Baltimore Orioles, Buck and the bullpen: An explanation for a rough week
By Nate Wardle
![May 12, 2017; Kansas City, MO, USA; Baltimore Orioles pitcher Dylan Bundy (37) reacts after giving up a solo home run to Kansas City Royals Brandon Moss (left) during the fifth inning at Kauffman Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Peter G. Aiken-USA TODAY Sports May 12, 2017; Kansas City, MO, USA; Baltimore Orioles pitcher Dylan Bundy (37) reacts after giving up a solo home run to Kansas City Royals Brandon Moss (left) during the fifth inning at Kauffman Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Peter G. Aiken-USA TODAY Sports](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_fill,w_720,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/shape/cover/sport/c1c853a1e7dc41fb73b663dd7e4ff25483eb32bb9e8fe282a03d0b1f8fe3208e.jpg)
On to Kansas City, a place where the Baltimore Orioles struggle. But a sweep?!
Dylan Bundy and Danny Duffy both pitched well and turned a 2-2 game to the bullpens. The Orioles went to Givens, who did his job and kept the game tied. The Royals went to Soria, who has been very good this year, and he was in the series.
So, in a 2-2 game in the eighth, Buck Showalter brings in Vidal Nuno. Why Nuno? I don’t know. He hasn’t been very good all year.
Sure, Givens wasn’t available, and unknown to most, neither was O’Day. But why was O’Day not DL’d? Sure, something crops up and you think it goes away after a day or two. But when you are on the fourth day and no improvement, you need pitchers. Especially with a six-man bullpen.
Nuno predictably left in a run, and the Orioles did nothing off closer Kelvim Herrera.