9-News: 37.047 – Ramos Beats Jackrabbits

[RonCo]

Rookie Righthander Settling In?

Ernesto Ramos drug his record up to 5-4 while lowering his ERA to 4.53 with a solid 6-inning performance today. Defeating the Frontier-leading Edmonton ballclub 6-2 behind good support from the team’s bats. The Nine combined for 6 doubles (two from a surging Aaron Stone) and a Andy McKinney homer. They also got stolen bases from Lucas McNeill and Jorge Rodriguez.

Reliever Tristan Alfama went the last three innings for an old-school save.

But afterward, all talk was about Ramos, a young kid who was projected with a strong future before the season started, but who started on rocky footing. He threw 90 pitches today, 57 of them strikes. He walked two and gave five hits in his six innings. “He was in control today,” manager Bret Richards said. “He’s a kid, you know. We need to give him his space. But he’s a good one. I think we’ll see that going forward.

VICTORY CAPS WINNING JUNE

The victory was important in a few ways, representing a series victory over an Edmonton team that is dominating the Frontier division and the team’s first winning month of the season. After a horrific April that saw the Nine go 8-19, the youthful Yellow Springs club battled back to break even at 14-14 in May. June’s 16-12 record could be a milestone moment.

“You want to get in the practice of winning,” Richards said. “It beats the alternative.”

Ernesto Ramos would probably second that.