Hammel goes six innings again (O's win 10-2)

Jason Hammel was at 80 pitches through five innings tonight. Seemed like a pretty good bet to become the first Orioles starter to make it through the seventh. Not anymore. Hammel needed 24 pitches to complete the sixth and strand two runners. That's 104 pitches. Manager Buck Showalter shook Hammel's hand in the dugout. It's up to the bullpen now - except for closer Jim Johnson, who has pitched in three straight games and needs a break. Hammel threw 113 pitches in his last start against the Los Angeles Dodgers. He's gone at least six innings in all five starts this season - and worked exactly six in four of them. Hammel allowed two unearned runs and three hits over six innings tonight, with two walks, two strikeouts and a hit batter. Too bad the defense abandoned him in the second or he may have completed seven innings tonight. Nate McLouth is 2-for-3 with a walk, two RBIs, two runs scored and two stolen bases. His average is up to .311. Just another night as the Orioles' leadoff hitter. McLouth beat out a double play ball to score Matt Wieters in the sixth inning and increase the Orioles' lead to 6-2. The Orioles have three stolen bases, making them 14-for-16 this season. I'm not sure the Athletics even care tonight. They can't be bothered to make a throw. Then again, catcher John Jaso has been hit by foul tips on every body part tonight. Adam Jones almost knocked off his mask in the seventh. He's just trying to survive. Jones has reached base safely in all but one of the first 22 games, and he has at least one hit in 20 of those games. Update: The Orioles tacked on two more runs in the seventh on Wieters' sacrifice fly with the bases loaded and J.J. Hardy's bloop single. Nick Markakis is 2-for-3 with two RBIs and two runs scored. He's batting .300. Troy Patton has replaced Hammel. Update II: Every Oriole has a hit tonight. Jones has three of them. The Orioles are outhitting the A's 15-4 and have taken a 10-2 lead in the eighth. A rare opportunity for Showalter to relax, though he probably won't do it.