Hammel allows one run through four frames with Aberdeen (now out of game)

ABERDEEN, Md. - Making a rehab start tonight for the short-season Single-A Aberdeen IronBirds, O's right-hander Jason Hammel has pitched two 1-2-3 innings against the Lowell Spinners, a Red Sox farm club. Hammel has gotten four groundouts and two flyouts on just 17 pitches, throwing 10 for strikes with his fastball sitting mostly at 93 mph. Hammel is expected to go about five innings and around 65 pitches in this game. Wearing a No. 49 home Aberdeen jersey, Hammel got off to a strong start during a seven-pitch, five-strike first inning when he retired the side in order on a groundout, flyout and groundout. Aberdeen second baseman Federico Castagnini made a diving stop to his left to record the game's first out. In the second, he threw 10 pitches, getting a flyout followed by two ground balls to retire the side. Hammel has a 3-0 lead as Aberdeen right fielder Manny Hernandez hit a three-run homer to left to get Aberdeen on the board in the first. It was his second homer. Hammel has been on the disabled list with a right flexor mass strain since July 29. In 21 Orioles starts this year, he is 7-8 with a 5.20 ERA in 123 innings. Last Thursday, Hammel made his first rehab start for Double-A and went 2 2/3 innings, allowing three hits with no runs, no walks and three strikeouts. He hit two batters during a 47-pitch outing. Hammel talked about his outing after that start in Bowie. In the third inning: Hammel gave up three singles and a run in the third and was not as sharp as in the opening two frames. He threw 22 pitches, 16 for strikes, and the Spinners' Carlos Asuaje came up with an RBI single against him. In the fourth: Hammel pitched a scoreless inning, working around a one-out walk, getting a strikeout and two groundouts. He is at 57 pitches and still sitting mostly 92 and 93 with his fastball velocity. Hammel's final line: 4 IP, 3 hits, 1 run, 1 walk, 2 strikeouts. Hammel has headed to the Aberdeen clubhouse and right-hander Austin Urban has come on to pitch in the top of the fifth. Hammel threw 57 pitches, 35 for strikes tonight in Aberdeen.