Orioles back in first place after 5-2 win

SAN FRANCISCO - Dylan Bundy wasn't much of a hitter tonight, striking out in his first two major league at-bats and bouncing to the mound. Fortunately for the Orioles, they weren't dependent on the rookie to provide their offense. That would have been a peculiar strategy.

Bundy handled the pitching, allowing one run in 5 2/3 innings, and Mark Trumbo hit a 441-foot home run that almost bounced off the Bay Bridge. Everyone had their assigned roles.

Matt Wieters and Adam Jones drove in runs in the second inning, Chris Davis led off the fifth with a home run, and the Orioles took the first game of the series with a 5-2 victory over the Giants before 41,479 at chilly AT&T Park. They also took sole possession of first place in the American League East.

Zach Britton stranded an inherited runner in the ninth and is 36-for-36 in save opportunities. He's stranded 14 of 15 this season.

Jones singled twice and walked. Trumbo hit into a double play and struck out, but he also destroyed a Matt Cain pitch in the third inning, his two-run shot staking the Orioles to a 4-0 lead. Trumbo has two home runs and seven RBIs in the last two games.

Davis singled and homered, his 24th, to give him six hits in the last three games.

The Orioles improved to 65-50 overall and 26-33 on the road. Their streak of quality starts ended at seven, but just barely.

Bundy didn't have his best stuff, but the only run off him scored on Denard Span's double in the third inning after Joe Panik's leadoff single. No reason to panic. Bundy allowed three hits, walked two and struck out three. He fanned the last batter he faced, Brandon Belt, and Mychal Givens entered the game.

In his last three starts, Bundy has allowed three runs and eight hits in 18 2/3 innings. He's walked four batters and struck out 19.

For the season, Bundy is 6-3 with a 2.93 ERA.

Givens retired all three batters he faced, striking out two. Donnie Hart, called up today from Double-A Bowie, retired pinch-hitter Gregor Blanco on a fly ball to end the seventh and retired the side in order in the eighth.

Brad Brach entered in the ninth and Angel Pagan greeted him with a leadoff single, the first Giants baserunner since Hunter Pence doubled with two outs in the fourth. Thirteen in a row were retired.

A wild pitch and Brandon Belt single reduced the lead to 5-2 and manager Buck Showalter summoned Britton, who's recorded saves in back-to-back games. He struck out two batters and induced a ground ball. Routine stuff.

Hyun Soo Kim doubled in the fourth inning for his second extra-base hit since July 5. He got caught in a rundown between second and third on Manny Machado's infield hit and the Orioles wasted a prime scoring opportunity.

On this night, they got away with it.