Trumbo on Bundy, Joseph's return and homer notes

Last weekend, on Friday night and Saturday afternoon at Yankee Stadium, the Orioles lost two games to New York. They gave up 27 runs, 36 hits and six home runs in those games.

But they shut out the Yankees in the series finale last Sunday in the Bronx and they did the same last night in Baltimore. So in the last two games versus New York, they have allowed no runs on 10 hits.

Interestingly enough, Dylan Bundy started two of the four games - one of the two games where the Orioles gave up all those runs and one in the two games where they did not.

After allowing five runs over four innings a week ago today in New York, Bundy won the rematch last night in Baltimore. He threw 5 2/3 scoreless innings on two hits in the Orioles' 8-0 win.

Mark Trumbo was impressed, not only with another strong outing from Bundy, but by his maturity level to pitch well even when he had a 6-0 lead after two innings and an 8-0 lead after four frames.

"No doubt," Trumbo said. "He's done a great job this year. He's still learning, too, but you've got to like what you see. It's power stuff. His off-speed is what I usually point at because it really does stand out. Three plus pitches and he's only going to get better."

The Orioles have six shutouts on the year and three have come against New York. Last night was their most lopsided home shutout against the Yankees since an 8-0 win on Sept. 9, 1991.

In those two blowout losses to New York, Yankees hitters batted .429 versus the Orioles and went 14-for-27 (.519) with runners in scoring position. In these last two games where they were shut out, Yankees batters hit .161 against the Orioles pitchers going 0-for-7 with RISP.

Joseph's return: Catcher Caleb Joseph returned to the Orioles clubhouse Friday as a September call-up. Batting just .193 with no homers or RBIs in 114 at-bats for the Orioles this year, Joseph was optioned to Triple-A Norfolk on Aug. 22 and he played in nine games. He went 10-for-40, batting .250 with no homers and four RBIs for the Tides.

Few players are as articulate or interesting to interview as Joseph and yesterday was the latest example. Joseph was asked how he reacted when manager Buck Showalter told him he was going back to the minors.

"It was a unique conversation," he said. "Not something where I was shocked. You can't not perform and expect to stay here. It was more of a conversation that we'd like to get you at-bats. The more he spoke the more it was easier to accept, I guess.

"First time I had been sent down since I called up to the majors. Was hoping to never have to do that, but if you don't like it, play better, right? I was able to go down and get a lot of work in and stay sharp."

Joseph said he returns a more confident player and one that perhaps got a needed mental break of sorts.

"I think so," he said. "This game is hard enough to begin with, much less when you are not playing as much as you were in the past. To struggle and then know you can perform and have performed at this level, and not be able to, it does (weigh on you). It becomes a little bit mental. But it was good to go get some at-bats and gain some confidence."

Now he wants to help get the Orioles get back to the playoffs. Joseph said he returned to a team that was not down at all after losing a series to first-place Toronto.

"There are guys here that have been in this situation before," he said. "There is not a panic button on this team. That is a credit to Buck and the organization that they've gotten us to this position. Each game is important but you can't linger on one game."

Bashing more homers: According to the Ace of Stats Twitter account (@theaceofspaeder), the Orioles have hit four or more homers in 15 games this season, the latest being last night. That is the most in team history. The major league record is 16 by the 1999 Seattle Mariners and the 2001 Texas Rangers.

The O's have hit 11 homers in their last four games against New York. They have hit eight homers in the last three games, 16 in the past seven games and 37 in their last 16 contests.