, and I don’t want him to sit on it. We’ve got tomorrow off again, and I want to keep him in the flow. He’s swinging the bat OK, and he’s growing some as a catcher. Just want to keep him in the flow.”

He was 2-for-4 with an RBI and is batting .298 in 21 games.

“That’s not really my concern at all,” Wynns said. “Defense is what I go by, and we have to find a way.”

Showalter said he’s done his job defensively.

“He’s picking up a lot of things about pitching and our pitchers, and the only way to do it is to get him out there,” Showalter said. “He’s presented himself well. It’s the old thing, you play better you play more. He’s done well.”

Valencia Released 

The Orioles released Danny Valencia after designating him for assignment Friday when they added Cedric Mullins. They tried to find a trade for him before the July 31 deadline, and again this month, but there were no takers.

Valencia hit .263 with nine homers and 28 RBIs in 78 games.