Bundy on his outing, Hart on a key play and other clubhouse quotes

Orioles right-hander Dylan Bundy walked four batters tonight and was not touching 96 and 97 mph as he had in some earlier starts. But even with both his velocity and command not as strong as we've seen it before, he held a good hitting team in check tonight.

The Washington Nationals have the second-best record in the majors and are fourth in the National League in runs. Tonight, Bundy held them to three hits and two runs over six innings in the Orioles' 4-3 win in front of 31,660 at Camden Yards.

"It means a lot," Bundy said as he improved to 7-4 with an ERA of 3.33 "It was one of those nights I had to battle. I was missing off the corners just a little bit, not as bad as the last two outings, but I was missing some. I had to battle through a leadoff walk, leadoff double, stuff like that. It just makes you better in the long run I think. They are winning their division, so it's obviously a good team and they've got a good lineup. A good team over there."

Bundy allowed a run in the first and a homer to Anthony Rendon in the fourth, but in the first three innings tonight the Nats went 1-for-7 against him with runners in scoring position.

"I think the double play ball (against Wilson Ramos in the third) was huge more than anything," Bundy said. "Just being able to get the ball on the ground, get back in the dugout and let these guys score the runs they do."

In eight games a starter, Bundy is now 4-3 with a 3.56 ERA, a .204 average against and 42 strikeouts over 43 innings. He got better late in his outing, he said, and he added that he feels fine physically after a career-high 94 pitches.

"It's good (his arm and health)," Bundy said. "I was ready to go for another inning. But I knew the pitch count was getting up there. Arm felt great even in the sixth, so I was happy with it.

"I think (a key late in the outing) was getting my curveball over the plate for strikes earlier in the count. And then later in the count going to the fastball and getting weak contact or hitting it right to guys."

Bundy got some big outs early on while Donnie Hart, Brad Brach and Zach Britton got big outs later in the game.

With lefty batters just 1-for-15 against Hart this year, O's manager Buck Showalter brought him into a 4-3 O's lead in the eighth to face Daniel Murphy and Bryce Harper. Quite a challenge. Murphy doubled, but then Harper hit a comebacker to the mound. Hart turned to second and cut Murphy down as he wandered a bit too far off the bag. It was a huge play and one that Hart said he was prepared for due to some video study pregame.

"Was fortunate enough to see some film earlier today on one of the plays where a ball was hit back to the pitcher and he took off running," Hart said. "So, in that situation, I kind of told myself check him. Sure enough I got the ball hit back to me and turned around and he had his head down going to third. Just so happened, we were able to get him."

Showalter certainly showed confidence in the rookie tonight going to him against such accomplished hitters with the game on the line. Hart wanted the challenge.

"You always want to be in big situations like that," Hart said. "I think, as a competitor, that is what you want, what you look for. That is my spot, that's my job. If I'm going to keep my job, I have to get those guys out."

Britton, who recorded his 38th save tonight on 11 pitches, talked about the play Hart made to get Murphy out.

"That was important for him and he did a really good job," Britton said. "People don't realize how hard that play is. When you field it, your first reaction is you want to get rid of the ball. And he made Murphy make a decision on where he was going to go and then he made a heckuva play. That is a huge out.

"That was awesome (to win). Good crowd and really good energy in the air tonight. It was fun to go out there and get a win."

Mark Trumbo hit a two-run homer in the fourth inning. It was his 38th on the year to lead the majors, his fourth in five games and his seventh home run in his past 11 games. This was Trumbo's first Orioles-Nationals game.

"It was exciting," he said. "I don't know all the history but it seemed like there was a lot of energy at the stadium today. Sure there are bragging rights on the line and glad to get that win. That was a whole lot of fun. We had to battle and had to fight for it. This didn't come easy. But I think the execution for us was real important and we got it done."

Since he singled in the fourth inning Aug. 11 at Oakland, Trumbo's last seven hit have all been home runs. He was at a loss to explain that stat.

"You don't," Trumbo said. "I was aware of it. But just baseball. I'll take just about anything to be honest with you."