Orioles RHP Hammel Ejected After Hitting Batter
BALTIMORE (AP) -- Orioles pitcher Jason Hammel was thrown out of Saturday's game against the Detroit Tigers after allowing three straight homers and then hitting Matt Tuiasosopo in the helmet with a pitch.
Hammel began the fourth inning by giving up a home run to Victor Martinez on a 3-1 pitch. Jhonny Peralta followed with a drive to left on a 2-2 pitch, and Alex Avila made it three in a row to put Detroit up 4-1.
On his next throw, Hammel plunked Tuiasosopo in the ear flap with a pitch the scoreboard said traveled at 82 mph. The right-hander was immediately ejected by plate umpire Hunter Wendelstedt.
Hammel and Orioles manager Buck Showalter argued the ejection, to no avail.
It was the first time the Tigers hit three straight homers since 2001. Later in the inning, Miguel Cabrera hit a grand slam.
(Copyright 2013 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)