Erasmo in good company after 10-K game

SEATTLE -- Erasmo Ramirez became the eighth Mariners pitcher to record 10 strikeouts in a game as a rookie in Monday's 1-0 loss to the A's, joining a pretty good group in the process.

The previous Mariners pitchers in the 10-K club as a rookie were Freddy Garcia, Mark Langston, Randy Johnson, Byron McLaughlin, Erik Hanson, Felix Hernandez and Michael Pineda.

Those seven pitchers have a combined 77 Major League years of experience between them with 20 All-Star berths, six Cy Young Awards and a combined 832-612 win-loss record. McLaughlin, who pitched for Seattle from 1977-80, is the only one who didn't make an All-Star Game in his career.

Ramirez was making just his third Major League start and had struggled in his first two outings.

"I thought his focus was better," manager Eric Wedge said Tuesday. "He was down on the plate better and more aggressive and pitching more to contact. And ironically enough he ends up striking out 10 because he gets ahead and stays ahead.

"He just needs to be very aware of what he was doing last night because today it starts all over. Now we need to go out and repeat it. That's what it's all about up here."

Yu Darvish, Christian Friedrich and Matt Moore are the only other rookies in the Majors to strike out 10 this season.