Save one day, start the next: Tampa Bay’s Ramirez first to do so in 33 years
Tampa Bay right-hander Erasmo Ramirez became the first pitcher since 1984 to start a major league game the day after recording a save, then didn’t make it out of the third inning Monday night.
#Rays Erasmo Ramirez does indeed start against the Rangers. Probably still warm from yesterday's save vs. Twins.
— Dan Lucas (@WFLADan) May 30, 2017
A day after pitching a perfect 15th inning on 12 pitches in the Rays’ 8-6 win at Minnesota, Ramirez allowed four runs and six hits in 2 1/3 innings at Texas.
I am shocked that Erasmo Ramirez is having trouble in the first ending after getting the save last night. Absolutely shocked.
— Kate Feldman (@kateefeldman) May 30, 2017
Ramirez was the first pitcher since Cleveland’s Steve Farr in June 1984 to have a save one day and the start the next day for his team, the Elias Sports Bureau said.
The last player to record a save and then start his team’s next game was Dennis Martinez, a fellow Nicaraguan who was Ramirez’s childhood hero. Martinez saved a game for Montreal on July 11, 1993, and started four days later in the Expos’ next game after the All-Star break.
This story was originally published May 29, 2017 at 6:58 PM with the headline "Save one day, start the next: Tampa Bay’s Ramirez first to do so in 33 years."