O's game blog: Dylan Bundy faces the Indians

CLEVELAND - The Cleveland Indians beat the Orioles 14-7 last night at Progressive Field and host the O's tonight in the second game of a four-game series.

The Orioles lost leads of 5-1 and 7-6 Thursday night and Cleveland scored the game's final eight runs. The Indians set season highs in runs and hits (14), plating their most runs since Sept. 28, 2018 at Kansas City. Cleveland has scored 23 runs its last two games, scoring nine or more in back-to-back games for the first time since Aug. 12-13, 2018.

Cleveland won the opening game of an 11-game homestand and is 12-7 at home and 17-3 when scoring four runs or more. The Indians bullpen threw four scoreless innings to reduce its ERA to 2.96 for the year.

The Orioles (14-29) fell to 0-3 on this road trip and have lost seven of eight and 13 of 17 games. They are 8-14 away from Oriole Park. The Orioles' seven runs matches their most scored in a loss. They lost 16-7 on April 20 to Minnesota in the second game of a doubleheader.

Right-hander Dylan Bundy (1-5, 5.31 ERA) takes the mound tonight amid much discussion about his 89.8 mph average velocity in his last start. He was pulled after five innings and 80 pitches Saturday night at home versus the Angels when manager Brandon Hyde saw his velocity drop as he walked two batters in the fifth.

Hyde said there has been no change in Bundy's preparation leading up to tonight's start.

"It's been the same. He's been on the same routine," Hyde said. "He gets an extra day because of the rainouts in New York. But he's on the same routine and he feels fine. I just think he fatigued some in that outing, for whatever reason. He feels like nothing happened."

Bundy has started twice this year on five days' rest. He is 1-0 with a 2.45 ERA and 1.091 WHIP. Bundy did not exactly get hit hard in that last start, allowing three runs over five innings. And over his past four starts, his ERA is 3.47. Two starts ago, he blanked Tampa Bay over 7 1/3 innings.

While lefty batters are hitting just .225 with an OPS of 689 against Bundy, right-handers are batting .256/.997 and Bundy has allowed nine of his 11 homers versus righty batters. Maybe facing a heavy lefty hitting Cleveland lineup will be an edge for him tonight.

Cleveland is starting right-hander Jefry Rodriguez (1-2, 2.92 ERA), who is making his fifth start of the season. Over 24 2/3 innings for the year, he has allowed 21 hits and eight runs with eight walks, 15 strikeouts and a WHIP of 1.176.

Rodriguez has recorded three consecutive quality starts. He beat Oakland on Sunday, allowing six hits and three runs over six innings and 101 pitches. In his only previous career start against Baltimore last June 19, he gave up five runs in five innings for the Washington Nationals. The Nationals traded him to Cleveland last November in the deal that brought catcher Yan Gomes.

Earlier today, Orioles players, coaches and staff were special guests of the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. The experience gave the O's an intimate look at artifacts from the Hall of Fame's vault, which is not available to the general public. The collection boasts more than 30,000 artifacts, ranging from handwritten lyrics, costumes, instruments and personal effects from a multitude of artists from the origin of rock and roll to the present. The VIP experience also showcased artifacts that highlight the connections between rock and roll and baseball.