Orioles trounce Rays despite Hammel blow

Baltimore starter Jason Hammel left early after a flare up of his troublesome right knee but the Orioles overcame that setback to hammer visiting Tampa Bay 9-2 and grab a share of the American League East lead on Tuesday. Hammel, making just his second start after missing nearly two months with knee surgery, tweaked his knee and had to leave in the fourth inning with the Orioles leading 3-1. “It was just one pitch, and then after that pitch, I couldn’t load on the leg again,” Hammel told reporters. The veteran Hammel (8-6), who raced to an 8-2 start to the season before running into knee issues, feared his season could be in jeopardy but said: “If there’s any way that I can pitch, I’m going to.”