Wednesday Bird Droppings

About Last Night

Backed by 4 HRs, Bundy Helps Orioles Beat Rangers 5-1 - ABC News
Dylan Bundy took a no-hitter into the sixth inning for the second game in a row, Pedro Alvarez hit two of Baltimore's four solo homers and the Orioles beat the Texas Rangers 5-1 on Tuesday night in a duel between AL division leaders.

Dylan Bundy on his outing against Texas (plus more clubhouse quotes) - Steve Melewski
What was the key to Dylan Bundy’s outing? "I think just keeping the ball in on some of the lefties they had in that lineup, also mixing it up the whole game," he said.

Showalter on Bundy, O'Day, history and a 5-1 win (updated) - School of Roch
"That’s a really good offensive team," Buck 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."

Don't Call It A Comeback, He's Been Here For Years

Steve Pearce glad to return to "good situation" as he rejoins Orioles - Baltimore Sun
"Playing meaningful baseball, that’s what we want to do," said Steve Pearce, who joined from the Tampa Bay Rays in a trade for catching prospect Jonah Heim. "It gives us a reason to show up at the park every day and get ready to strap it on because it is going to be a dogfight."

Newcomers Wiley, Pearce delighted to join 1st-place Orioles (Aug 2, 2016) | FOX Sports
''When I first found out, I was excited, to go from a third-place team to a first-place team overnight,'' Wade Miley said. ''There's nothing wrong with that. So hopefully I can just come in here and not screw that up.'

More on Miley, the rotation and roster (O's win 5-1) - School of Roch
"Wade (MIley) has proven that he can pitch 200 innings, and if you look in the book, there’s a handful of left-handed pitchers that have pitched 200 innings in one year in the big leagues and he’s done it a couple of times." - EVP Dan Duquette

Let's Hear It For The Boy

It turns out the answer to Orioles' rotation question was on the team all along - CBSSports.com
"Still, when the deadline addition of Wade Miley plausibly constitutes an upgrade, it's telling. But Miley's adequacy or quasi-adequacy probably won't be what determines whether the Orioles have enough of a rotation to make the playoffs. Rather, it may be a 23-year-old one-time elite prospect who's possibly and finally realizing his immense potential."

While Toronto Blue Jays restrict Aaron Sanchez, Baltimore Orioles riding Dylan Bundy - Baltimore Orioles- ESPN
"Two completely different situations," Buck Showalter said when asked after Tuesday’s 5-1 win over Texas whether Toronto’s handling of Aaron Sanchez gives him pause. "It's their business. They know their player a lot better. I've got my hands full managing our team. We backed off at the front end to have Dylan (Bundy) at the end, and they are where they are because of some of the things that Sanchez had done."

Nine-year-old with double hand transplant throws first pitch at Baltimore Orioles game
"Tuesday night's ceremonial first pitch at Camden Yards was in no way an ordinary first pitch. It came courtesy of Zion Harvey, a 9-year-old from from Owings Mills, Maryland, who became the first child in the world to undergo a bilateral hand transplant last summer at the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, according to an Orioles media release." Go watch this and find out just how much dust is in your room.

Every Rose Has Its Thorn

Orioles option Despaigne and Wilson - School of Roch
"The Orioles ... optioned relievers Odrisamer Despaigne and Tyler Wilson to Triple-A Norfolk before (Tuesday's) game against the Rangers at Camden Yards."

Ex-Oriole Brian Matusz demoted by Cubs after one major league start - Baltimore Sun
Forrmer Orioles left-hander Brian Matusz has been designated for assignment after Sunday's lackluster start with the Chicago Cubs, according to the Chicago Tribune.

Birthdays and History

Happy Birthday to former Orioles Mark "Magic Toe" Reynolds and Dick Hyde, so um, yeah, there's that. They share today with famous people including 1811 Elisha Otis, American founder of the Otis Elevator Company; 1900 John T Scopes, Tennessee teacher convicted for teaching evolution; 1900 Ernie Pyle, England, correspondent during WWII; 1940 Martin Sheen, actor; 1941 Martha Stewart, American businesswoman; 1950 John Landis, director; 1963 James Hetfield, guitarist and vocalist of Metallica and writer of greatest song in human history; 1963 Isaiah Washington, American actor; 1977 Tom Brady, American football player; and 1984 Ryan Lochte, American swimmer.

On this day in Baltimore baseball history...

1969 - Twin Rich Reese's pinch-hit grand slam off the Orioles' Dave McNally in the 7th ends his 17-game winning streak. McNally, now 15-1 for the year, loses 5 - 2 to Jim Kaat.

1970 - In their last meeting of the year, Baltimore defeats Kansas City, 10 - 8. It is the Orioles' 23rd straight win over the Royals over a 2-year span, a major league mark.

1977 - Baltimore rookie 1B Eddie Murray homers from both sides of the plate in a 10-inning, 8 - 6 win over Oakland.

On this day in world history...

1492 Christopher Columbus sets sail on his first voyage with three ships, Santa María, Pinta and Niña from Palos de la Frontera, Spain for the "Indies"

1596 David Fabricius discovers light variation of Mira (1st variable star)

1914 Germany invades Belgium & declares war on France in WWI

1934 Adolf Hitler merges the offices of German Chancellor and President, declaring himself "Führer" (leader)

1972 U.S. Senate ratifies the Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty.

Consider this your discussion space for International Champions Cup 2016 - Bayern Munich v. Real Madrid.