O's game blog: Dylan Bundy faces Ervin Santana at Oriole Park

Now 1 1/2 games out of first place in the American League East, and with eight losses their past 11 games, the Orioles (25-19) host Minnesota tonight in the second game of a three-game series.

The Orioles lost the series opener 14-7 last night despite taking an early 5-0 lead. The Twins (23-18) scored four runs in the fifth for a 6-6 tie and six runs in the sixth inning. It was the Orioles' first loss in a series opener at home and they are 7-1.

Minnesota's 21 hits last night were the most allowed by the Orioles this season and their most since allowing 24 on July 30, 2011 at Yankee Stadium. It was the most hits by the Twins since they compiled 23 on Aug. 3, 2014 against the Chicago White Sox.

Orioles hitters lead the American League and rank second in the majors with a batting average of .315 with runners in scoring position. Outfielder Adam Jones ranks second in the majors with a .440 (11-for-25) mark with runners in scoring position. Yonder Alonso of Oakland is the major league leader at .448.

Orioles catchers lead the majors with a .318 batting average. Welington Castillo, Caleb Joseph and Francisco Peña have combined to record 11 doubles, a triple, eight home runs and 27 RBIs.

On the mound tonight, right-hander Dylan Bundy (5-2, 2.97 ERA) makes his 10th start. Bundy's season-opening streak of recording eight consecutive quality starts ended in his last start Thursday at Detroit. Over six innings he gave up eight hits, including two homers and six runs. Bundy's eight quality starts is tied for second-best in the majors.

Bundy has made four starts at home, going 3-0 with a 2.05 ERA. His home ERA is fifth-best in the American League. He went 5-3 with a 3.14 ERA at Oriole Park in 2016. In his career, he owns a 8-3 record with a 2.79 ERA in 24 games (12 starts) at Oriole Park.

Right-hander Ervin Santana (6-2, 2.07 ERA) will make his 10th start for the Twins. He has put up some very impressive numbers in 2017.

Santana currently ranks first in the majors in opponents' batting average against (.144), third in ERA (2.07) and tied for third in wins (6) and fourth in WHIP (0.89). Left-handers hit .148 and right-handed batters .138 against him.

He is 3-0 with an 0.45 ERA in three road starts, allowing one run over 20 innings. It is the majors' lowest road ERA (minimum 20 innings). Santana owns a 0.97 ERA in his last six road starts, dating back to last season, and a 1.78 ERA in his last 12 road starts.

Today marks manager Buck Showalter's 61st birthday. A three-time Manager of the Year (1994, 2004, 2014), Showalter is in his eighth season as O's manager. He has managed the Yankees (1992-95), Diamondbacks (1998-2000), Rangers (2003-06), and Orioles (August 2010-present).

His 572 wins as Orioles manager rank second in club history behind Earl Weaver (1,480) after Showalter passed Paul Richards (517) on the O's all-time managerial wins list. Showalter's 1,454 career wins rank 25th all-time and fourth among active managers behind Bruce Bochy, Dusty Baker, and Mike Scioscia.

The Milwaukee Brewers announced today that the game on Wednesday, July 5 against the Orioles will now begin at 6:10 p.m. CT (7:10 p.m. ET). The game was originally scheduled to begin at 7:10 p.m. CT and was changed to accommodate a makeup day game on July 6 at Wrigley Field.