Keys' Bundy wins third straight start

The Orioles may be waiting for Dylan Bundy, but they already have a pretty talented Bundy on the mound.

Bobby Bundy, the brother of Baltimore's 2011 first-round pick, earned his Carolina League-leading 11th win on Friday as the Frederick Keys blanked the Potomac Nationals, 4-0.

Bundy (11-5) held the P-Nats to three hits and a walk over seven innings to win his third straight start. He struck out three, faced only two batters over the minimum and lowered his ERA to 2.75, which ranks sixth in the Class A Advanced circuit.

"I was just trying to keep them off-balance, work the plate front to back," he said. "My fastball command was good tonight, my cutter and change were there. I could throw the curve when I needed it, got a couple strikeouts with that, so just the command of the zone. I felt like I could throw any pitch at any time I wanted."

Dylan Bundy was the No. 4 overall pick in last month's Draft, and the Orioles have been negotiating with the star high school pitcher. He's reportedly seeking a five-year, $30-million deal.

Bundy said he's looking forward to the day he can suit up again with his younger sibling.

"The negotiations won't really start until the next week or so, they've left him alone to sign other guys -- I think [the Orioles] are waiting on other guys, so it's a waiting process," Bundy said. "He's been relaxing and taking it all in, enjoying the time he's got with friends and family and working out, just staying prepared for what the Orioles may want him to do."

Bundy, who signed for $600,000 after the Orioles selected him in the eighth round of the 2008 Draft, has steadily climbed the organizational ladder since his debut four years ago. He hopes for the same for his brother.

"It will definitely be special. We got to play together when I was a senior and he was a freshman in high school, and that was one of the funnest times we've had playing baseball," Bundy said. "It's just a good time playing baseball with him. Not many brothers get that opportunity to play on the same team together. It was a lot of fun and I hope to do it again in the near future, provided that he signs and gets everything under way. It would be awesome to play with him."

For Frederick, Bundy has allowed just one unearned run over 14 innings in his last two starts. The Carolina League All-Star ends the month with four wins in six starts and, overall, has 100 strikeouts in 121 innings.

"My body and arm has felt good all year and I'm still feeling good," he said. "I've already gone over my innings that I threw last year and I feel great. This is fun playing on this team. Our whole team is good, everyone has a lot of talent, we're winning and it's a lot of fun. I'm just doing my part."

On Friday, the 21-year-old right-hander did not allow a runner to reach second base. His only mistakes were three singles -- Destin Hood had base hits in the first and fourth but was erased on a double play and Jeff Kobernus was thrown out trying to steal second after singling in the sixth.

Bundy, the reigning Carolina League Pitcher of the Week, retired nine straight batters between the first and fourth and finished his night with a 1-2-3 seventh. He said he threw about 81 pitches.

"I could have went out in the eighth," he said, "but they're trying to keep my innings controlled from here on out."

Will Startup worked around a single and a ground-rule double over the final two innings to complete the five-hitter.

Bundy has not lost since June 16 and has allowed two earned runs or fewer in seven of his last 10 starts for the first-place Keys. He was tied with teammate Nathan Moreau for the league lead in wins before moving into sole possession of the top spot Friday.

"It's been a lot of fun," Bundy said. "Our defense is outstanding, we have two infielders in Manny Machado and Jonathan Schoop up the middle turning double plays and making diving catches. Dale Mollenhauer has been outstanding at third, we have a great outfield, our defense has been the key. Our lineup has been able to put the bat on the ball. We've got a good chemistry and we're all good friends."

Frederick scored all of its runs in the first as Steven Bumbry led off the game with his sixth homer and Miguel Abreu hit a ground-rule double with the bases loaded, plating two. Brian Ward capped the frame with a sacrifice fly.

Kansas product Cameron Selik (4-7) lost for the first time in nearly a month, surrendering all four runs on five hits and a walk over six frames.