O's game blog: Yefry Ramirez makes his second MLB start

PHILADELPHIA - Orioles right-hander Yefry Ramirez (0-1, 2.89 ERA) will make his third career big league appearance and second as a starter as the Orioles and Phillies conclude this brief two-game series today.

Ramirez made his MLB debut June 13 as a starter versus Boston and gave up three runs over 4 1/3 innings. On June 28, he threw five scoreless innings in relief versus Seattle on 52 pitches. He was optioned back to Triple-A Norfolk the next day. He can come back sooner than 10 days this time, as he replaced an injured player. Steve Wilkerson went on the disabled list Tuesday with a Grade 2 left oblique strain.

For Norfolk this year, the 24-year-old Ramirez went 3-5 with a 3.88 ERA and 1.17 WHIP.

"You know, changeup (has been solid)," manager Buck Showalter said. "Hitters are so much more in swing mode up here, because they're good hitters. That is why they're in the big leagues. He's having a good year down there. And we've had a real good look at David (Hess). Think he's had nine starts and I'm sure he'll start again at some point. This falls on Yefry's time (to pitch) - in fact, he's getting an extra day. So, this kind of fit."

Last night Alex Cobb gave the Orioles a third straight quality start and their 40th of the season. He allowed three runs in 6 2/3 in a 3-2 series-opening loss to the Phillies. The Orioles are just 17-23 in those quality starts.

Right-hander Aaron Nola (10-2, 2.48 ERA) gets the start for Philadelphia. In 109 innings for the year, Nola has allowed 79 hits and just six homers with 31 walks, 107 strikeouts and a .205 average against.

He has allowed one run or less in seven of his past 11 starts. He is 4-0 his last seven starts and 2-0 with a 1.98 ERA his past two outings.

In eight home starts, he is 7-0 with a 1.77 ERA and .201 batting average against. In this hitter friendly park, Nola has given up just two homers in 56 innings in 2018.

Note from Orioles public relations on this date in history: On this date in 1776, 56 delegates of the Second Continental Congress met in Philadelphia at the Pennsylvania State House (now known as Independence Hall, approximately 3.1 miles from Citizens Bank Park). They represented the 13 colonies and declared themselves the "United States of America" by approving and adopting the Declaration of Independence.

The final draft of the Declaration was approved by the Continental Congress on July 4, but the date of its signing has long been debated (most historians believe that it was signed on August 2, 1776). Of the 56 signers of the Declaration of Independence, four were from Maryland (the Maryland delegation included seven members). The four Marylanders to sign the Declaration were Charles Carroll of Carrollton, Samuel Chase, William Paca, and Thomas Stone. Carroll, a lawyer and planter, was one of the wealthiest men in America at the time and possessed the highest formal education of the 56 signers. A product of his 17-year education in France, Carroll spoke five languages fluently. Carroll died on Nov. 14, 1832 at age 95 in Baltimore and was the last surviving signer of the Declaration of Independence.