Darvish can't match Bundy as Rangers fall to Orioles 5-1
BALTIMORE (AP) - The Texas Rangers' new-look lineup was no match for a rookie right-hander making his fourth major league start.
Dylan Bundy pretty much got the best of Yu Darvish, too.
Bundy took a no-hitter into the sixth inning for the second time in a row, and the Baltimore Orioles used a four-homer attack to beat the Rangers 5-1 Tuesday night in a duel between AL division leaders.
Facing Texas for the first time as a starter, Bundy allowed one hit and a walk over seven sparkling innings against a potent batting order featuring newcomers Carlos Beltran and Jonathan Lucroy.
"He threw the ball really well," said Ian Desmond, who drew a fourth-inning walk. "He's stingy. Didn't miss over the plate to me much."
Bundy (4-3) outpitched Darvish (2-3), who allowed three homers for only the second time in 90 major league appearances. Pedro Alvarez connected in the fifth and seventh innings, and Adam Jones went deep on an 0-2 pitch in the sixth.
Darvish was pulled after Alvarez's second homer made it 3-0, and Matt Wieters greeted reliever Dario Alvarez with a shot to right.
Facing the Orioles for the first time since taking the loss in the 2012 wild-card game, Darvish gave up three runs and struck out nine in his seventh start since returning following Tommy John surgery.
"He made progress, in my opinion, on how he threw the baseball, how he competed and just how he attacked the strike zone," manager Jeff Banister said. "He had to pitch almost flawless with what Bundy was doing."
Lucroy liked what he saw from Darvish from behind the plate.
"Yeah, we got on the same page after the first inning," said Lucroy, who was dealt by Milwaukee. "He gave us a chance to win. Their guy was a little better."
The loss snapped the AL West-leading Rangers' four-game winning streak. Playing with Texas for the first time since being obtained Monday in separate trades, Beltran went 0 for 4 with two strikeouts and Lucroy was hitless with a walk but scored the Rangers' lone run.
Bundy retired the first 10 batters before Desmond walked and was thrown out trying to steal as Beltran struck out. Elvis Andrus ended the rookie's no-hit bid with a clean line drive up the middle with two outs in the sixth.
Bundy capped his outing with a 1-2-3 seventh, the farthest he's gone in the majors. Facing the team with the AL's best record, the right-hander struck out seven and didn't allow a runner past first base.
"The seventh was his last inning, regardless," manager Buck Showalter said. "That was a pretty good progression for him. He almost got through the sixth inning last time."
In his previous outing, Bundy - the fourth overall pick in the 2011 draft - retired the first 16 batters against Colorado before giving up three runs in the sixth.
Texas closed to 4-1 in the eighth against Brad Brach before Darren O'Day struck out Desmond with the bases loaded and two outs. O'Day came back in the ninth to earn his third save.
It was the second consecutive win for the Orioles following a five-game skid that temporarily dropped them out of first place in the AL East.
MILESTONES
Rangers: Texas' run of 14 straight games with a HR ended.
Orioles: It was Showalter's 518th win as Orioles manager, lifting him out of a tie with Paul Richards and into sole possession of second place on the team's career list. Earl Weaver is the leader with 1,480.
TRAINER'S ROOM
Rangers: OF Shin-Soo Choo (lower back inflammation) is getting close to coming off the disabled list, manager Jeff Banister said. Choo is eligible to return on Thursday.
UP NEXT
Rangers: Cole Hamels (12-2, 2.84 ERA) starts the second game of the series Wednesday. He's 3-0 with an 0.84 ERA since the All-Star break.
Orioles: Kevin Gausman (2-8, 4.18) has won only two of 18 starts this season and lost his only career appearance against Texas.