Showalter on Bundy, O'Day, history and a 5-1 win (updated)

Orioles right-hander Dylan Bundy was coming out of tonight's game after the seventh inning. Nothing was going to change the mind of manager Buck Showalter. Not even a no-hitter, which was alive with two outs in the sixth before Elvis Andrus singled to center field.

Bundy went a career-high seven innings and allowed no runs and one hit, walked one and struck out seven in the Orioles' 5-1 victory over the Rangers before 22,230 at Camden Yards.

"That's a really good offensive team," Showalter said. "He actually faced them some before, so there's no ambush there. That was solid. He had gone 5 2/3 last time, about 89 (pitches), so he had been in the sixth. We were able to graduate him a little bit to the seventh. That was impressive. Pitched well again."

Bundy threw 88 pitches, one fewer than his career high registered in his previous start against the Rockies. He was more economical tonight, and the Orioles (60-45) rode his performance and four home runs - including two by Pedro Alvarez - to their second consecutive win after five straight defeats.

"He had some early contact, some early weak contact, and threw a lot of strikes," Showalter said. "They never could box one of the pitches out. When you give hitters three things to worry about, it's a different approach for them. It's really tough on them when you give them two things to worry about.

"Location was good. He threw a lot of quality strikes."

Darren O'Day got out of a bases-loaded, two-out jam in the eighth by striking out Ian Desmond after Brad Brach allowed a run on two hits and two walks. O'Day retired the side in order in the ninth for his third save.

"Nice to have Darren back," Showalter said. "That was a very potent team and trying to keep them down as long as you can. You knew they were going to make a run at us.

"Just a reminder we had gone over two months without him and it's a reminder of the job our guys did while he was gone. Just stay engaged in the competition in our division. It's great to have him back and some of the wear and tear that goes with the season, I hope it bodes well for him finishing strong because usually about this time he's got a lot more appearances."

Showalter lumps in O'Day with acquisitions from outside the organization.

"It's a great addition," he said. "I don't know if anybody made a better addition before the trade deadline that we did with Darren."

Brach began to warm in the top of the seventh and started up again after the Orioles got back-to-back home runs from Alvarez and Matt Wieters in the bottom half. Everyone in the press box probably held the same thought in the sixth after Bundy retired the first two batters and Andrus stepped to the plate.

Was Showalter disappointed or relieved that Andrus broke up the no-hitter?

"I'll never tell," Showalter said, smiling. "You were disappointed because you were waiting to see what we were going to do. The seventh was his last inning regardless. That was going to be his last inning. That was a pretty good progression for him. He almost got through the sixth inning last time.

"We had Brad up and he was kind of going hitter to hitter. That's a good question because it was a mixed bag. I knew that was it for him. Usually, people stay away from the pitcher during no-hitters, but all the coaches were staying away from me. They were afraid I was going to ask what they thought."

In his last three starts, Bundy has allowed three earned runs (four total) and eight hits over 17 2/3 innings to lower his ERA to 3.05. He's walked two batters and struck out 20.

Just as Showalter envisioned?

"Of course, I knew it all along," he quipped. "Of course not. Nobody knew. We're not that smart. And who knows what's going to happen next one? I wish it was that predictive. If it was, it would be a lot easier, but you never know.

"It's very hard to do what he's done these last few outings. But he's had great preparation for it. Not just from this spring and everything but ... This guy basically pitched in Double-A, so he brings a lot of experience his second time in the big leagues. He takes in everything. He's a watcher. Watch him sometime during a game. He's watching. He asks good questions."

It's more impressive when considering that Bundy has faced some potent lineups.

"It gives you an idea what he's capable of," Showalter said. "I like the fact that once he's gotten into the rotation he's been more efficient with his pitches. I think a lot of that had to with this being a role he was trying to work his way into. Once we got a feel for what best suited him, it made it tough on the bullpen, but we're getting a return for it now."

Alvarez produced his second multi-homer game this season and the 12th of his career. The Orioles and Mariners are tied for the major league lead with 14 multi-homer games by an individual.

"(Alvarez) very quietly for about a month now has been a real threat for us at a time of need," Showalter said. "He's been a real contributor for us. He's had solid at-bats and being a lot more selective. He hit breaking balls both times, didn't he? Actually the first one he hit was a pretty good pitch. He didn't get all of that, but he's just strong."

Showalter has 518 wins as Orioles manager, the first coming on Aug. 3, 2010, to pass Paul Richards for second place. Earl Weaver is first, of course, with 1,480.

Showalter also has sole possession of 28th place on baseball's all-time list with 1,400, surpassing Hall of Famer Wilbert Robinson. Jimmy Dykes is 27th with 1,406.

"One of players told me today, all those guys have passed away," Showalter said, drawing laughter in the interview room. "I keep looking. Is there any active one? I'm not far behind them from that standpoint.

"People made me aware of it. It just means I've been doing it for a long time and I've been lucky enough to have good players. That allows you to do it for a while. That's about the extent of it. Paul Richards was a great baseball man. Gosh, we'd all like to be half the baseball guy he was. I remember reading his book growing up, and he was way ahead of his time. Special.

"I know Dan (Duquette) was real close to him. He treated Dan real well at a time that a lot of guys of his stature didn't have to. That's always impressive to hear about somebody that you really respected growing up, to hear that from somebody that had day-to-day interaction with him. That's like, people talk to me about Billy Martin. The one thing I remember most about Billy is, he had time for me. He made time, really for all the minor league managers. It was a big deal to him. So to hear that with Paul and Dan, that's pretty nice."

Showalter loves the Orioles' history and how it's so important to people in Baltimore, one example being how he makes certain to have photos hanging all around the clubhouse area. He also understands when it's necessary to respectfully move away from it.

"When I first came here, you want to embrace the past, but you don't become a prisoner to certain things," he said. "We're real proud of those guys. They're special. We've got a few statues out there, too."

Update: The Orioles announced after tonight's game that Wade Miley will start Thursday's series finale against the Rangers.