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BALTIMORE—It was the night after Memorial Day, but it felt like mid-August at Oriole Park. Game time temperature was 89 degrees and the humidity was thick as a thin crowd of just 8,106 watched another strong start from Dylan Bundy.
Unfortunately, the Orioles had no offense against five Detroit Tigers pitchers, losing 3-0 on Tuesday night.
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Bundy allowed a run in the first when Christin Stewart doubled, and Miguel Cabrera’s singled for a 1-0 lead.
JaCoby Jones’ double scored Grayson Grenier in the second, and Niko Goodrum hit his fourth home run in the fifth, one that barely cleared the fence.
Bundy threw seven innings for the second time this season. It was also the second time that he faced the leadoff four times.
He allowed three runs on seven hits and did not walk a batter for the second time this season. His eight strikeouts tied his season high, and his seventh-inning strikeout of Grenier was the 500th of his career.
Bundy continued the pattern of using his slider more.
“That’s a righty heavy lineup, and I think you saw more sliders tonight,” he said. “But, really, I was happy with all the pitches tonight. One changeup left up for the homer, but with that righty lineup the slider really played a lot.
“…The fastball’s not 94-95 anymore, it’s 91-93, so I think it [offspeed pitches] helps the fastball play up, especially later in the game.”
Manager Brandon Hyde likes Bundy’s pitch selection.
“I think his pitch mix is fantastic,” Hyde said. “He only made a couple mistakes. First inning with an open base to Cabrera, trying to go off the plate and not let him beat us, and he just got a little bit too much. Miggy kind of punched it to the right. Hung a split to Goodrum that was a fly ball most places most nights.
“Besides that I thought his mix was outstanding, his fastball played up again because of a good curveball and two good breaking balls, so just a really nice performance.”
Detroit starter Matthew Boyd allowed six singles in six-plus scoreless innings. The only inning he didn’t allow a hit was the fifth.
Four relievers didn’t allow an Orioles hit in three innings on the first humid night of the 2019 season.
“It’s hot, but guys are used to playing in hot weather over their careers, and I don’t think that was any excuse,” Hyde said. “I just think we faced a really good starter that held us in check and two good bullpen arms after him. It was just a tough night offensively against really good pitching.”
The Orioles have lost 16 of 20 and are 17-38,
Stewart’s night to remember: DJ Stewart, who was called up from Triple-A Norfolk on Tuesday, provided three of the Orioles’ six hits. Stewart singled in the second, fourth and seventh and struck out in the ninth on a 3-2 pitch. He also stole second in the fourth inning.
“Anytime you get one hit, it’s a good night,” Stewart said. “Three, it’s a really good night, but unfortunately we weren’t able to get the win.”
Hyde was impressed.
“I think DJ told us he was ready by how he was playing,” Hyde said. “And repeating the level from last year and swinging the bat really well this past month, six weeks, and really dominating the league.
“We’re looking for guys to dominate the league. And once you dominate the league, then you’re ready. And for the last six weeks, you look at his numbers and the quality of the at-bats he had, he was ready to come here. He stepped right in and didn’t put too much pressure on himself and played the game. And that’s what we’re looking for guys to do.”
Stewart earned the call-up batting .456 with a .512 on-base percentage and .882 slugging percentage in May.
Trumbo begins rehab: Mark Trumbo played his first rehab game for Double-A Bowie and didn’t get a hit in four at-bats with two strikeouts.
Trumbo, who had surgery last September on his right knee, was the Baysox’s designated hitter. He might play as many as 20 games in rehab.
Hyde endorses Mancini: Hyde isn’t above some campaigning. Major League Baseball began in its newest form of All-Star balloting on Tuesday.
The top three players at each position in balloting between now and June 21 advance to the starters’ election.
Hyde is hoping Trey Mancini will get support.
“I’m on the Trey Mancini for the All-Star Game bandwagon,” Hyde said. “I’m driving the bus.”
The All-Star Game is on July 9 in Cleveland.
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