06/08/23 10:52:00
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06/08 22:51 CDT Jos Ramrez hits 3 homers to power Guardians to 10-3 win over
slumping Red Sox
Jos Ramrez hits 3 homers to power Guardians to 10-3 win over slumping Red Sox
By TOM WITHERS
AP Sports Writer
CLEVELAND (AP) --- Jos Ramrez's only misses came on swings for history.
Ramrez homered in his first three at-bats --- and from both sides of the plate
--- to power the Cleveland Guardians to a 10-3 victory over the Boston Red Sox
on Thursday night.
Ramrez connected for a solo shot in the first inning off Matt Dermody (0-1),
belted a two-run shot --- his 200th career homer --- in the third and added
another solo blast in the sixth when the Guardians hit for the cycle, had eight
straight hits and scored five times.
Ramrez came up a second time in the sixth bidding for a rare four-homer game,
but struck out swinging. The four-time All-Star third baseman had another
chance in the eighth, and grounded to third.
"My last two at-bats I was swinging away," Ramrez admitted.
There have only been 16 four-homer games in the majors since 1901. The last to
do it was Arizona's J.D. Martinez in 2017. Cleveland got one from Rocky
Colavito on June 10, 1959.
"Everyone in (the clubhouse) would say the same thing, he's the best player in
the game," said Cleveland starter Aaron Civale (2-1), who had his second
straight solid start. "He plays the game the best way every single night.
"He might not be on paper the most talented. He might not be considered the
best. But when he plays the game the way he plays it, he's the best in the
game."
Ramrez also showed off some of his defensive prowess in the sixth by
backhanding Justin Turner's hard shot and throwing off balance across the
diamond to get Boston's third baseman while backpedaling in foul territory.
"If that was back in the day like Brooks Robinson, that play would be shown
over and over and over," Guardians manager Terry Francona said said.
Will Brennan added a homer as the Guardians won the series and handed the Red
Sox their fifth loss in six games. Boston is under .500 for the first time
since April 28.
"It's not the type of baseball we want to play," said manager Alex Cora. "But
here we are."
Triston Casas chased Civale in the sixth with his seventh homer to pull Boston
within 3-2.
But Cleveland, whose offense has awakened after a slow start, pounded former
teammate Corey Kluber in the sixth. After Ramrez homered, Andrs Gimnez hit a
two-run double, Myles Straw hit an RBI triple and Brennan singled home a run as
the Guardians opened an 8-2 lead.
Kluber, who was recently demoted to the bullpen, was tagged for seven runs and
11 hits in 3 1/3 innings. When manager Alex Cora pulled him, Kluber, a two-time
Cy Young winner with Cleveland, made a slow walk from the mound where he had so
much success to Boston's dugout.
"It's really tough," Cora said about seeing Kluber hit so hard. "He couldn't
buy a break."
Dermody's first major league start came with some controversy.
The left-hander posted a homophobic tweet in 2021, and since deleted it, that
the Red Sox were not aware of when they signed Dermody in January. He
participated in the team's mandatory anti-discrimination and harassment
prevention training in March.
The team called Dermodys' post "hurtful" and Cora praised the club's handling
of the matter.
"You have to say it like it is, and be transparent," Cora said.
Dermody will be designated for assignment Friday when outfielder Adam Duvall is
expected to be activated from the 60-day injured list. Duvall has been out for
two months with a broken left wrist sustained while making a diving catch in
Detroit.
HAVE A SEAT
Red Sox outfielder Alex Verdugo was not in the starting lineup after being
benched for not hustling in Wednesday's loss.
With Boston trailing 5-2 in the seventh inning, Verdugo slowed up between first
and second base on a ball hit by Masataka Yoshida. Cora felt like Verdugo
should have been running harder and immediately pulled him.
Before the series finale, Cora explained Verdugo was being disciplined.
"We just felt like on that play his reaction wasn't a great one, not hustling
his behind to second," Cora said. "I don't know if he was out or safe, but I
didn't like it. ... I felt like it wasn't acceptable, and he knows it."
Cora said he spoke to Verdugo, who has been having a solid season. He'll play
tomorrow in New York.
TRAINER'S ROOM
Red Sox: INF Yu Chang (left hamate fracture) will continue his rehab assignment
at Triple-A Worcester this weekend and rejoin Boston's roster on Monday. ...
LHP Richard Bleier (shoulder inflammation) is not recovering as quickly as the
team expected. He recently began playing catch for the first time since going
on the IL on May 22.
NEXT UP
Red Sox: RHP Garrett Whitlock (2-2, 5.16 ERA) starts the series opener in New
York against Yankees ace Gerrit Cole (7-0, 2.82).
Guardians: Rookie LHP Logan Allen (3-2, 2.76), who tossed seven scoreless
innings in his last start, goes against Houston RHP Christian Javier (7-1,
2.84) in the opener of a three-game set.
___
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