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Hammel, O's aim for sweep of Angels

Jun 12, 2013 - 2:21 PM (Sports Network) - Right-hander Jason Hammel will try to snap a personal two- game skid and pitch the Baltimore Orioles to a series sweep when they host the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim in the Wednesday afternoon finale to a three- game set at Camden Yards.

The South Carolina native had wins in seven of his first nine 2013 decisions through the end of May before dropping a 10-3 verdict to Detroit on June 1 and a 2-1 decision in Tampa Bay on June 7.

In those two games, Hammel has allowed a combined 11 hits and seven runs in 9 2/3 innings with five walks and three strikeouts.

His earned run average has spiked to 5.18 from 4.98.

Hammel is 1-3 in five career meetings with the Angels, the last coming on May 5 in California, where he was an 8-4 winner after allowing four runs on nine hits in six innings.

For the Angels, occasional starter Jerome Williams gets the first-inning call for the seventh time this season in his 17th appearance.

The 31-year-old is winless in three appearances since he twirled six innings of two-run ball in a 5-2 victory at Kansas City on May 26.

He dropped a hard-luck 2-0 verdict to Houston five days later after allowing two runs on three hits in seven innings.

In two subsequent relief outings, he's tossed 3 1/3 innings and allowed three runs on five hits.

Williams is 3-1 in four career starts against Baltimore, but dropped an 8-4 decision to the Orioles on May 5 against Hammel.

On Tuesday, Nick Markakis finished 2-for-4 with the go-ahead two-run hit and Miguel Gonzalez tossed eight solid innings, as Baltimore took down Los Angeles, 3-2.

Manny Machado knocked in the other run for the Orioles, who have won three straight overall.

Gonzalez (4-2) scattered four hits and one run -- a Mike Trout solo shot in the fourth -- while fanning five. Jim Johnson had a bit of trouble in the ninth, but locked down the victory for his 23rd save.

"He goes out there and pounds the zone, makes hitters swing at his pitches," Markakis said. "He made a lot of great pitches and he did a good job for us."

Howie Kendrick totaled two hits and Albert Pujols drove in a late run for the Angels, who have lost nine of their last 11.

Jason Vargas (5-4) allowed seven hits and three runs over his 6 2/3-inning outing.

The Orioles won three of four games with the Angels when the teams met in a series in Baltimore from May 2-5.