The Orioles had not had a complete-game since Ubaldo Jiménez at Tampa Bay on Sept. 5, 2016. They had not had a complete-game shutout since Miguel Gonzalez against Cincinnati on Sept. 3, 2014. The last individual one-hitter was thrown by Jason Hammel at Atlanta on June 16, 2012.
But after tonight, we can update all those notes. Right-hander Dylan Bundy, in his 39th career Major League start, pitched a complete-game one-hitter and struck out 12 as the Orioles beat Seattle 4-0 at Camden Yards.
The only hit off Bundy was a bunt single by Kyle Seager with one out in the fourth. Bundy walked two and topped his previous strikeout career high by two. He threw 116 pitches and got a career-high 22 swings and misses. On 10 of those, the pitch was a slider, of which Bundy threw 27.
Bundy sprinted to the mound to start the top of the ninth, at 105 pitches through eight. He said he was a bit surprised manager Buck Showalter let him stay in the game.
"Yeah a little bit but grateful, humbled to get a chance to go out there in the ninth and also get a chance to complete it. It means a lot, mainly to go out there in the ninth inning. Me and Welly (catcher Welington Castillo) had a good game plan again and the defense was outstanding."
Bundy recorded the second game in Orioles history in which a pitcher allowed one hit or none in a shutout with 12 or more strikeouts. The only other time that happened was on Aug. 1, 2000, when Mike Mussina fanned 15 Minnesota Twins in a one-hit, 10-0 win.
This was the 40th one-hitter in Orioles history and 33rd by one pitcher. Bundy improved to 13-8 for the year with a 3.94 ERA with his fifth consecutive quality start and his 18th for the season. Over five August starts, Bundy is 4-0 with a 2.00 ERA. He has fanned 40 over 28 innings his past four starts.
Castillo had an enjoyable night behind the plate, catching a pitcher on the top of his game.
"Everything was working for him and he had great command, good life on the fastball, great slider, great changeup, so everything was working for him and he was attacking the strike zone too. Made my job easier. It's so fun when you have a guy that everything is working today like him. It made my job more fun behind the plate," he said.
Bundy talked about pitching on a night when he had great stuff and command, and about pitching with additional rest in recent starts. He worked on five days' rest tonight.
"I just threw the curveball a couple times, but mainly it was fastball, slider, change back there. But yeah, I felt good with all of my pitches and location as well.
"I've noticed the second half I'm getting a few more days in between starts than I did in the first half, and I think I'm starting to see it now. My body feels great still, and I'm just blessed to be out there," he said.
Tonight he pitched the Orioles to a sixth straight win to tie a season-high. The Orioles are 67-65 and have won three straight series for the first time since taking four in a row in April. They are 40-26 at home.
Bundy was backed by four solo homers. Manny Machado hit two, while Jonathan Schoop and Castillo also connected. Schoop has 29 homers and 97 RBIs. Machado has 30 homers and 87 RBIs.
This was fourth multi-homer game of the year for Machado, and the 13th in his career. He is hitting .345 with 12 homers and 34 RBIs in 27 games this month.
We also should note that this had to be an emotional night for Bundy. He was pitching just days after the funeral of his grandmother. He came off the bereavement list before the game.
"It's been hectic, but just taking it in stride, taking it one day at a time and just go out there and pitch when it's my turn to pitch," Bundy said when asked how the last few days had been for him.
Tonight he had a small but enthusiastic crowd on its feet at the end, and tomorrow night the Orioles will try to ride this momentum to a three-game sweep of Seattle.
By accepting you will be accessing a service provided by a third-party external to https://www.masnsports.com/