Steve Ratzer | |||
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Pitcher | |||
Born: Paterson, New Jersey |
September 9, 1953 |||
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MLB debut | |||
October 5, 1980, for the Montreal Expos | |||
Last MLB appearance | |||
May 17, 1981, for the Montreal Expos | |||
MLB statistics | |||
Win–loss record | 1–1 | ||
Earned run average | 7.17 | ||
Strikeouts | 4 | ||
Teams | |||
Steven Wayne Ratzer (born September 9, 1953 in Paterson, New Jersey) is an American former Major League Baseball (MLB) player pitching for the Montreal Expos in 1980 and 1981.
Ratzer was signed as a minor league free agent by the Expos on June 11, 1975. He began playing immediately at the rookie league level, and by 1977 he had worked his way up to the Expos' AAA affiliate in the American Association, the Denver Bears, where he remained through the 1980 season.
Ratzer made his Major League debut on the final day of the 1980 season as the starting pitcher when the Expos hosted the Philadelphia Phillies. In the bottom of the fourth inning, he was removed in favor a pinch hitter having surrendered five runs on nine hits. The Expos rallied, winning the game in 10 innings, leaving him with a no-decision in his debut.
In 1981, Ratzer appeared in 12 games, all in relief. On April 28 at the Philadelphia Phillies, he relieved starter Charlie Lea, pitching a 1–2–3 fifth inning. Because the starting pitcher did not pitch the requisite five innings to earn the victory, the official scorer awarded the win to Ratzer, which proved to be the only win of his major league career. On May 14 at the Los Angeles Dodgers, he relieved Bill Gullickson pitching another 1–2–3 eighth inning. However, he recorded his only loss when he surrendered a lead-off, walk-off home run to Pedro Guerrero in the next inning. Three days later Ratzer was sent back down to the minors.