CLEVELAND, Ohio (92.3 The Fan) – Jose Ramirez continues to climb the ladder in the franchise record books, and the Guardians keep winning.
Ramirez had three hits, including his 11 th home run of the season, and three RBI in the Guardians 11-4 rout of the Twins Saturday evening at Progressive Field.
Here’s our top news and notes from Game 2 with the Twins and win No. 29 on the season.
Bobblehead blast – Saturday night was Jose Ramirez ‘City Connect’ bobblehead night and Ramirez wasted no time celebrating. The third baseman worked Twins starter Baily Ober in the bottom of the first fouling off seven pitches before sending the 12 th pitch of the at-bat to the seats in right to give the Guardians an early 2-0 advantage. “Not only, obviously it ended in the home run, but you're talking about driving the starter's pitch count up over 20 pitches, three hitters into the game,” Guardians manager Stephen Vogt said. “Just he's seeing every single pitch. The guys from the dugout are seeing every single pitch. That at-bat does so much for a team. And then for him to hit exclamation point with another homer, I mean it's again, running out of things to say about Jose.” It was Ramirez’s third home run in an at-bat this season that went 10 or more pitches – there have been six of those to date in baseball. “It makes me happy that I have Jose on my team, that's for sure,” catcher Bo Naylor said. “But I know what it's like on both sides of the ball. Calling that, obviously wanting your pitcher to continue to make those pitches, execute and just get that out. And as a hitter, just continue to try to stay disciplined and stay within yourself, which is something Jose does incredibly well.” Ramirez took sole possession of fourth place on the franchise’s all-time home run list with his 227 th career blast, passing Earl Avrill and he is nine bombs behind Manny Ramirez for third place. Ramirez drove home a third run in the bottom of the third with an RBI double to right as he finished a triple shy of the cycle on the night that was highlighted by that first-inning at-bat. “It seems like once you throw eight, nine pitches to him, it's probably good to, might try to get go for a chase [pitch], maybe not go in the zone there, but no, I mean, he's a legend,” Guardians starer Logan Allen said. “He's a GOAT. He's our guy. He's the reason why we're as good as we are. So yeah, it's great to see him do that. Especially on a bobblehead night. Right. It's good for the fans, so that's awesome.”
Leading off – Tyler Freeman collected the first four-hit game of his young career Saturday evening and reached base five times from the leadoff spot. “It's definitely frustrating at times, but sticking with the routines, sticking with my plan and just not giving up on it,” Freeman said of climbing out of a slow start. “I think it's starting to show results… I just try to have good at bats every time trying to focus in on that a little bit more and I just think coincidentally it's happening.” Freeman, who is 8-for-22 leading off, started with a pair of singles in the first and third innings before delivering an RBI double off the wall in left field to extend the Guardians lead to 5-0 in the bottom of the fourth. He walked in the sixth and singled again in the seventh. “This is four or five days in a row now he's had incredible at-bats and he's put in the work,” Vogt said. “He's put in the work all year. The hitting group and him got together a little over a week ago and identified a couple things. Not big changes, but just a couple things. But to me it's the pitches he's swinging at. He's controlling the zone, controlling the count, and man, he hit the ball hard tonight.”
No. 5 – Allen picked up his fifth win of the season for Cleveland to improve to 5-2 with six shutout innings of work. Allen struck out seven while allowing five hits and a walk. “I think just trusting the defense, not trying to be too fine, being aggressive in the zone, letting the guys make plays behind me, and I think that's been the difference,” Allen said.
Crooked numbers – The Guardians scored multiple runs in four innings Saturday night – two the first, third, and fifth innings and a four-run seventh.
Another first – Kyle Manzardo drove home the first run of his young career with a two-out RBI double down the left field line to increase the Guardians lead to 7-0 in the bottom of the fifth.
Stackin’ series – The Guardians have now won 11 of 15 series this season, including six of the seven played at home. “Any team in our division's a big, big series,” Freeman said. “So like Vogter always says, win the series and then once we win the series, try to get a sweep and that's what our plan is.” The Guardians, who collected a season-high 16 hits, are now 12 games above .500 at 29-17 and in first place in the AL Central. “The biggest thing we're trying to do is trying to win series so to take a series already is good,” Allen said. “Got a chance to come back tomorrow and the sweep. But yeah, these in games are important. They matter a little bit more.”
Packed house – The Guardians drew their second sellout of the season thanks to the bobblehead giveaway and fireworks night with a crowd of 35,545 Saturday evening. It was the first May sellout at the ballpark since 40,631 attended May 21, 2011 against the Reds.
Get connected – While some fans weren’t as enthusiastic with portions of the Guardians rebrand in 2022, the team’s ‘City Connect’ merchandise, which was unveiled earlier this week, is a hit with fans. The new jerseys, hats, shirts and hoodies were plentiful among the crowd and lines of fans formed at stands selling the new gear.
Up next – Series finale Sunday afternoon at 1:40. RHP Tanner Bibee (2-1, 4.34) vs. RHP Chris Paddack (4-2, 4.89).
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