Bundy goes career-high eight innings in 7-2 win (with quotes)

Orioles manager Buck Showalter may not have intended to set up a competition for rotation spots. He's just planning to start Jeremy Hellickson on Wednesday and eventually go with five, however it shakes out.

Dylan Bundy isn't on the bubble. He isn't pitching for a job. Others may feel a bit uneasy, but the only uncertainty with him is how the Orioles provide the occasional rest.

In his first start since allowing a career-high seven runs against the Astros, Bundy rationed the red-hot Royals to an unearned run and three hits over a career-high eight innings in a 7-2 victory before an announced crowd of 20,931 at Camden Yards.

Whatever concerns arose with Bundy were quieted tonight. He had surrendered five runs or more in three of his last four starts while failing to go more than 5 1/3 innings, but the Royals couldn't make solid contact off him. They couldn't do much of anything.

Bundy retired the last 13 batters and 17 of 18 after Whit Merrifield's RBI single in the third inning, the only blotch a walk to Mike Moustakas with two outs in the fourth. He retired the side in order in the fifth on 12 pitches, in the sixth on only six, in the seventh on 10 and in the eighth on 11 - his final walk to the dugout accompanied by a rousing ovation.

Before tonight, Bundy had worked seven innings seven times in his career. He hadn't recorded an out in the eighth. Showalter removed him after 93 pitches and Brad Brach allowed a run in the ninth on Salvador Perez's two-out double.

Showalter now has 1,481 wins to pass Earl Weaver for sole possession of 24th place.

The Orioles have won four games in a row and are 52-54 overall and 32-21 at home. They're two games below .500 for the first time since July 3 and have moved within 3 ½ of the second wild card.

Call them buyers. Call them fools. They're still trying to make the playoffs.

Shortstop Tim Beckham went 2-for-4 with double and two runs scored in his Orioles debut. He reached on an infield hit against left-hander Scott Alexander with two outs in the fifth, Seth Smith followed with a two-run double and he scored on Welington Castillo's single for a 6-1 lead.

Smith drove in Beckham in the seventh with a single, giving him three RBIs on the night. He also had a bruise on his right elbow after being drilled by a pitch in the fourth, scoring with two outs on Adam Jones' single.

Royals starter Ian Kennedy was charged with four runs in four-plus innings. He fell behind 2-0 in the first on Manny Machado's one-out double, Jonathan Schoop's RBI single, Chris Davis' single and Trey Mancini's RBI double. Schoop has 78 RBIs on the season and 24 in his last 15 games.

Meanwhile, Bundy threw nine pitches in the top of the first while retiring the Royals in order.

The only run scored in the third on Merrifield's single after Alex Gordon singled, stole second base and moved to third on Castillo's throwing error.

Kevin Gausman tossed 8 2/3 scoreless innings Saturday night in Texas. Wade Miley held the Rangers to two runs in five innings on Sunday. Ubaldo Jiménez limited the Royals to one run in seven innings last night. Bundy tossed a gem tonight while working on eight days' rest.

Hellickson doesn't have to be the savior Wednesday night. He just needs to keep up.

Showalter on Bundy: "Dylan was outstanding. That was fun to watch. He had everything working. Keep in mind he had eight days off, too. That was a real testament to he and Roger and the work they put in in between. This time of year, anytime you get a little extra rest ... I think he had 11 days off after the break, he had four days off and then eight. He was strong. He was carrying a little more fastball. I was really surprised at the command he carried."

On whether six starters means more rest for Bundy: "I will if we stay with ... But we were going to do it anyway. I could show you the plan really since spring training, but kind of verified it after the break, of the way we were going to do it with him. We had it set up whether we had five or six starters. There's a lot of imagination. You could float the starters in and out.

"I'll tell you, there's nothing wrong August and September having some pitchers with extra rest. The good lord didn't intend for you to put your arm over your head and jerk it down violently five times every fifth day for eight months. And anytime you can get a little rest here and there, you're in good shape. But I think that's the first time he's been eight innings all year."

On whether it was tempting to remove Bundy earlier and save the innings: "Yeah, it was. It depends on how stressful they were and what his pitch count was. I thought the tough call was from the seventh to the eighth. Zach (Britton) was down tonight. Was not going to use Mychal (Givens), either. Brad had only pitched once in seven days, he needed to get out there.

"It's a challenge managing it, but we're in good shape with him inning-wise. In fact, we're a little ahead where we wanted to be."

On Smith's production after getting hit on elbow: "That's a tough at-bat. I tell you, Alexander is one of the few guys that match up with Zach. He's like 96 percent hard sink. In fact, he reminds me a little of him. That's a tough at-bat, especially after you get hit by a pitch. You get up there and the guy high bridges you a little and to stick your nose out over and hit a ball in left-center field, that was impressive."

On rotation of late: "We've got a lot of guys with a track record of pitching well. Hopefully, we're getting into the period where we get it because we're going to have to have that. A couple more days and I might start looking at the standings again. So we'll see. So far, so good.

"Until we take care of our business, it doesn't matter where we are in the standings. Those are some good signs. We're trying to get people work out of the bullpen, so that's a good sign."

On Beckham: "I started not to play him today. He had a 10 o'clock departure out of Houston, got here 1:30. I try to remind myself what it's like to be 27 instead of 60. I'm sure there was some good nervousness, so to speak. Sometimes, there's a little added feel to the game when you have a new player, and a new pitcher tomorrow. Guys want to help their path be a little easier. That's the way it should be. Try not to throw too much at him too early."

On what Weaver meant to him: "One, it was way too short, but he loved the Orioles and he had time for me. He didn't have to, believe me. I know growing up when I did, I can remember watching camp where Billy and Earl were playing like it was the seventh game of the World Series in Miami and Fort Lauderdale. I mean, watching how important winning was to them.

"Getting to take him around to some of our drills in Sarasota, he was so in his element. You could see some of the challenges we all get as we get older, but once he got in between the lines and around grass and around players, you could see there was a whole different comfort level. I know we put a pickoff play on just for him. To watch him enjoy that as much I did watching him enjoy it. Being around a lot of people who know him. We all have our strengths and weaknesses. Earl loved Baltimore, he loved the Orioles. Anybody who didn't share that didn't get along too well with him."

Bundy on outing: "Just execution of pitches low in the zone and having a game plan with Welly back there and sticking to it. And then after we got that lead later in the game, I was just trying to attack hitters early and work ahead."