Bundy's struggles continue in O's 100th loss

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - The Orioles were bound to reach 100 losses this season. They couldn't run the table after No. 99. Too big of a task.

One more home run allowed and Dylan Bundy would have sole possession of the club's single-season record.

The two dubious milestones collided tonight. Nick Ciuffo hit his first major league homer, a three-run shot off Bundy in the bottom of the second inning, Kevin Kiermaier matched it in the third and the Rays topped the Orioles 14-2 at Tropicana Field.

The 2018 season is the third in club history to include 100 losses, the previous triple-digit defeats occurring in 1954 and 1988. This is the earliest date - also nothing to celebrate.

Bundy had joined Robin Roberts (1963), Scott McGregor (1986), Sidney Ponson (1999) and Jeremy Guthrie (2009) for the most home runs surrendered in a single season with 35. Ciuffo broke two ties with one swing.

Willy Adames singled with two outs after Austin Wynns threw out Kevin Kiermaier trying to steal second base. Bundy walked Jake Bauers and Ciuffo jumped on a 91 mph fastball to give the Rays a 3-0 lead.

Ciuffo's first home run came in only his 10th at-bat after the Rays promoted him earlier this week. The news was dramatic shift in his baseball life after he served a 50-game suspension to start the minor league season for a failed drug test.

Bundy was burned again with two outs in the third. He issued back-to-back walks to Ji-Man Choi and Tommy Pham, Joey Wendle grounded into a force at second base - the Orioles challenged the call at first and lost - and Kiermaier pulled a slider down the right field line for a 6-0 lead.

Pham hit a solo shot off Sean Gilmartin in the fifth, Choi hit a grand slam off Ryan Meisinger in the sixth and the Orioles fell to 1-6 on the road trip, the thud echoing inside the dome.

Luis Ortiz became the 13th Oriole this season to make his major league debut when he entered in the seventh inning, one short of the club record set in 1955. The 54 players used ties the mark also set in '55. The 28 pitchers is a new record.

Ortiz loaded the bases with no outs on a double, single and walk. A wild pitch, Ciuffo's sacrifice fly and Mallex Smith's infield hit stretched the lead to 14-2, and every Rays player in the game had scored at least one run.

Showalter removed Ortiz after two-thirds of an inning and brought in Yefry Ramírez, who was a candidate to start Saturday. Ramirez issued the Orioles' 10th walk of the night before leaving the bases loaded. The season-high 11th walk came in the eighth.

Rays pitchers struck out 15 batters. There were no positive notes struck by the Orioles.

So what's next for Bundy?

The rotation already is in flux with David Hess uncertain to make Saturday's start after being hit in the eye by a football and Alex Cobb doubtful for Sunday because of a blister on his pitching hand. Manager Buck Showalter must decide whether to skip Bundy or continue to send him to the mound and wait for improvement, for better fastball command and velocity, and fewer long fly balls.

Hess has some inflammation around his eye, but no abrasions, and he's been given anti-inflammatory drops. A club spokesman passed along the update, saying Hess should be fine.

The rookie pitcher wore an LSU football helmet in the dugout. It would have come in handy during the pregame workout.

How do the Orioles tackle the Bundy issue? He lasted only four innings and 84 pitches tonight, charged with six runs with five walks and raising his ERA to 5.58. He's allowed 34 runs earned runs in his last six starts over 28 2/3 innings.

Joey Rickard hit a two-run homer off Blake Snell in the sixth to cut the lead to 7-2. Rickard produced his 13th hit in 29 at-bats against the Rays this season, with three doubles, one triple, four of his eight home runs and 17 of his 23 RBIs.

Meanwhile, the balancing act of trying to win games while evaluating the younger players on an expanded roster continued tonight for Showalter.

Breyvic Valera is a candidate to serve in a utility role next season, perhaps on a three-man bench with the way baseball is trending, and he made his first major league appearance at shortstop in the series opener against the Rays.

Showalter is carrying out his plan, which he's verbalized to the media, to move around players over the final month of the season. It was Valera's turn tonight.

Jonathan Villar has made five starts at shortstop since the Orioles acquired him from the Brewers, but the Orioles need to learn more about Valera, who's received three starts at second base.

They need to begin the process of critiquing their utility options, which also includes Steve Wilkerson after he recovers from a hamstring injury.

"That's why you play Valera at shortstop," Showalter said. "Let's face it, the really good ones bring the ability to play shortstop. You know Villar's played more shortstop than he has second base. Valera's played more second base than shortstop. But I think I've got a pretty good feel for what Villar can do as far as the infield and there's still some unknown about Valera.

"Like I said, there's only one way to find out."

Showalter also issues warnings about September "foolers." Don't tumble head over heels for players simply based on their production over the final month, and the same goes for spring training. But the rule becomes more flexible with utility players.

"You can watch (Valera) play shortstop tonight and you'll have a pretty good idea defensively," Showalter said. "Defensively doesn't usually fool you. It's the other part of it. A guy just happens to get hot and does see certain kind of pitching and does pretty well."

Danny Valencia broke camp this year in a utility role despite not playing shortstop. The Orioles won't try it again.

"The way the game's going, everybody seems to be carrying 13 pitchers. That utility guy is paramount," Showalter said.

"Sometimes, they're an irregular regular. Kind of like Wendle. He might play somewhere different every night, but he's playing somewhere. If you've got that really good guy you can plug in ... to have those interchangeable parts when you're in the markets that us and Tampa are in, you've got to have it."