SARASOTA, Fla. - Jason Hammel made a successful debut in his first exhibition game start for the Baltimore Orioles. Hammel allowed two hits and a walk in two innings in Baltimore's 2-1 win over the Atlanta Braves before 5,938 at Ed Smith Stadium on Thursday.
Hammel, who was acquired from Colorado last month along with Matt Lindstrom in the trade that sent Jeremy Guthrie to the Rockies, was admittedly nervous, but graded himself on a sliding curve.
"I guess a B, C, C plus for the effort," Hammel said.
The Orioles are now 3-2 in exhibition game play.
MARKAKIS GETTING READY: Nick Markakis is scheduled to play in his first game on Mar. 14. Manager Buck Showalter said that Markakis, who is still recovering from January surgery to repair a torn muscle in his abdomen will be the designated hitter in his first game.
"I won't need too many at-bats to get ready," Markakis said. "We picked the 14th because I feel like I'll just need another week to get my feet under me, but everything's going great."
Markakis expects to play right field a few days after his initial appearance.
BAD NEWS FOR OHLMAN: Mike Ohlman, the Orioles minor league catcher who was involved in a truck accident on Tuesday, received bad news in an MRI.
Ohlman suffered damage to his right shoulder, and he's weighing his options. He's scheduled to meet with team orthopedist Dr. John Wilckens on Friday.
NO ON DAMON: After a published report indicated that the Orioles had some interest in free agent outfielder Johnny Damon, team executive vice president for baseball operations Dan Duquette quickly shot it down.
"I don't think so," Duquette said when asked if the team would sign the 38-year-old.
"I already signed Johnny Damon when he was 28."
In one of his last moves as Red Sox general manager, Duquette signed Damon in Dec. 2001.
COMING UP: The Orioles travel to Port Charlotte, Fla. to play Tampa Bay on Friday. Jake Arrieta, Brad Bergesen and some others will pitch for Baltimore. Alex Cobb will start for Tampa Bay.
