Ramos quietly putting together brilliant season with Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim

ANAHEIM — From a statistical standpoint, Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim pitcher Cesar Ramos is having his best season to date over a Major League Baseball career that’s spanned parts of seven seasons.

The La Crescenta resident and one-time El Rancho High standout relief pitcher owns a 2-1 record with a 2.11 earned run average accumulated over 49 appearances and 42 2/3 innings pitched through Friday evening.

Ramos has allowed only 10 earned runs and 43 hits, while striking out 34 versus 11 walks.

Those numbers combined with his previous six seasons have produced a career mark of 7-12 with a 3.64 ERA over 289 1/3 innings and 235 games.

His trade for Mark Sappington on Nov. 5, 2014 with the Tampa Bay Rays has appeared to be a break in Ramos’ favor.

Yet, ask the 31-year-old Long Beach State product about his stats and he’s oblivious — sort of.

“I try not to look at my numbers whatsoever until the year ends,” Ramos said Friday, which saw Ramos come on in the eighth inning, closing out a 9-2 Angels’ loss to the Toronto Blue Jays in which he threw 1 2/3 innings with two hits and one run allowed. “It was just one of those things where it doesn’t matter what situation you’re put in, you’re just trying to get the out and not think of what I’ve done the last couple of games.”

Ramos’ next victory will set a career high, while his present ERA is the best he’s posted during his tenure. The left-hander is also 11 appearances shy of his career high of 59 games, set back in 2011 when Ramos was a Ray.

It’s unlikely Ramos will surpass his career high total of innings pitched in one season of 82 2/3, set last year.

That may be a good thing, however, as Ramos has credited his success this season to his lower inning total.

“With the Angels, I’m going out there for an inning or two,” said Ramos, who also tossed 67 1/3 innings in 2013. “In the past, I’d be out there for a third inning and that’s kind of where I would get hurt and get hit around. I’ve just pitched more consistently and [been] pitching in good situations. I’m thinking about my pitches and I’ve gotten a little bit of luck.”

After allowing a run in 2/3 of inning versus the New York Yankees on June 6, Ramos had been sublime until recently.

The southpaw did not allow a run in 18 straight contests in a streak that lasted nearly two months.

“Cesar has got some big outs over the course of the year with us,” Angels Manager Mike Scioscia said. “Whatever role he’s in, he just keeps delivering. He’s having a terrific season.”

That total, which began June 14 and concluded Aug. 8, consisted of 18 innings and 16 strikeouts with only five walks and 14 hits allowed.

While Ramos was on a roll, he wasn’t aware of his numbers.

“You know you’re doing well,” Ramos said, “but I didn’t know it was to that extent.”

Ramos was so good at one point that his lack of use in a critical situation brought about scrutiny when Scioscia chose not to insert his reliever in the bottom of the ninth versus the Houston Astros on July 30.

Scioscia stuck with right-hander Fernando Salas with two on and two outs and Houston left-handed batter Jason Castro delivered a three-run home run to secure the Astros a 3-0 victory.

The loss completed a three-game sweep for the Astros and pushed Houston ahead of the Angels in the AL West.

Anaheim is 63-59 after Friday’s action, 3 1/2 games behind Houston and has been trying to catch up ever since.

Despite the loss, Ramos did not question the decision.

It’s been Scioscia’s handling of Ramos that the veteran believes has helped him thrive.

“I think everything has to do with that,” Ramos said. “[Scioscia’s] used me in great situations and I’m pitching. I’m not sitting for 10 or 15 days between opportunities, which has happened in the past.

“Here, I think the longest I’ve gone has been six or seven days. It’s kept me sharp and more consistent and confident.”

Immediately following Ramos’ streak, the hurler ran into some problems.

Ramos allowed a run in each of his next four appearances over six days, which was capped with two walks and run scored in 1/3 of an inning at Kansas City on Aug. 14 in a Royals’ 4-1 victory.

Since then, Ramos has bounced back with two out of four scoreless appearances, totaling 7 2/3 innings with two runs on six hits with eight punch outs.

“We’re humans, so it’s going to happen,” Ramos said of his rough patch. “Hopefully, it was a bump in the road that’s behind me now. I’ve kind of made my adjustments now and I’m getting back on track to help us win.”