Baltimore Orioles’ Steve Pearce (51) is welcomed into the dugout after scoring against the Atlanta Braves during the fifth inning of a baseball game on Saturday, June 16, 2012, in Atlanta. Baltimore won 5-0.ATLANTA — Jason Hammel just wanted go deep into the game and give Baltimore’s bullpen some rest.
He nearly got his first no-hitter in the process.
Hammel pitched a one-hitter for his first career shutout, allowing only Jason Heyward’s two-out single in the seventh inning, and the Orioles beat the Atlanta Braves 5-0 on Saturday night.
“A no-hitter would’ve been nice, but it gave the bullpen the night off,” Hammel said. “I heard from them. Not one bullpen pitch thrown. That’s huge because we’ve been taxing them pretty good.”
There have already been five no-hitters in the majors this season, including three this month, and Hammel made a strong bid to add to the list. He struck out eight and walked two, throwing 65 of 102 pitches for strikes.