Bundy struggles, Orioles again hit hard by Yankees
NEW YORK (AP) - With his team's grip on the second AL wild-card spot slipping, Baltimore manager Buck Showalter hoped Dylan Bundy could pitch well and give the suddenly struggling bullpen a break.
In his ninth major league start, Bundy wasn't able to help the Orioles with either task.
Bundy was tagged for five runs in just four innings as the New York Yankees routed the Orioles 13-5 on Saturday.
Chris Davis homered twice and Mark Trumbo hit his big league-leading 39th home run for Baltimore, which lost its third in row. New York won its fourth straight to pull within 2 1/2 games for the last wild-card slot.
Starting for the first time against New York, Bundy (7-5) struggled from the first pitch. He walked his second batter, setting up Mark Teixeira's RBI double.
"Anytime you can't get through five or six innings it's not a quality start and I didn't give my team a very good chance to win today," Bundy said. "That's my fault and I got to get better next time."
A day after a 14-4 trouncing in which Yovani Gallardo lasted only 1 1/3 innings in the shortest start of his 10-year career, Bundy also came out early.
"He's pitched well and just could never really get into that rhythm," Showalter said.
Orioles relievers T.J. McFarland, Mychal Givens, Donnie Hart and Brad Brach combined to give up eight runs in four innings. An early strength of the team, the bullpen has struggled of late, allowing 23 runs over the last four games.
"That's what happens," Showalter said. "That's why they call it dog days of August. It happens to pitchers, hitters, everybody."
The homers by Davis and Trumbo brought Baltimore's season total to 202 in 129 games, the fifth consecutive season with at least 200 homers. The 129 games needed to reach the mark are the second-fewest to reach 200 home runs in Orioles history, STATS said.
Yankees rookie Gary Sanchez homered for the 11th time in 21 games this season. Starlin Castro and Aaron Hicks also connected.
New York had 18 hits and drew seven walks on the afternoon, but despite all that offensive output, it was a disputed play on the bases that put them ahead for good.
After Davis' first homer gave the Orioles a 2-1 lead in the third, two-out singles by Teixeira, Didi Gregorius and Castro brought home the tying run.
With runners at the corners, Castro broke for second. Catcher Matt Wieters' throw was then cut off by shortstop J.J. Hardy as Gregorius tried to steal home.
Hardy's throw appeared to be in time, but Gregorius neatly tucked in his right arm and extended his left arm across home plate.
Umpire Ron Kulpa called Gregorius out, but the Yankees challenged and the ruling was overturned. After the review, Brian McCann hit an RBI double for a 4-2 lead.
"I thought I probably missed on the first hand," Wieters said. "It was close on the first hand before he pulled it back. And then I knew I got him on the chest area, but didn't know if he got his right hand in in time. It was close and it didn't go our way."
TRAINER'S ROOM
Orioles: CF Adam Jones was held out of the lineup after aggravating his hamstring injury on Friday. He tried to talk his way into starting, Showalter said.
UP NEXT
Orioles: RHP Kevin Gausman (5-10, 3.92 ERA) is set to make his fourth start this season against the Yankees. He's 0-1 in the previous three outings despite a 1.31 ERA.
Yankees: LHP CC Sabathia (8-10, 4.33) was originally scheduled to pitch Monday in Kansas City. But Girardi made a switch, starting Sabathia instead of RHP Michael Pineda. Girardi cited Baltimore's better numbers against right-handed pitching and the Royals' success vs. lefties.
JERSEY BOY
Orioles All-Star reliever Brad Brach will be inducted into the Monmouth University Athletics Hall of Fame in December. He will join Miles Austin III (football) as the newest members of the 2016 class. A native of Freehold, New Jersey, Brach remains the school's all-time leader in wins (29), strikeouts (277), and innings pitched (324 1-3). He was the first Hawk to be selected to the MLB All-Star Game in July.