If this is the victim of an end-of-the-bat hit, a walk, and one changeup left high after two unhittable fastballs, then Ramon Ramirez doesn’t seem too distraught. If this is a pitcher falling out of a groove and into a midseason slump, then Ramon Ramirez doesn’t seem apologetic.
If this is a pitcher secure enough in his arm to laugh off a two-run double that was the difference in the Red Sox’ 7-6 loss to the Mariners, then Ramon Ramirez is probably fine.
“I feel OK, really,’’ Ramirez said. “I just needed another strike.’’
In the top of the 11th inning, Ramirez got ahead of catcher Rob Johnson, 0 and 2, before he left a changeup high in the zone. Johnson drove the pitch to the right-field corner, scoring Franklin Gutierrez from third and Ryan Langerhans from second.
“I was going to throw a fastball, but I changed my mind. I went through a lot of different pitches in my head,’’ said Ramirez with a laugh, trying to fashion the English he’s still learning. “I tried to throw it down, but it was up. That’s frustrating.’’
In April, Ramirez didn’t allow an earned run in 10 appearances, the go-to reliever for the best bullpen in baseball. In May, he allowed four earned runs over 14 appearances, still a highly effective righthanded weapon.
In June, Ramirez blew two saves and his ERA rose slightly, to 1.85. Now, after two July outings, that ERA is up to 2.25, and Ramirez’s record is 5-3.
“This is just the game sometimes,’’ Ramirez said.
Manager Terry Francona said they didn’t want to walk Johnson to load the bases. So Ramirez was left with one option, to attack.
“Second and third, two real good pitches to Johnson, and then he left a pitch up,’’ Francona said. “We’re going for a strikeout. And the first two pitches were very effective. Then he left the ball up and that really hurt.’’
Francona also remembered Ramirez was ahead of Gutierrez, 1 and 2, before he singled to center to open the 11th.
“He was ahead of the two hitters that got the hits and left balls in the middle,’’ said Francona.
Ramirez understood this completely. He answered questions with lights in his eyes and a toothy grin until his English ran out and the microphones pulled away. His last sentence was indecipherable, but it didn’t matter. If Ramirez is struggling, it would be news to him.
Ben Collins can be reached at bcollins@globe.com 
