masn-baseballs-orioles.jpgNEW YORK – Jason Hammel was handed a 1-0 lead in the top of the second inning, but Eric Chavez snatched it away from him.

Chavez used brute force, hitting a long two-run homer off Hammel in the bottom of the second after Mark Teixeira singled and Raul Ibanez lined to right.

Hammel didn’t bother to turn and watch the flight of the ball. He stared straight ahead and raised his glove, waiting for a new ball.

Chavez has three home runs this season, his highest total since 2007.

Hammel has…NEW YORK – Jason Hammel was handed a 1-0 lead in the top of the second inning, but Eric Chavez snatched it away from him.

Chavez used brute force, hitting a long two-run homer off Hammel in the bottom of the second after Mark Teixeira singled and Raul Ibanez lined to right.

Hammel didn’t bother to turn and watch the flight of the ball. He stared straight ahead and raised his glove, waiting for a new ball.

Chavez has three home runs this season, his highest total since 2007.

Hammel has allowed two runs and two hits, with two walks and one strikeout, in three innings. He’s thrown 58 pitches, 31 for strikes.

The Orioles scored off Hiroki Kuroda in the second on Adam Jones’ leadoff walk, a long single by Matt Wieters – Ibanez mistimed his jump against the right field fence – and Chris Davis’ sacrifice fly.

J.J. Hardy is 0-for-2, lowering his average to .176.

Down on the farm, Dylan Bundy gave up his first professional hit tonight, a leadoff single by Asheville’s Delta Cleary Jr.

That was the only hit off Bundy, who still hasn’t allowed a run in 17 innings with Single-A Delmarva. He walked a batter, but he faced the minimum number because of two double plays.

In five starts, Bundy has allowed one hit, walked two and struck out 25, and South Atlantic League batters are 1-for-51 against him.

Update: Matt Lindstrom has replaced Hammel, who allowed two runs and five hits, walked two and struck out five in six innings. He threw 101 pitches, 60 for strikes.

Hammel hasn’t allowed more than two earned runs in any of his five starts. Tonight marks his fourth quality start.

The Orioles had runners on second and third with one out in the seventh, but Chris Davis struck out and Nick Markakis was tagged out at the plate by pitcher Hiroki Kuroda after the ball rolled past catcher Russell Martin.

Opportunity lost. Will we be saying the same thing about this game?

The Orioles have won 57 straight games when allowing two runs or less, a streak that’s in jeopardy tonight. The starters are 12-1 this year when they go at least six innings.