On Memorial Day in Washington, D.C., Baltimore Orioles starting pitcher Jason Hammel paid homage to United States military veterans the best way a hurler can – with military precision.
Hammel pitched eight strong innings (a season-high) against the Nationals, allowing only two earned runs while striking out eight and walking none in an O’s 6-2 victory.
That last stat – no walks – speaks to the key to Hammel’s great start, his stellar control.
Control hasn’t been Hammel’s strong suit in the early going of the 2013 season as he had struggled to a 5.37 ERA over his first 10 starts. Three starts ago, on May 17 against Tampa at Camden Yards, he seemed to hit rock bottom. I was at that game, and I remarked to anybody who would listen that Hammel “had no idea where the ball was going” when he threw it.
In that game, Hammel threw 99 pitches – only 58 of them for strikes, a 58.6% clip. That wasn’t his worst performance of the season in that regard though – in fact, his strike percentage was lower in four starts prior to that game.
However, on Monday in D.C., Hammel was absolutely radar-locked onto the strike zone like a Top Gun pilot, throwing 77 of his 107 pitches for strikes (71.9%). It was both the most total strikes he has thrown and his highest strike % in a start since joining the Orioles (they may also be the highest of his career, but I didn’t go back that far).
It was his first start since June 22, 2012 – also against the Nationals – where Hammel didn’t walk a single batter. Those two starts are his only such performances as a member of the O’s.
In his previous start against the New York Yankees, Hammel threw 75 of his 109 pitches for strikes (68.8%), his highest strike% of the season prior to yesterday. Hopefully, this trend continues and Hammel returns to the form that made him the O’s best starter in 2012. A few more starts like yesterday will go a long way towards getting the Birds’ bullpen the rest they so obviously need.
