masn-baseballs-orioles.jpgThe first inclination among some Orioles fans tonight will be to rip Jason Hammel for his start in Toronto.

Two home runs in five innings. A 3-0 deficit.

I’m focused more on how Todd Redmond shut out the Orioles over 6 1/3 innings.

Todd Redmond. Sound familiar? The Orioles selected him off waivers from the Reds on Feb. 8. He didn’t do much to impress in spring training, and the Blue Jays claimed him off waivers in late March.

Barely worth a mention in the transactions.

Redmond absolutely…The first inclination among some Orioles fans tonight will be to rip Jason Hammel for his start in Toronto.

Two home runs in five innings. A 3-0 deficit.

I’m focused more on how Todd Redmond shut out the Orioles over 6 1/3 innings.

Todd Redmond. Sound familiar? The Orioles selected him off waivers from the Reds on Feb. 8. He didn’t do much to impress in spring training, and the Blue Jays claimed him off waivers in late March.

Barely worth a mention in the transactions.

Redmond absolutely shoved tonight against a team that desperately needs a win after three straight losses against the Yankees at Camden Yards.

Redmond didn’t walk a batter. He struck out seven. But he’s going to be charged with a run on J.J. Hardy’s RBI double after the right-hander took a seat on the bench.

Adam Jones led off the top of the seventh with a double, only the third hit for the Orioles. And the first time they put a runner in scoring position.

Redmond was removed after Nick Markakis grounded out, with Jones advancing to third, and Hardy doubled off Dustin McGowan.

That’s a career-high 6 1/3 innings for Redmond. Against a team that… well, you get the picture.

The Orioles couldn’t get the pitcher tonight.

Adam Lind hit a two-run homer off Hammel in the fourth, and Colby Rasmus added a solo shot in the fifth. Hammel was charged with three runs and three hits in five innings, with one walk and two strikeouts. He threw 62 pitches, 39 for strikes.

In Hammel’s last 10 starts before tonight, he was 0-6 with a 5.43 ERA in 58 innings. He allowed 12 home runs.

Add two more tonight.

He won’t break his winless streak, but he’s hoping to avoid the loss.

The Orioles’ chances improved after Redmond left the game.

Update: Boy, did they improve.

Pigtown’s own Steve Clevenger, a surprise addition to the lineup, delivered a two-run double off McGowan to tie the game in the seventh.

Right fielder Moises Sierra played the ball as if he’d break out in a rash if he touched it.

That’s Clevenger’s first hit as an Oriole and his first RBIs.