Ramirez is right on time this time
He goes seven strong innings, while Trout (16th homer) and the top of the lineup provide support.
MIAMI — JC Ramirez is new to this. He doesn’t quite know what to do yet. Like a college freshman learning three weeks into the fall semester that no one voluntarily chooses a Friday class, Ramirez is learning the ways of a starting pitcher.
In his first eight starts for the Angels, Ramirez had been warming up too early. He realized it when he finished his pregame session Monday at Tampa Bay, returned to the dugout and saw the Rays’ starter still throwing.
All the time before he took the mound was breeding discomfort in the first inning, particularly when on the road. The hulking righthander scanned the stadium for his fastball velocity readings and saw 92 and 93 mph flash across the scoreboard.
“I was like, ‘Whoa, I gotta do something about this,’ ” Ramirez said.
Ramirez timed it right Saturday in Miami, finishing in the bullpen five minutes before first pitch. When he took the mound, his velocity rose and he carried it for seven innings in the Angels’ 5-2 victory.
The Angels’ first three hitters reached base three times apiece. Cameron Maybin, Andrelton Simmons and Mike Trout each had one extra-base hit, one single and one walk.
In the first inning, Trout received a fastball down the middle from journeyman Vance Worley. He sent it 443 feet to left for his leagueleading 16th home run and his longest homer hit anywhere but Coors Field since June 27, 2014.
In the bottom of the first, Ramirez pumped 97-mph fastballs and 90-mph sliders to strike out Dee Gordon, then induced a groundout from Giancarlo Stanton. Christian Yelich then shot a single to right and Marcell Ozuna grounded a ball up the middle. Ranging behind the base, rookie second baseman Nolan Fontana fielded it and flipped late to Simmons at second. Simmons then threw wildly to first. When the throw bounced into the stands, Yelich was awarded two bases and the Marlins their only run against Ramirez.
Ramirez fired a slider to strike out Justin Bour and end the inning. He faced the minimum number of Marlins through the next three innings. Twice he let a man on base. Twice he induced a double-play grounder.
In the fifth, Ramirez issued his first walk and loaded the bases on infield singles. Catcher Martin Maldonado back-picked Gordon off first base.
Ramirez returned for the sixth and quickly dispatched the Marlins. In the next half-inning, Ben Revere stood on deck to pinch-hit for him, but when Fontana struck out for the second out, Revere retreated and Ramirez batted, quickly grounding out.
He handled the seventh and would have started the eighth if not for the Angels’ extended rally in the top half of the inning. Maybin and Simmons walked, Trout singled to third base, and Luis Valbuena blooped a single to center field. Maybin was unconvinced it would drop and stayed near third base; Simmons knew from contact and nearly lapped Maybin on the trek home.
In nine starts this season, Ramirez has been the Angels’ best starting pitcher. The converted reliever has logged 561⁄3 innings, recorded a 3.20 ERA, walked 12 men and struck out 44.
“It’s getting easier now, with the confidence,” Ramirez said. “It’s hard to pitch in the big leagues as a starter and go seven innings. Now that I’m doing it, it’s getting easier.”
The Angels scored in the ninth when Maybin singled, swiped his team-high 12th base and scored on a Simmons double.