Start skipped, Ramirez used out of 'pen in loss to Crew

SEATTLE -- The Mariners decided to skip Erasmo Ramirez's turn in the rotation on Friday, but they didn't keep the 23-year old out of the ballgame. Ramirez came out of the bullpen to pitch 1 2/3 innings in Seattle's 10-5 loss to the Brewers, but will keep his spot in the starting rotation.

"We're looking at him to finish the season in the rotation," pitching coach Carl Willis said before the game. "It would probably be just an emergency if we used him. We used [long reliever] Brandon Maurer -- he threw 74 pitches on Wednesday -- so in Erasmo's case, we'd use him if it presented itself early in the ballgame."

The opportunity presented itself when starter Joe Saunders gave up a grand slam to Yuniesky Bentancourt in the fifth inning to put the Brewers up 9-2 in Friday's 10-3 loss. Ramirez gave up one run on three hits with one strikeout in relief.

Ramirez is 3-1 with a 7.25 ERA in five starts this year. Since he was used in relief, Ramirez will likely flip his scheduled start Tuesday at the Rays with Aaron Harang, who is scheduled to start on Wednesday.

"You just continue throwing the ball, go out play catch, do your work," Ramirez said. "Just don't be chilling around. Keep your body in shape. In the bullpen, you have to be ready in case they need you, you have to be ready every day. They skipped my start and everything. I follow the rules of what they said and just tried to figure out myself what I have to do to be ready."