It seems like a long time ago the last time Jason Hammel put in a performance that was worthy of positive comments.
At one time, the tall right-hander was considered one of the best pitchers on the Rockies staff. He finished April with an ERA in the low threes and was looking to build on his first two successful seasons in Colorado.
Instead, he took a nose-dive. It was as if he had forgotten how to pitch. His patented 12-6 curveball didn't seem to exist, and his fastball stayed flat and in the hitting zone. Loss after loss after loss started piling up, to the point where the Rockies had started to eliminate him from their long-term plans.
On Saturday night, however, Hammel was phenomenal. He pitched 6-1/3 innings, giving up just five hits and one earned run. He struck out one and walked three, but he was effective for the Rockies, continuing to find ways to get outs. The lone run came when Lance Berkman hit what would have been a double play ball, but Mark Ellis was playing so ...
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