NEW YORK — Manny Machado has sure hands — even when it comes to snagging bats near the on-deck circle.
Baltimore’s two-time Gold Glove winner made a one-handed grab of Adam Jones’ bat as it bounced off the protective screen near home plate in the first inning and hit a sacrifice fly in the eighth to give the Orioles a 1-0 victory over the Mets on Wednesday.
A major league-worst 19-41, the Orioles swept the two-game series for their first consecutive wins since May 24-25.
“That was pure instinct,” Machado said. “I was kind of scared for a second. I am not going to lie.”
Dylan Bundy (4-7) allowed three hits in seven innings, struck out five and walked three.
Richard Bleier pitched around Brandon Nimmo’s leadoff single in the eighth, and Brad Brach got his 10th save in 11 chances. Todd Frazier singled leading off the ninth before Jay Bruce and Kevin Plawecki flied out, and Adrian Gonzalez grounded out.
New York has lost six straight, tying its season high, and 11 of 13. The Mets are 16-33 following an 11-1 start and have dropped eight consecutive home games for the first time since May 10-25, 2013. They have scored two runs in their last 32 innings.
“We’ve got a good team. We just need to put it all together and go on a stretch,” said Mets pitcher Zack Wheeler, who also allowed three hits in seven scoreless innings.
Baltimore, which arrived in New York with a seven-game losing streak, scored in the eighth off closer Jeurys Familia (2-3). New York native Pedro Alvarez reached on a single when his grounder to the right side of the shifted infield bounced off the glove of shortstop Amed Rosario on the outfield grass. Graig Gentry stole second, took third on Jones’ one-out single and scored on Machado’s drive just in front of the center-field warning track.
Bundy had escaped trouble in the eighth when the Mets loaded the bases on Plawecki’s two-out double, an intentional walk to Gonzalez and a walk to Jose Bautista. Rosario struck out on three pitches from Bundy, who is 3-1 with a 1.08 in six day games.
Baltimore manager Buck Showalter quipped that pitching coach Roger McDowell was suggesting nicknames.
“Roger said maybe ‘Sunny.’ Somebody said ‘Over Easy,'” Showalter said.
After Nimmo singled starting the eighth, he was doubled up by Bleier when Cabrera popped up a bunt.
“They weren’t down on themselves,” Mets manager Mickey Callaway said of his players. “They were mad.”
SUBWAY SERIES
Frazier expects a playoff atmosphere for the weekend series against the Yankees at Citi Field.
“One big hit here in that series, and all of a sudden, we’re back to where we need, even though we’re a bunch of games out,” said Frazier, who played for the Yankees last year.
TRAINER’S ROOM
Orioles: RHP Darren O’Day (elbow) is expected to make another rehabilitation appearance Thursday with Class A Frederick and could rejoin the Baltimore in the coming days. … OF Colby Rasmus (left hip flexor strain) is not close to returning to the club, according to Showalter. He is 0 for 10 in three minor league games.
Mets: C Devin Mesoraco (right hamstring tightness) missed his third straight game.
UP NEXT
Orioles: RHP David Hess (2-2, 3.47 ERA) opens a four-game series Thursday against Toronto.
Mets: Jacob deGrom (4-0, 1.49 ERA) takes the mound Friday. He has allowed one run or none in each of his last eight starts.
