Dylan Bundy matches season high with eight strikeouts

FREDERICK -- Fresh off a scoreless frame in the MLB Futures Game, a showpiece for the world's top prospects, Orioles phenom Dylan Bundy continued his steady progress through the Carolina League on Saturday night against the Carolina Mudcats (CLE).

Bundy fanned eight batters in five two-hit innings, allowing an unearned run and walking one for the High A Frederick Keys. With the performance, Bundy lowered his season ERA to 3.15, though when he left the game, Bundy was in line for the loss. Bundy struck out eight in three innings on May 7, pitching for Delmarva.
 
Bundy opened Saturday with a 98 mph fastball, and leaned heavily on the pitch in an 11-pitch first. He had collected five strikeouts in the first three innings, including a pair of punch-outs on his breaking ball, which Bundy has been working to introduce into his repertoire.
 
The first base runner reached when Carolina right fielder Bo Greenwell doubled down the first base line—and off the glove of first baseman Aaron Baker — with one down in the fourth. Greenwell took third on a passed ball charged to Frederick catcher Joe Oliviera, and scored on a two-out Jesus Aguilar single.
 
Bundy, however, worked out of the jam and picked up his seventh strikeout on a change up.
 
Bundy worked around a leadoff walk in the fifth, and exited after five innings having thrown 65 pitches — 44 of which were strikes. He was most effective with his fastball, which sat at 94-96 mph and elicited 10 whiffs Saturday night. The 6-foot-1 right-hander had success with his breaking ball — he kept it down in the zone throughout the outing — but some were crisper than others. Bundy's changeup kept hitters off balance all night, especially the second time through the lineup.
 
Bundy, who was selected fourth overall in the 2011 MLB Draft, now has a 1.74 ERA with 82 strikeouts and 14 walks in 67.2 innings between Low Class A Delmarva and Frederick.