After going 3 for 4 in a 7-2 win over the Tigers, Ramírez is smiling again

José Ramírez slides into third in the seventh, with his helmet flying off, stealing the base. He would score a big two-out run on a Mike Freeman bunt single. Photo by the Cleveland Indians.

Jack Butler jbutle58@lakers.mercyhurst.edu.

CLEVELAND, Ohio ­– The twenty-six-year-old third baseman from Bani, Dominican Republic, José Ramírez began the 2016 season on the bench. When reliable left-fielder, Michael Brantley went on the disabled list, making him unavailable until next year, Josey’s name was called. In his first full year in the majors, Ramírez split time playing left and third, becoming a clutch hitter and a household favorite. He hit .312 12 HR and 77 RBI in regular-season play and .268 with 15 hits in the postseason.

Ramírez became a full-time starter in 2017, hitting .318, 29 HR, 56 2B, and 89 RBI, finishing third in AL MVP voting. During the playoffs, he struggled but went back to being himself the next season hitting .270, 39 HR, stealing 30 bases and driving in 105, again third in MVP. Unfortunately, Ramírez entered the worst slump of his career at the beginning of last August. But hold on it seems to be gone as over his last eleven games is hitting .333 with 3 home runs, 19 hits and driving in 11. More importantly, he has raised his season average to .232 and seems to be smiling more with the hot streak continuing. This reminds all the baseball world how good of a hitter and player Ramírez has been these past three seasons.

In-game 94 for the Indians, Ramírez had three hits and Mike Clevinger (3-2, 3.57 ERA) had his most dominant start this season after spending much of the year on the injured list.

Rookie hurler, Spencer Turnbull (3-9, 3.65 ERA) traded blows through the first two frames with Clevinger. Then Sunshine shut down the top of the Tigers order, making Turnbull deliver in the bottom half. Utility man, Mike Freeman, led off the inning with a base hit and got picked off first base. Naquin turned the lineup card around when he singled and Lindor was walked. Sensational first-year center fielder, Oscar Mercado, drove in a pair with a hit up the middle. More damage could have been done; however, the Tribe ran themselves out of the inning when Lindor got caught stealing second.

Clevinger got better as the game went, mastered Detroit from the third to the six-inning. After two non-stressful frames, the twenty-eight-year-old right-hander faced trouble in the sixth when MLB doubles leader, Nicholas Castellanos, hits a one-out two-bagger. Christian Stewart went down swinging, but with two away Jeimer Candelario plated Castellanos with a base knock to right. The Indians got Candelario out attempting to advance to second, ending the threat.

The young-righty, Turnbull, kept the Tigers in the game with a three-up, three-down sixth. That would change when Ramírez lined a double down the right-field line, ending his night on the hill. Reliving Turnbull was Nick Ramirez, getting pinch hitter, Jordan Luplow and catcher, Roberto Pérez. But Ramírez stole third when Pérez batted, then Freeman laid down the perfect bunt down the first baseline. Brandon Dixon could not make any play as Freeman slid headfirst into the bag, driving in Josey. Freeman’s bunt RBI single was important because surprisingly good, Nick Wittgren gave up a Castellanos solo homer, cutting the Tribe lead to 3-2. Wittgren allowed no more runs, entering the pivotal eighth, where Cleveland would score four more times.

Joe Jiménez entered the game, attempting to keep the score at 3-2. Lindor had other ideas as he launched his 15th homer to seats in right. Jiménez got Mercado to fly out to left, but the next three hitters would get base hits. Carlos Santana doubled, and Jason Kipnis drove him in with a single. The one-time All-Star faced Ramírez next, who got his third hit of the evening.

Reliving the struggling Jiménez was Zac Reiniger. Terry Francona pitch hit Greg Allen for Jake Bauers, plating both Kipnis and Ramírez with a double, proving to be the correct move. Reiniger finished the eighth but the damage had been done and Cleveland now led 7-2.

With the four-run scoring outburst, Francona could save his bullpen for Thursday night’s game as Wittgren closed the door on Detroit. The Indians have won 11 consecutive games against the Tigers, overall are 11-1 in the season series.

Mike Clevinger picked up his third win of the campaign, going 6 innings of 1 run and 6 hit ball, striking out 12, tying a career-high, and awarding only a lone free pass. Tomorrow will be the finale of this four-game series as Cleveland looks for the sweep, giving Trevor Bauer (8-7, 3.65 ERA) the ball against Matthew Boyd (6-7,3.95 ERA), the Tiger’s best starter. First pitch is tabbed for 7:10 pm at Progressive Field, SportsTimeOhio, WTAM, and WMMS will carry the game.