Another look at how the Orioles ended the road trip on a high note

LOS ANGELES - When the game ended, the Los Angeles Dodgers had just one relief pitcher left and were out of position players. The Orioles had two relievers left and J.J. Hardy still available.

After they played for 5 hours and 26 minutes and over 14 innings, the Orioles outlasted the Dodgers to post an impressive 6-4 victory. The O's bullpen pitchers - they used six after starter Kevin Gausman - refused to give up the big hit.

As the game went on to the 10th, then 11th, 12th, 13th and 14th, it felt like it would be a big game to win for the Orioles. Will it help this team moving forward? Who knows, but yesterday it felt like a huge win.

The Orioles players looked and even sounded incredibly drained in the postgame clubhouse. But they could crack a few smiles after the win. Manager Buck Showalter said the few players that were not used were ready and very willing to go. Anyone was willing to do what they might be asked to do to get the win.

"It would have been a great win for both clubs," Showalter said. "At least we get to sit on it for a day. You know, (Yovani) Gallardo was ready to bunt three times, we had him ready to go. J.J. was the next hitter. We probably had the most people with spikes on of the 25. Usually guys aren't spiked up on days they are not going to play."

The Orioles' bullpen did not allow a run over nine innings with 12 strikeouts. That followed two scoreless innnings in Tuesday's win. Los Angeles batters went 0-for-10 with runners in scoring position against the O's 'pen.

The biggest escape was probably pulled off by Dylan Bundy in the bottom of the seventh. The bases were loaded with two outs and he fell behind Howie Kendrick 3-0. The 23-year-old right-hander then got a called strike at 98 miles per hour, a foul ball at 96 mph and a called strike with a 97 mph heater.

Wednesday's starter Gausman looked on from the dugout, impressed with what he was watching.

"(Bundy's) been really great for us," Gausman said. "I think people forget that this is his first full year in the big leagues. To see what he is doing, especially lately, is impressive."

Over 2 1/3 innings, Bundy allowed three hits and walked two and he fanned seven. Every out he got came via a strikeout. Bundy allowed a leadoff double in the sixth and then stranded Kendrick at second base. He just refused to buckle, particularly knowing one run might have cost his team the game.

Over his last six games, Bundy has thrown 14 1/3 innings without allowing an earned run with four walks and 19 strikeouts. Bundy's fastball was touching 97 mph repeatedly yesterday. Over his first 21 innings this season, he fanned 10. Over his last 17 innings, he has struck out 22 batters.

He is improving in front of our eyes. Remember the Bundy that got all that prospect attention and hype when he pitched in 2012? He looked like that pitcher yesterday.

On a down note, the Orioles' rotation did nothing on this road trip to eleviate concerns about its performance. In the nine games on the trip, the rotation produced just three quality starts with a 6.80 ERA. O's starters went five innings or less six times. The rotation needs to improve or the Orioles' grip on first place could get very slippery in the second half.

Mark Trumbo hit two more home runs during the game then told reporters after it that he will take part in Monday's Home Run Derby. Trumbo put on a show in that event in 2012 and you have to figure he may do that again. Trumbo has homered twice in a game this year on April 15 at Texas, May 3 versus the Yankees, May 11 at Minnesota, June 2 versus Boston and yesterday.

The Orioles are 5-2 in interleague games and 3-2 in extra innings.

The O's pitchers fanned 18 batters and so did the Dodgers staff. The 36 combined strikeouts is a Dodger Stadium record, surpassing the total of 32 from Aug. 3, 1996 when L.A. hosted Atlanta. The O's 18 strikeouts is a season-high and their most since recording 18 against Seattle on Sept. 18, 2012.

The road trip began and ended with two wins. In between the Orioles lost five in a row and some fans got real nervous. But, as we have seen often from this team, they got back to winning.

They are resilient and they do what it takes to win often. Even if it takes 5 hours and 26 minutes to do it.