Alberto three-run homer gives Orioles 4-1 win (with quotes)

Orioles first baseman Chris Davis wasn't in tonight's lineup, but he delivered the card to home plate for the traditional exchange.

Coaches repeat the task after a win. The losing streak had manager Brandon Hyde searching for replacements.

Davis could be on the bench again Wednesday night, but he's going to be the first Orioles player at the plate.

Dylan Bundy held the Royals to one run in seven innings, the Orioles tied the game in the home half and Hanser Alberto hit a three-run shot with two outs in the eighth for a 4-1 victory before an announced crowd of 11,826 at Camden Yards.

Alberto deposited a Jacob Barnes cutter into the Orioles bullpen and the losing streak ended at eight games. The Orioles are 40-86 after winning for only the second time 15 games.

Their 40th win last season came on Aug. 29.

Hunter Harvey made his Camden Yards debut in the eighth and earned his first major league win. He retired the side in order with two strikeouts.

Nicky Lopez lined out on the 10th pitch of the at-bat and Harvey struck out Whit Merrifield on a slider and froze Jorge Soler with a 99.8 mph fastball on the outer half.

Mychal Givens stranded a runner in the ninth inning for his 10th save.

Left-hander Richard Lovelady was handed the seventh inning after Brad Keller held the Orioles scoreless on three hits. Jace Peterson led off with a single, DJ Stewart reached on an infield hit with one out - Lovelady was late to the bag - and Rio Ruiz slapped a game-tying single into left field.

Three left-handed hitters crushing the percentages.

Trey Mancini drew a leadoff walk in the eighth, Peterson walked with two outs and Alberto hit his eighth home run of the season. He can be tough on right-handers, too.

Bundy retired the side in order in the first inning with two called third strikes and only 11 pitches needed. He didn't retire a Royals batter here on May 8, 2018, his historically bad start including seven runs allowed and four homers.

The night already was a vast improvement.

With no home runs surrendered tonight, the Orioles held their total at 257 and stayed one behind the 2016 Reds for the major league record.

Aaron Brooks and anyone following him Wednesday will try to do the same.

The second inning began with singles by Alex Gordon and Ryan O'Hearn and a long fly ball to center field by Meibrys Viloria for a 1-0 lead. Bundy struck out the next two batters and had six through the fourth.

He threw only six pitches in the fifth, raising his total to 60, and watched the Orioles turn a sweet 6-4-3 double play that included a nice backhanded stop by Jonathan Villar and Alberto's terrific catch of a low throw before firing to first.

Another six-pitch inning followed in the sixth, with Soler reaching on an infield hit and the Orioles turning a 5-4-3 double play.

Bundy was barreling toward his eighth quality start of the season, limiting the Royals to one run and five hits with seven strikeouts in seven innings and leaving after only 83 pitches.

Keller was killing any rally the Orioles attempted to create.

They stranded a runner in the first and second innings and Chance Sisco walked in the third and was erased on a double play.

Sisco led off the sixth with another walk and Villar singled, but Keller retired the next three batters with a huge assist from right fielder Bubba Starling, who raced in and made a diving catch to rob Anthony Santander and save a run.

Lovelady couldn't replicate Keller's act.

Neither could Barnes.

Davis will be repeating tonight's task.

Hyde on Harvey: "Very happy. He's thrown twice and it's been electric stuff both times. He hit 100 (mph) the last pitch. The breaking ball or the split to Merrifield for the punchout also, being able to elevate on Jorge Soler, just really pitched well as well as having elite stuff. So it was a great outing. Happy for him to get his first win."

Hyde on fielding: "We played major league defense tonight and that was a huge key to the game, being able to turn those double plays, making all the routine plays. Thought Chance Sisco caught a really nice ballgame tonight. We just played good defense and obviously we have to do that to give ourselves a chance and to win games.

"We have not played our best defense as of late, and that's been frustrating. That's been bothering me quite a bit is our defensive execution and allowing extra outs and allowing good teams to continue rolling over the lineup over on us. Tonight we did not do that and it was fantastic."

Hyde on what gave him confidence to use Harvey there: "I like his stuff. His stuff plays for me. I was throwing him if we were down 1-0 or tied or up a couple. He was in the game in that eighth inning. I wanted to see it."

Hyde on Alberto home run: "That's why I pinch-ran Richie (Martin) there. You saw where their outfielders were playing. They were playing really shallow. Alberto has a knack this year of getting some singles though the infield or dumping some base hits in the outfield, and so they were taking that away and he drills one over the left-center field wall. Obviously, a great feeling for him, a guy's that had a great year. A huge hit for us."

Hyde on Harvey's emotions: "There was a smile on his face after the game, but the composure on the mound is ... The guy's been through a lot and to be able to stand on the mound with presence and a no-fear attitude, I'm really into it. I love the way he attacks guys. He's going to have rough outings, too, but the stuff is so good and I just love the composure and his makeup. His brother was the same way, obviously his dad is as tough as it gets. And to be able to pitch in those spots, that's why I'm not worried about throwing him out there in any situation."

Hyde on Bundy: "They were swinging the bat early on him and his pitch count was way down. Dylan threw the ball great. That was seven really good innings. Could have gone further. But I just thought that he threw fastballs in again tonight against a couple of their big guys that allowed him to have the slider away and the curveball and the changeup. I just thought he had really good stuff and he really pitched well. And he pitched and that's what he's been doing. He's just had some really tough luck from the standpoint of that sixth inning's been the bugaboo for our whole club, especially for him. I'm just really happy with how he threw the ball."

Harvey on what it means to get win: "It was awesome. When Hanser hit that home run, I kind of got little chill bumps and it was just a little wave went over me for a second because it didn't even feel real, but it was awesome."

Harvey on whether team celebrated with him: "Oh, yeah, they made sure I celebrated right."

Harvey on how it compared to major league debut: "Same overall. I mean, it's crazy to get a big league win. The past couple years everything kind of going through, it just makes everything easier to breathe getting all this stuff out of the way. It's kind of crazy to even think it's happening."

Harvey on whether surprised he's in back end of 'pen: "I don't know. This is kind of where they want me. I'm happy with what they're trying to do and I'm enjoying it, so I'm going to keep rolling with it."

Harvey on whether it felt like home tonight: "Oh, yeah. It felt awesome. There's nothing like pitching at your home field when the fans are behind you, so it was really nice."

Harvey on what this journey taught him: "Really just not getting down on myself. There was a lot of negative stuff that was just thrown at me in the past three years and I just kind of kept my head going, trying to not get down on myself, not feel sorry for myself and keep pushing to try and get to this moment now. And to be here and finally get through all that stuff, it's amazing."

Harvey on throwing 100 mph: "I didn't see it. I didn't even know. That's the first I heard.

"It's kind of cool. I don't really look up there a whole lot. I just kind of pitch and whatever I've got that's what I got. So I don't think about it too much."

Harvey on initial reaction to bullpen work: "At first, I thought they were just trying to manage me. And I got there and I actually enjoyed it a lot. It's easier to talk to my dad about stuff like that because that's what he did. I've really enjoyed it so far. I've loved it. I have a bulldog mentality. I come out and I like attacking guys with everything I've got and I don't have to worry about facing them again in an inning or two. So it's nice."

Harvey on getting laundry cart treatment: "Oh, yeah. Oh, lord. It was tough, but it was fun, though."

Bundy on whether this was his best stuff this season: "Yeah, you can say that. Really just had all of the pitches working. Was able to mix in the curveball. That's kind of what I said all year was I wanted to get that curveball a little bit better this year and starting to see the results on it."

Bundy on Harvey: "Couldn't be more happy. He got his first win and we celebrated in here for it. It's been a long time coming for him. He deserves it."

Bundy on relating to what Harvey went through with Tommy John: "Yeah, exactly like I just said, couldn't be more happy for him. He's been through a whole lot of injuries, not just the arm. He deserves it more than anybody, I think, because he's worked his tail off to get back up here."

Bundy on whether he campaigned to stay in game: "Not really at all. I'm the player, he's the manager, it's his call. I shook his hand and walked through the tunnel."

Bundy on team finally winning: "Feels great. I don't think you saw us ever down We come in here ready to play every a game every night and going out there preparing to win a game every night. That's all we can do and that's what we're doing here."

Alberto on whether thinking home run: "I saw that big gap between left and center field. I just want to hit the ball over the shortstop. Obviously, I put in a little more power and I get the home run. It was good, you know? So we competed really good tonight. Bundy got a really good performance through the seventh."

Alberto on his arms-raised celebration: "That's the first time. It was a big one. I was so happy in the moment. Obviously, I hit a home run and put the team on top to win the game."

Alberto on team winning: "It's been tough. It's not a secret, so we go out there and want to win the game, but at the end of the night, we got the same result. Hopefully, things changed from tonight and tomorrow we can win the game and win the series and continue putting some Ws on the board."

Alberto on Harvey: "He's good. That guy throws hard, so I think he got a really good performance. Hopefully, he continues to throw hard and help us win games."

I throw my Hans up in the air sometimes. pic.twitter.com/OFgYccJZbI

-- Orioles on MASN (@masnOrioles) August 21, 2019