Knee

Orioles right-hander Jason Hammel, making his second start since returning from arthroscopic surgery on his right knee, left Tuesday's game against the Tampa Bay Rays in the fourth inning with an injury to that knee. After delivering a first-pitch curveball to Rays right fielder Matt Joyce with two outs in the fourth, Hammel limped off the mound after favoring his right leg. Manager Buck Showalter and head trainer Richie Bancells ran to the mound to check on Hammel, who didn't even throw a warm-up pitch to test the injury.

What the Orioles don't need right now, especially after losing right fielder Nick Markakis (broken left thumb) for the rest of the regular season, is another injury. That's what they've got, though, and it's to another key contributor. Right-handed starter Jason Hammel, who returned Thursday after missing nearly eight weeks due to right knee surgery, left in Tuesday's fourth inning with a right knee injury . Not only is it the same knee, it's the same pain, Hammel said.

Jason Hammel's night is over. And, given the fact he hadn't pitched in a big league game since July 13, it was about as good as could be expected. Hammel pitched into the sixth, being pulled with no outs in the inning after walking Alex Rodriguez. Through five-plus, the lanky right-hander allowed six hits, two walks and one earned run - on a Curtis Granderson two-out single in the fourth. He struck out six and retired the first six batters he faced. There was a scary moment in the fourth when Robinson Cano smashed a comebacker that hit Hammel in the right elbow.

Reservoir's two-time All-Metro frst-team selection Amanda Jackson will likely miss her senior season while recovering from knee surgery in the spring. Jackson, a versatile forward who also saw time at midfield and defense in her first three years, tore her anterior cruciate ligament playing club soccer in early March. With her rehab going well, there's a slight chance she may be able to return to the field near the playoffs, but Reservoir coach Josh Sullivan said she would have to be at 100 percent.

COLLEGE PARK - Fifth-year Maryland linebacker Kenny Tate - who missed all but four games last season with a right knee injury - will be sidelined three to four weeks with an injury to the his left knee. It's the latest preseason blow to ther Terps ' defense. Defensive lineman Andre Monroe had knee surgery this week and is out for the year. Defensive lineman Keith Bowers (unspecified) and defensive backs Matt Robinson (shoulder), A.J. Hendy (ankle) and Isaac Goins (mononucleosis)

Jason Hammel, who had surgery on his right knee in July, threw 41 pitches in a mound session Tuesday and also went through pitcher's fielding practice for the first time since loose bodies were removed from the knee. He felt good afterward, and if no pain lingers this week, he will throw a two- or three-inning simulated game Friday at Camden Yards, Orioles manager Buck Showalter said. Hitters will stand in while Hammel throws from a mound.     “That's what our hope is, Friday.

Guard Jannah Tucker (New Town) had one rebound and one assist before leaving in the first quarter with a left knee injury as Team USA (2-0) rolled to a 68-28 victory over Argentina (1-1) on Thursday at the FIBA Americas U18 Championship on Thursday in Gurabo, Puerto Rico. Lexie Brown, a guard who has committed to Maryland, had six points, two rebounds and two steals but committed six turnovers. Brown said of losing Tucker: "We lost Allisha [Gray] earlier [Aug. 7] and we're just short on guards right now. So her hurting her knee is killer, but it's going to give us more fire to win this for her, for Allisha, and for each other, basically.

Already without its top receiver who flunked a conditioning test, Navy has also likely lost its second-leading receiver for at least the season opener against Notre Dame in Dublin, Ireland. Navy coach Ken Niumatalolo said after Wednesday's morning practice that senior Matt Aiken will likely miss the game against the Fighting Irish with a knee injury suffered in last Saturday's Blue-Gold scrimmage in Annapolis. Aiken caught only 13 passes for 201 yards and two touchdowns in Navy's run-oriented triple-option offense, but is considered a clutch receiver with great hands.

A strong case could have been made for junior quarterback C.J. Brown's being the player the Maryland football team could least afford to lose this season. Not only is Brown the most experienced player at the position, he is the only quarterback to have played in a game for the Terps. How much Maryland misses Brown will be learned quickly after it was announced Wednesday that he would miss the entire season with a knee injury suffered during a noncontact drill at practice Tuesday night.

After 4 games, look out Ron Fritz Baltimore Sun At first, Vikings running back Adrian Peterson will be tentative and not the superior back he once was. But after four games, look out. I would expect him to run wild in the last 12 games, especially when quarterback Christian Ponder proves he can't win a game by throwing the ball. Peterson can return to form as one of the NFL's top running backs, it just won't happen overnight. He can easily gain 1,000 yards in 2012, but much will depend on how good the Vikings are. If they are always coming from behind, Peterson will get fewer chances to run the ball.