José Ramírez just absolutely crushed a two-run, go-ahead home run in the fifth inning of ALDS Game 4 on Thursday, October 8, sending the Cleveland Guardians up 3-2 against the Chicago White Sox at Rate Field. This wasn’t just any dinger; it was a pure momentum shifter that caught everyone off guard.
With the count at 0-1, White Sox pitcher Jordan Hicks tossed Ramírez a fastball that was just begging to be hit, sitting right above the strike zone. And Ramírez, the absolute wizard, didn’t miss it. He smacked that ball hard and watched it sail into the bullpen in right field, a thing of beauty. Steven Kwan, who had singled earlier, scored on the play. This was a crucial moment, especially since Ramírez was the very first batter Hicks faced after coming in to relieve Erick Fedde. The Guardians offense, which had been silent on the long ball front, was suddenly alive and kicking.
Earlier in that same electric fifth inning, Patrick Bailey got the Guardians on the scoreboard with a solo home run. Think about this: Cleveland hadn’t hit a single home run in the first three games of this series. Zero! And then, in one inning, they dropped two bombs that completely flipped the script. You can practically hear the roar from the Guardians’ dugout and the collective groan from the White Sox faithful.
The stakes? Oh, they’re sky-high. A White Sox victory in this game means they win the entire series and move on. But if the Guardians can hold onto this lead and snag the win, it forces a do-or-die Game 5. The team that ultimately wins this ALDS is going straight to face the Tampa Bay Rays in the American League Championship Series. You can practically feel the tension in the air as this one winds down!
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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