Luis Ignacio Ayala (loo-EES iy-YAH-luh)...has twice pitched for Mexico in the World Baseball Classic (2006, 2009) and often participates in the Mexican Winter League.
2013
Began season and pitched in 2 games for the Orioles before being dealt to the Braves on April 10...posted a 2.90 ERA in 37 appearances to help the Braves reach the postseason for a 2nd consecutive season...spent 2+ months on the DL while dealing with anxiety disorder/high blood pressure...upon return, registered 10 holds and a 2.73 ERA for ATL...per STATS, Inc., 76.2 percent of balls in play were hit on the ground in '13...successfully stranded 18 of 21 inherited baserunners (86%)...ERA after the All-Star break was 2.35 in 28 appearances...posted nearly as many GIDPs (7) as extra-base hits allowed (8)...in 23 appearances against the NL East, ERA was 2.25.
2012
Allowed one ER or fewer in 59 of his 66 appearances
... Pitched to a 1.76 ERA (15.1IP, 3ER) in a 13-game stretch, 7/15-8/15
... Had 13 straight scoreless appearances (15.2IP) to start the season (4/7-5/6)
... On 4/26 vs. TOR, earned his first save since 9/23/08
... Tossed more than 1.0 inning in 25 of his 66 outings, pitching to a 2.57 ERA (42.0IP, 12ER) in those games
... Made 10 (April & July) or 11 (May, June, August & September) appearances in each full month of the season
... Pitched to a 0.68 ERA (52.2IP, 4ER) in 45 games on either one (22G) or two (23G) days of rest and a 7.25 ERA in his other
21 games (22.1IP, 18ER)
... Made five scoreless appearances (5.1IP, 3H, BB, 4K) in extra-inning games
... Held hitters to a .236/.293/.348 line with RISP (99PA) and a .216/.273/.255 line with RISP and 2 outs (55 PA)
... Earned 5th win, 9/19 @SEA, stranding the bases loaded in the bottom of the 10th
... Struck out season-high three, 6/12 vs. PIT
Posted a 2.34 ERA (34.2IP, 9ER) in 32 games vs. the AL East (0.00 in 8G vs. TOR, 1.04 in 8G vs. TB, 2.89 in 8G vs. NYY &
5.00 in 8G vs. BOS)
... Pitched to a 1.00 ERA (9.0IP, ER, 9K) in seven Interleague games
... Made one appearance in the ALDS vs. NYY, allowing 2H and recording a strikeout in Game 4
2011
Spent the season with the Yankees, posting a 2.09 ERA (56.0IP, 13ER) in 52 appearances...Did not allow an earned run in 44 of his 52 appearances...Struck out season-high three, August 10 vs. LAA...Lowered season ERA from 9.00 to 1.33 in a 25-game stretch, April 5-July 6, posting a 0.72 ERA (25.0IP, 2ER)...Tossed more than 1.0 inning 18 times, including season-high 2.0 IP eight times...Posted a 1.53 ERA (29.1IP, 5ER) in 25 games at Yankee Stadium (24K, 7BB)...Had ERA under 1.00 in both May (0.82 in 11.0IP) and June (0.96 in 9.1IP)...Was on the DL, April 10-May 11...Made three rehab appearances for Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, allowing one ER in 5.0 IP (7K, 0BB)...Pitched to a 0.92 ERA (19.2IP, 2ER) and converted all 12 of his save opps for Yaquis de Obregon in the Mexican Winter League.
2010
Combined at the Triple-A level with three organizations
(Los Angeles-NL, Colorado and Arizona) to go 2-10 with a 6.42 ERA (47.2IP, 34ER) and four saves in 36 relief appearances...following the
season, combined to go 2-0 with a 2.27 ERA (35.2IP, 9ER) and 12 saves in 33 games with the Yaquis de Obregon and Aguilas de Mexicali
of the Mexican Paci c League...made four relief appearances in the Caribbean World Series for Mexico, and earned two saves, not allowing
a run in 5.0IP (2H, 1K, 2BB).
2009
Opened the season with Minnesota, pitching for an American League club for the first time in his career after six seasons in the
National League...Induced 1.58 double plays per 9.0 innings pitched, eighth among qualifying relievers...Did not allow an earned run in six consecutive appearances (7.2 innings pitched) from May 20-June 7...Designated for assignment by the Twins on June 22 and claimed by the Marlins, tossing scoreless relief over his first five appearances
with the club (3.1 innings) before allowing 10 runs in his final five appearances (4.1 innings)...Picked up four saves in nine scoreless relief appearances for Triple-A New Orleans, striking out 10 in 10.0 innings and limiting
opponents to a .114 average (4-for-35).
2008
Began season with Washington...first win of the season, May 1 vs. Pittsburgh, tossing 1.0 scoreless inning...appeared in 62 games for the Nationals before being traded to New York (NL) in exchange for a player to be named later (infielder Anderson Hernandez), August 17...tossed 1.1 scoreless innings and stranded two runners to earn his first win as a Met, August 21 vs. Atlanta...recorded first save of the year, August 22 vs. Houston...earned his sixth save in New York's 10-8 win over Washington, September 9...closed out the game on September 10 vs. Washington for his seventh save...did not allow a run in 13 of his 19 appearances with the Mets...finished tied for fifth among National League relievers with 81 appearances and was tied for 12th with 19 holds...ranked tied for 14th among NL relievers in innings pitched (75.2).
2007
Made long-awaited successful return from March 30, 2006 right-elbow UCL repair surgery, going 2-2 with 6 holds, one
save and a 3.19 ERA in 44 appearances...did not pitch for the Nationals in the Grapefruit League...as big league club
headed north, continued throwing program in extended spring training...began minor-league rehab stint on June 1...
was reinstated by the Nationals, June 20...in 14 appearances on zero days' rest, went 1-0 with 9 strikeouts, a .208
batting average against and a 1.23 ERA...issued only 12 walks in 42.1 innings (2.6 per 9.0 innings)...went 2-1 with a
2.29 ERA in 21 games at RFK, 0-1 with a 3.97 ERA in 23 road appearances...went 2-1 with a 2.45 ERA against the NL
East...all 5 homers allowed were to opposing right-handed batters...worked season-best 8.1 scoreless innings, July
25-August 10...capped '07 with 4.2 scoreless innings in final 5 appearances.
2006
Did not pitch for the Nationals in 2006 after having successful season-ending right-elbow UCL reconstructive surgery
performed in Los Angeles, CA, by Dr. Lewis Yocum and Nationals team orthopedist Dr. Ben Shaffer, March 30...began
rehabbing a week later...spent majority of summer rehabbing...visited the club during Washington's lone visit to
Phoenix, Septemer 11-13...did participate in the World Baseball Classic...pitched in 3 games for Mexico despite
multiple appeals levied by the Nationals front office...entered training camp with elbow soreness, but Nationals had
belief that rest and elbow strengthening exercises would render eventual health...nevertheless, recorded final out of
Mexico's 9-1 victory on March 9 at Chase Field in Phoenix, AZ...pitching on March 15 at Anaheim Stadium, allowed one run on 2 hits and a walk in a 2-1 loss to Korea...then on March 16, in a meaningless game for a Mexican team
that was mathematically eliminated from advancing to the 2nd round, faced only one batter, Alex Rodriguez, in the 9th
inning...walked Rodriguez and left the game...did not pitch again before aformentioned surgery.
2005
Made just two appearances during the month of September because of a bone spur in his right elbow. Managed to make 68 appearances and had career-high 22 holds. ... Has made 214 appearances during his career and walked the first batter 16 times.
2004
Followed up stellar rookie season with improved sophomore campaign...was again one of NL top middle relievers, but battled periods of inconsistency...led Montreal relievers and ranked 8th in the NL by appearing in 81 games...set
career bests in games, innings (90.1), home runs allowed (6), strikeouts (63), strikeout-to-walk ratio (4.2/1), ERA
(2.69), holds (21), games finished (21) and pitches per inning (14.6)...12 losses not only led all MLB relievers, they
established a new Expos record for relievers...loss on September 22 vs. NYM was club single-season record 12th
loss in relief this season...Mike Marshall lost 11 games for the 1973 Expos...pitched in every series of the season
except 2 (June 11-13 at SEA and August 27-29 vs. SD)...worked 2.0 or more innings 16 times, including a careerlong
2.1 scoreless innings on May 11 at MIL...Ayala' ERA when pitching at least 2.0 innings was 1.11 (4 ER/32.1
IP)...issued only 1.49 walks per 9 innings pitched...6 of 21 holds came in June...worked scoreless 8th inning on
October 1 at NYM to nab career-high 20th hold (posted 19 holds in 2003)...padded career-best total with 21st hold
in final 2004 appearance, October 2 at NYM...at the plate, collected his first big league hit at Hiram Bithorn Stadium
on April 9 vs. NYM off David Weathers (single)...went 3-5 with one save (July 25 vs. FLA) and a 2.25 ERA (10
ER/25.0 IP) against NL East foes...posted more holds against NYM (5) than any other club...did not allow a run in
7.2 innings against ATL in 2004...Montreal went 41-40 when Ayala pitched...was 2-3 with 2 saves and a 2.18 ERA at
Olympic Stadium...threw fewer pitches per inning (14.6) than in 2003 (16.0)...pitched better after the All-Star break
(2.47 ERA) than in the first "half" (2.89 ERA)...ERA from May-August was 1.93...pitched well when working on consecutive
days (2.67 ERA)...posted 5 HBPs (all right-handed hitters)...retired 56 of 81 first batters faced
(69%)...pitched in 20 ballparks...did not allow more than one homer in any of the 20 parks.
Game-By-Game Highlights: Recorded 100th career strikeout on August 25 vs. LA (Jason Grabowski)...fanned a
career-high 5 on June 29 at PHI...pitched in 100th career game, June 27 at TOR.
2003
Ayala made his Major League debut after five years with Saltillo of the Mexican League, going
10-3 with a 2.92 ERA in 65 games out of the bullpen...became one of the Expos most dependable and important players...led the Expos in relief wins (10) and holds (19)...converted five of eight save opportunities...missed one month of action from June 22 to July 21 due to right shoulder inflammation...allowed only five of 30 inherited baserunners to score (16.7%)...averaged 16.0 pitches per inning...65 appearances ranked 4th among National League rookies...closed the season strong, posting a 2.12 ERA (7 ER/29.2 IP) in August and September...for one season, was perhaps the most successful Rule 5 addition in Expos history...during the winter, played for Culiacan in the Mexican League.
2003 Highlights:
- HANG 10: His 10 relief wins were tied for 2nd in baseball...only San Francisco's Joe Nathan recorded more (12)...tied
for 4th among National League rookies with 10 wins.
- THE ROOKIE: His 10 relief wins in a single season rank 2nd all-time among Montreal rookie relievers...only Bill Sampen
(11 in 1990) tallied more in his rookie campaign...both were Rule V selections...also, his 10 wins are the 5th highest total by an Expos rookie pitcher, tied with six others...the winningest rookies were Carl Morton (18 in 1970), Sampen (12, 11 as a reliever, 1 as a starter), Dennis Blair (11 in 1974) and Ernie McAnally (11 in 1971), all righthanders.
- HOLD ME: Tied for 8th in the National League with 19 holds...tied for 5th in baseball (3rd in the National League) having allowed only 16.7 percent (5 of 30) inherited baserunners to score.
- CONTRIBUTION: The Expos went 43-22 (.662) when Ayala pitched, including a 36-14 (.720) mark beginning May 7...not surprisingly, the Expos went 9-15 (.375) during his 24-game stint on the Disabled List, June 22-July 20.
- FIRST THINGS FIRST: Recorded first career big league win on April 19 in Puerto Rico vs. Cincinnati...first career save also came in Puerto Rico on June 7 vs. Texas...nabbed his the first hold of his career on April 2 at Atlanta.
- IN CONTROL: Issued only 1.6 batters per 9.0 innings pitched to rank 4th among all National League relievers...only Joe Roa (1.0), John Smoltz (1.1) and Brian Meadows (1.4) walked fewer when pitching out of the bullpen...did not walked a
batter in 24 innings from April 12-June 14.
- PERFECT GAME: Retired 27 straight batters from May 7-June 1 before giving up a single to Bobby Abreu on June
1...according to Elias SportsBureau, the 27 straight batters retired by Ayala was the longest single-season streak in
baseball-by a starter or reliever-since Woody Williams retired 32 straight in 2001...the all-time record is held by SF's Jim Barr (42 in 1972)...NYY's David Wells (38 in 1998) owns the top A.L. mark.
- MR. MAY: Came into his own in May...went 4-0 with 5 holds and a 0.84 ERA (1 ER/10.2 IP) in 10 games on the month...did not walk a batter and struck out 6...the Expos went 9-1 in games in which he appeared.
- FAVORITE TEAMS: Went 2-0 with 2 holds and 2 saves in 13.0 scoreless innings against the Mets and Phillies in 2003.
2002
Began season with Saltillo and finished sixth in the Mexican Summer League with 23 saves and tied for third with 43 games finished...had his contract purchased by Triple-A Ottawa, August 18...signed by Arizona as a minor league free agent, October 23...selected by the Washington Nationals in the Major League Rule 5 Draft, December 16.
2001
Began season with Single-A Salem...recorded a save in six of his last seven appearances before having his contract purchased by Saltillo (Mexican Summer League)...ranked fifth in the Mexican League with 21 saves...was 0-2 with 11 saves and a 0.76 ERA in his first 18 games with Saltillo...posted 10 saves in his final 13 appearances.
2001
Loaned by Colorado to Saltillo of the Mexican League...his 25 saves tied for third in the Mexican Summer League...finished the season with 16 saves and a 1.88 ERA in 24 outings during July and August...recorded saves in each of his last 10 appearances of the season.
1999
Established a Mexican Summer League record with 41 saves, passing Miguel Alicea's previous record of 39...gave up just 54 hits in 79.0 innings pitched for Saltillo...posted an ERA of 1.71 (79.0 ip, 15 er) in 61 games.
1998
Spent his second season with Saltillo of the Mexican Summer League...appeared in 47 games, including four starts...saved seven games.
1997
Made his professional debut with Saltillo in the Mexican Summer League...walked just 21 batters in 62.1 innings pitched.
