Jason Hammel pitches out of bases loaded jam in the first at Bowie (Hammel goes 2 2/3)

BOWIE, Md. - Pitching in a game for the first time since he faced the Boston Red Sox on July 28, Orioles right-hander Jason Hammel is making a major league rehab start tonight for the Double-A Bowie Baysox. Hammel pitched out of a bases loaded jam to keep the Binghamton Mets off the board in the top of the first. The right-hander is expected to go three innings for the Baysox, as the play their last regular season home game at Prince George's Stadium. He is facing a Mets team that has the best record in the Eastern League at 84-53. Leadoff batter Daniel Muno doubled just over the head of left fielder Buck Britton to start the game. A strikeout and fly out was followed by an infield single to third and a hit batter. With the bases loaded, Hammel got Wilfredo Tovar to ground to third for a force out to end the inning. He touched 94 a few times on the stadium gun and threw 21 pitches, 14 for strikes. Hammel has been on the disabled list with a right flexor mass strain since July 29. In 21 O's starts this year, he is 7-8 with a 5.20 ERA in 123 innings. He threw two bullpen sessions last Friday and Sunday at Camden Yards leading up to this outing tonight. Hammel pitched once in the O's minor leagues last season. He went five scoreless innings for Single-A Frederick last Sept. 1. Hammel is expected to make one more minor league rehab appearance before joining the Orioles sometime after the rosters expand Sept. 1. In the second: Hammel pitched around more trouble in the second when he hit the leadoff batter and gave up a one-out single. But he got a pair of ground outs after that stranding runners at second and third. He threw 18 pitches in the second and is at 39 pitches with 25 strikes through two. Bowie gave him a 6-0 lead in the last of the first with a three-homer power display. Buck Britton hit a two-run homer, Caleb Joseph added a solo shot and Brandon Waring hit a three-run homer. Joseph now has 21 homers and 95 RBIs and that was homer No. 20 for Waring. Hammel leaves in third: Hammel got a strikeout and ground out in the third and reached his pitch count and was taken from the game as Daniel McCutchen came on. Hammel threw 47 pitches, 32 for strikes. Hammel's final line: 2 2/3 IP, 3 hits, 0 runs, 0 walks, 3 strikeouts and 2 hit batters.