Hammel, O's aim for another defeat of Blue Jays

Well-traveled right-hander Jason Hammel makes his second start as a member of the Baltimore Orioles today when they meet the Toronto Blue Jays in the middle game of a three-game series at Rogers Centre.

Hammel, a 10th-round pick of the Tampa Bay Devil Rays in 2002, debuted with the team in 2006 and made 73 appearances through 2008, including 28 starts.

He was traded to Colorado at the outset of the 2009 season and spent three seasons with the Rockies, winning double-digit games twice and pitching at least 170 innings each year.

He came back to the American League in February as part of a three-player deal that saw Jeremy Guthrie head to the Rockies while he and Matt Lindstrom went to Baltimore.

Hammel was a 3-1 winner over Minnesota after eight innings of two-hit ball on April 8, walking three batters and striking out five.

He's won all three decisions against Toronto in eight career appearances - five starts - while posting a 4.35 earned run average in 31 innings.

For the Blue Jays, young right-hander Henderson Alvarez, who'll turn 22 next week, makes his second start of the season and just the 12th of his career.

The Venezuelan started 10 games for the Blue Jays in 2011, winning one of four decisions while walking eight, striking out 40 and registering a 3.53 ERA in 63 2/3 innings.

He debuted for 2012 against Boston on April 9 and took a no-decision in Toronto's 4-2 loss after giving up a run on four hits in six innings.

Alvarez won his lone decision in two starts against the Orioles last season, allowing three runs on 12 hits while walking one and striking out nine in 15 innings.

On Friday, Wilson Betemit's two-run single in the eighth inning was the difference as the Orioles edged Toronto, 7-5.

Adam Jones added a home run and two RBI, while Nolan Reimold and Robert Andino also homered for the Orioles, who snapped a three-game slide.

Starter Tommy Hunter allowed five runs - four earned - on six hits and two walks through six-plus innings before Darren O'Day (1-0) tossed a scoreless inning of relief to earn the win.

Darren Oliver (0-1) gave up the deciding run in the eighth inning to suffer the loss. Brandon Morrow gave up four runs on six hits and a walk through a seven-inning start for Toronto, which had won its previous two.

Yunel Escobar, Kelly Johnson, Edwin Encarnacion and Colby Rasmus each homered in defeat.

Toronto has gone 27-10 versus Baltimore since the start of the 2010 season, including victories in 15 of 19 at home.