O's game blog: It's Bundy against Porcello at Fenway Park

After losing 6-2 on Thursday night and winning 7-4 last night, the Orioles play the third game of a four-game series tonight versus Boston at Fenway Park.

Over the last four games the Orioles offense has produced 17, one, two and seven runs. Last night, Baltimore used a four-run fourth inning to break a 1-1 tie and take the lead for good. In that inning Adam Jones and Manny Machado hit two-out, two-run singles. Later, Jonathan Schoop hit his fourth homer off a Steven Wright knuckleball.

Over their past 10 games, the Orioles have hit 22 homers and scored 68 runs. Over the last nine games, the Orioles are batting .387 with runners in scoring position.

As for the O's starting pitchers, the last five times they have recorded a quality start, the Orioles have won. The most recent time was last night when Alex Cobb allowed three runs over 6 1/3 to get his first win with the Orioles. Cobb, who had his longest outing of the season, is now 1-5 with a 6.56 ERA.

On the mound tonight for Baltimore is right-hander Dylan Bundy (2-5, 4.53 ERA). Bundy began the year pitching to an ERA of 1.42 over his first five starts. He then allowed 23 hits and 22 runs over nine innings over his next three starts. He went 0-3 with an ERA of 19.00.

But Bundy quieted any concern about him, when he pitched seven scoreless last Sunday at Camden Yards versus Tampa Bay. He allowed just two hits with four walks and seven strikeouts over 100 pitches. It was his second scoreless start, following up his seven innings versus the Twins on opening day.

Bundy's scoreless outing against the Rays followed up his previous outing against Kansas City, when he gave up four homers and allowed seven runs, without getting a single out. But he got locked back in against Tampa Bay.

"Mechanically, I did some things between starts to try to get better," Bundy said after that game. "I've still got some work to do with the fastball command, but overall, felt better with my secondary pitches and just attacking hitters.

"Just trying to reach more towards the plate and get finish on all my pitchers really, and getting that little bit of extension I need to get to put the life on my pitches that they need."

Bundy took a loss at Boston in April, allowing three runs (one earned) over 5 2/3. In 13 career games (nine starts) he is 3-5 with a 4.66 ERA. In seven career games (four starts) at Fenway Park, he is 2-2 with a 3.18 ERA.

Right-hander Rick Porcello (5-1, 3.28) will make his 10th start for Boston. The 2016 AL Cy Young Winner had an ERA of 2.14 with six quality starts among his first seven starts. But over his past two versus the Yankees and A's, he went 0-1 with a 7.94 ERA. In four home starts he is 2-1 with a 3.54 ERA.

Porcello has yielded an average of .230 versus lefty batters and .229 against right-handers. Last season in three starts against the Orioles he went 0-3 with a 4.86 ERA. In 18 career starts he is 4-11 with a 4.88 ERA and 1.310 WHIP.