Jose Ramirez's Go-Ahead Home Run Lifts Guardians Past Tampa Bay
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Game 1 of the American League Wild Card Series between the Cleveland Guardians and the Tampa Bay Rays was a fabulous pitcher's duel through five innings.
Shane McClanahan and Shane Bieber had each pitched like their respective staff aces.
After Jose Siri launched his first career post-season home run in the top of the sixth inning, Cleveland faced it's first adversity of the day.
But this team has thrived on adversity all season long, and the heartbeat of the team stepped up with one of his biggest postseason moments in his career.
Jose Ramirez took a McClanahan off-speed pitch and drilled it 389 feet over the centerfield fence into the bullpen. It was his second career postseason homer.
Progressive Field's press box literally shook as the stadium celebrated.
With the stadium chanting his name during a replay review (Tampa challenged that lead-runner Amed Rosario missed second base, but the call was upheld), Ramirez stepped out for a quasi-curtain call, sending the Cleveland crowd into a frenzy.
"I mean, nothing surprises me (about Ramirez)," Rosario said postgame. "For me, he's the best player in baseball. Not only the way how he plays the game, but I see his mentality, his energy, and his happiness that he comes with to the field every day makes him different and a unique player."
Was Rosario nervous about the Rays challenging whether or not he stepped on second during the home run?
"Not really because I was certain that I stepped on the base."
Cleveland finished the regular season last in MLB in home runs, so perhaps it's appropriate that they opened the playoffs with a long ball from their franchise cornerstone.
The Guardians blanked the Rays the rest of the game after taking that 2-1 lead, and got great pitching from Shane Bieber in taking the Game 1 victory.
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Read More:
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Guardians Fans Will See A Few Familiar Faces In The Wild Card Series Against The Rays
Shane Bieber Recalls Lessons From Corey Kluber As He Prepares For Wild Card Start
Josh Naylor Reflects On 2022 Season, Return From Injury, Time With Brother Bo
Terry Francona Loves Managing Guardians, Excited for Playoffs To Start
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