Adjustments have paid off for newcomer Ramirez

PHILADELPHIA -- J.C. Ramirez said he had to make some tough adjustments when he was pitching for Triple-A Lehigh Valley, and they have paid off.

Ramirez, a right-handed reliever, was called up Saturday to fill the void left by setup man Mike Adams, who landed on the disabled list with biceps tendinitis.

It's the second DL stint of the year for Adams, who missed time in May with a strained back. He is 1-4 with a 3.96 ERA in 25 innings.

Meanwhile, Ramirez is in the Majors for the first time, and he struck out the side in his first big league appearance Sunday against the Mets. He had a 6.53 ERA in 27 appearances at Triple-A, but said he worked with Lehigh Valley pitching coach Ray Burris on keeping his sinker down in the zone and his tempo with runners on base.

Ramirez said he thinks the adjustments made a difference. In his final eight games in the Minors, he had a 2.70 ERA and 10 strikeouts in 10 innings.

"I was working every day on my mechanics with Ray," Ramirez said. "I felt like I saw the results -- there weren't as many stolen bases and I kept the game closer every time I went to the mound."

Ramirez was acquired from Seattle in a four-player deal that saw the Phillies part ways with Cliff Lee in 2009. Ramirez is now in the same clubhouse as Lee, who rejoined the Phillies in 2011, and though it was a blockbuster deal, Ramirez said he did not feel much pressure to perform after joining the Phillies' organization at 21.

"I was a young guy, a young prospect trying to make my career," Ramirez said. "I was trying to make an impact and make my way to the big leagues."