Bundy on his outing and the win, plus other clubhouse quotes

Edwin Encarnacion delivered three runs on one swing last October, ending the Orioles' 2016 season. But in starting 2-0 this year against Toronto, O's pitchers have allowed just three runs on 18 hits over 20 innings. And the Blue Jays went 1-for-16 in the series with runners in scoring position.

Dylan Bundy broke out his slider/cutter big-time tonight. He tied his career highs with seven innings and 99 pitches as the Orioles beat the Blue Jays 3-1 to sweep the two-game series.

Bundy gave up just four hits - three in the third inning - and one run with no walks and eight strikeouts. He threw 69 strikes and Toronto hitters went 3-for-6 in the third inning against him, but just 1-for-19 in the other innings.

"Me and Welly (catcher Welington Castillo) had a great plan going into the game to start and we stayed on point with it and executed the game plan," Bundy said. "The slider was a good pitch for me tonight. There were some more right-handed hitters in the lineup, so I was using that a bit more than I would, other than my changeup. I was happy with it.

"He was framing the ball great back there. Got me some low strikes tonight on the curveball and the slider. Sequencing was great. We had a game plan going into the game and earlier we executed it pretty well."

This was just the second time in Bundy's 15 career starts that he did not issue a walk. It is the sixth time he's allowed one earned run or less. The strikeout total was one off his career best.

The slider sure looks like it will be a big pitch for him. He broke it out early tonight, but it also should help him get through tough lineups when they turn over for the third time.

"I was able to throw more two seams in on the hands and also throw the curveball over later in the game, as well," Bundy said. "It worked out well tonight. Hitting your spots helps."

Bundy began the game striking out the side on 13 pitches.

"That was a little surprising," he said. "Slider was working a little better than I thought. I think they were just anxious and so was I. I was ramped up because it was Game 2, so a fun day.

"Anytime after six (innings), I mean, I consider that quality and you are doing your job. Keeping your team in the game. I had plenty left. I was getting worn down, I'll admit it. But I felt fine physically. Felt like I could have gone another one. Tonight I was able to do my job."

Zach Britton pitched out of a bases-loaded one-out jam in the ninth to record his first save of the year. It is his 50th consecutive save since Oct. 1, 2015. That is the fifth longest streak all time since saves became a statistic in 1969. It is the longest active streak in the majors.

Britton allowed two straight singles to start the ninth and then a one-out walk. But on his 24th pitch of the inning, he got Steve Pearce to hit into a double play. Just like that, the Orioles had a 2-0 start.

"Sometimes it is kind of a grind out there," Britton said. "They hit some pitches I left out over the plate. But at the end of the day, it's about getting the win, not what my (pitching) line looks like. It may not look pretty, but find a way to battle through it.

"I'm still building innings. I am where I am. It just might be a grind (early in the year). Hopefully it clicks the next one and just kind of get back out there. It would nice if it was 1-2-3 every time. In the long run this could help more."

Britton talked about the O's allowing three runs in two games.

"My innings haven't looked pretty, but a lot of other guys are making it look pretty easy out there," he said. "I think what we've done in these two games has been pretty nice."

Adam Jones hit a two-run homer in the third inning that gave the O's the lead for good at 2-1, but Jones was more interested in talking about Bundy.

"Very impressed," he said. "If they attack the zone and allow the defense to work for them, good things happen. Tip my cap to our pitching staff."

Jones hit his 223rd homer as an Oriole, tying Rafael Palmeiro for fifth on the O's all-time homers list. An inning later, Chris Davis hit his 200th with the club.

"They are awesome (milestones)," Jones said. "When you get done playing it might mean a lot more. Right now I'm still riding the wave. Cool to be notified with it.

"I've done it (hit 200 homers) in nine-plus years, he's (Davis) done it in six. That is a testament to staying healthy. Myself and C.D. have been very instrumental in being on the field daily. That is a big message to this team: We play all the time. We try to get in 155 games or more a year."

Britton was asked how big it would be for the Orioles to have Bundy have more nights like tonight.

"It would be huge, obviously," Britton said. "That cutter looked great today. That is a huge weapon for him. He worked on that in spring and you can see the transition. Some of the big hitters in the middle of that order didn't look too good on some of those pitches. Starting off on a good note for any young starter is the way to go."