Jake Thompson gets another start after filling in for the scratched Jeremy Hellickson on Friday (Frank Klose/Sports Talk Philly)
By Matt Rappa, Sports Talk Philly editor 
ANAHEIM, Calif. — As right-hander Jake Thompson makes his second start of the season, the Philadelphia Phillies (39-65) will vie for their 40th win while facing former club prospect RHP JC Ramirez and the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim (52-55) Wednesday evening at Angel Stadium of Anaheim.
The Phillies fell 7-1 to the Angels in Tuesday's series opener, as right-hander Aaron Nola suffered his seventh losing decision despite allowing only two runs through six innings. Angels designated hitter Albert Pujols supplied most of the game's offense, with a two-RBI double in the fifth off Nola, and a three-run home run in the seventh off reliever RHP Mark Leiter Jr.
With bullpen availability tight, No. 25-ranked Phillies prospect Drew Anderson was called up from Double-A Reading and made his major league debut in the eighth. Anderson allowed two runs (one earned) on a pair of singles spanning 22 pitches and 13 strikes. He struck out one batter — Millville, New Jersey native and All-Star outfielder Mike Trout. Trout went 2-4 with two runs scored, one walk and a strikeout in his fifth career game against his hometown club.
Following the game, Anderson and outfielder Cameron Perkins were optioned to Double-A and Triple-A Lehigh Valley, respectively. The Phillies made two corresponding moves prior to Wednesday's game — activating outfielder Daniel Nava from the 10-day disabled list and recalling RHP Edubray Ramos from Triple-A Lehigh Valley.
The Phillies have dropped 10 straight to the Angels and are 1-10 against the franchise all-time.
Starting Pitching Matchup:
| Philadelphia Phillies (39-65) | Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim (52-55) | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| RHP | Jake Thompson | RHP | JC Ramirez | ||
| (1-0, 4.50 ERA) | (9-9, 4.29 ERA) | ||||
Thompson Career vs. LAA: N/A
Thompson, 23, makes his second start as the replacement in the rotation for recently-dealt veteran RHP Jeremy Hellickson (Baltimore Orioles). The right-hander earned his first win on July 28, tossing five shutout innings against the Atlanta Braves on five hits, two walks, five strikeouts and 74 pitches (45 strikes).
The Dallas, Texas native has allowed 13 runs in 12 career innings of interleague play. Ten of these innings were against the Chicago White Sox (August 23 and Sept. 20 of last season), while the other two innings were in a relief appearance against the Mariners to finish the game on May 10.
Season Splits, By Month:
- April: 0 G, 0 GS
- May: 3 G, 0 GS, 0-0, 9.00 ERA, 5 IP, 3 SO, 4 BB, .316/.400/.579
- June: 0 G, 0 GS
- July: 1 G, 1 GS, 1-0, 0.00 ERA, 5 IP, 5 SO, 2 BB, .278/.350/.333
Ramirez Career vs. PHI: 0-0, 2.70 ERA, 4 G, 0 GS, 3 1/3 IP, 3 H, R, ER, HR, 0 BB, SO, 0.900 WHIP
On Dec. 16, 2009, the Phillies acquired Ramirez from the Seattle Mariners — along with minor league outfielder Tyson Gillies and RHP Phillippe Aumont — in exchange for southpaw Cliff Lee. Ramirez, 28, would debut with the Phillies in 2013 and pitch 18 games and 24 innings in relief, combining for a 7.50 ERA (20 ER), 1.875 WHIP, 16 strikeouts and 15 walks.
The Nicaragua native has pitched for four clubs since, the Arizona Diamondbacks (2015), Mariners (2015), Cincinnati Reds (2016) and Angels (2016-17). After making 111 career relief appearances, Ramirez is seeing his first action as a starter this season as the fill-in for injured RHP Garrett Richards (right biceps strain).
Season Splits, By Month:
- April: 7 G, 4 GS, 3-2, 4.23 ERA, 27 2/3 IP, 31 SO, 9 BB, .230/.291/.390
- May: 5,G, 5 GS, 2-1, 2.67 ERA, 33 2/3 IP, 16 SO, 5 BB, .270/.303/.413
- June: 6 G, 6 GS, 2-3, 7.04 ERA, 30 2/3 IP, 28 SO, 9 BB, .302/.359/.581
- July: 5 G, 5 GS, 2-3, 3.34 ERA, 29 2/3 IP, 21 SO, 17 BB, .252/.357/.383
Starting Lineups:
| Philadelphia Phillies (39-65) | Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim (52-55) | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Position | Player | Bats | Position | Player | Bats | ||
| 1 | 2B | Cesar Hernandez | S | 1 | LF | Ben Revere | L |
| 2 | SS | Freddy Galvis | S | 2 | CF | Mike Trout | R |
| 3 | CF | Odubel Herrera | L | 3 | DH | Albert Pujols | R |
| 4 | 1B | Tommy Joseph | R | 4 | 3B | Luis Valbuena | L |
| 5 | LF | Hyun Soo Kim | L | 5 | SS | Andrelton Simmons | R |
| 6 | 3B | Maikel Franco | R | 6 | 1B | C.J. Cron | R |
| 7 | RF | Daniel Nava | S | 7 | 2B | Kaleb Cowart | S |
| 8 | C | Cameron Rupp | R | 8 | C | Martin Maldonado | R |
| 9 | DH | Andrew Knapp | S | 9 | RF | Ramon Flores | L |
Broadcast Information:
- First pitch: 10:07 p.m.
- TV: CSN
- Radio: SportsRadio 94 WIP
Game Notes:
- The Phillies' 10-game skid against the Angels is the second longest in interleague history. Only the Mariners and Pirates' 11-game respective skids against the Nationals (2005-2014) and A's (2002-2013) lasted longer.
- Active Hit Streaks:
- Phillies
- 2B Cesar Hernandez: 6 G, 27 AB, 5 R, 11 H, 0 HR, 0 RBI, 2 BB, 6 SO, .407/.467/.593
- OF Odubel Herrera: 5 G, 20 AB, 4 R, 8 H, 2 HR, 5 RBI, 0 BB, 5 SO, .400/.429/.700
- Angels
- SS Andrelton Simmons: 10 G, 40 AB, 7 R, 17 H, 2 HR, 8 RBI, 2 BB, 3 SO, .425/.465/.675
- OF Ben Revere: 6 G, 23 AB, 2 R, 9 H, 0 HR, 2 RBI, 0 BB, 1 SO, .391/.391/.478
- Phillies
- Herrera is 1-2 lifetime against Ramirez with a solo home run. While infielders Hernandez, Andres Blanco and Maikel Franco are a combined 0-4 against the right-hander, newly-acquired outfielder Hyun Soo Kim is 1-1.
What's Next:
- Thursday, August 3, 2017: at Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, 10:07 p.m.
- Angel Stadium of Anaheim
- RHP Jerad Eickhoff (2-7, 4.56 ERA) vs. RHP Parker Bridwell (5-1, 2.83 ERA)
- TV: CSN; Radio: SportsRadio 94 WIP
