Orioles starter Jason Hammel looked sharp and healthy in his return from right knee surgery last week, holding the Yankees to one run over five innings in a 10-6 Baltimore victory. But the right-hander may suddenly be back to square one.
Dan Connolly of the Baltimore Sun reports that Hammel was diagnosed with an aggravation of his right knee after landing awkwardly while delivering a pitch in the fourth inning tonight against the Rays.
The 30-year-old was able to walk off the field under his own power when he made his early exit, but his knee clearly buckled on the pitch and the safe assumption is that he’ll need significant time off.
Hammel allowed one run in 3 2/3 innings before departing and now has a 3.43 ERA in 118 total innings this season. The Orioles entered play Tuesday with a one-game lead over the Rays in the AL Wild Card hunt.
