J-Ram sets club multihomer record, breaks tie with 2 legends
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CLEVELAND -- José Ramírez estimated that he was 15 years old when he realized he had the ability to hit home runs. No, he perhaps did not have the size or natural power of some hitters. But he understood from that age that those are not the lone ingredients to hitting the ball over the fence.
“I had the good mindset to understand that I needed longer time to learn about that,” Ramírez said through team interpreter Agustin Rivero. “Because I knew, ‘Maybe I don’t have the power, but I have quick hands and fast hands when hitting.’
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“I had to learn how to hit those homers. But from early on, I knew I could. I just needed time to learn how to execute.”
Not only did he learn, but Ramírez became one of the greatest power hitters -- and all-around hitters -- to don a Cleveland uniform.
Ramírez hit a pair of solo homers in the Guardians’ 4-3 win over the Marlins at Progressive Field on Tuesday. The 32-year-old is now Cleveland’s all-time leader in multihomer games with 27, breaking a tie with Hall of Famer Jim Thome and five-time All-Star Albert Belle.
Ramírez hit a solo homer to right-center field off Miami starter Janson Junk in the first inning. He tagged Calvin Faucher with another solo blast to right in the eighth, which broke a 3-3 tie to launch the Guardians to victory.
The Guardians improved to 62-56 to improve to four games back in the loss column of the American League Central-leading Tigers (69-52), who fell to the White Sox on Tuesday night.
If it felt like Ramírez was going to deliver in the eighth, well, there's a great reason for that.
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“It always feels like he's going to deliver,” manager Stephen Vogt said. “Anytime he's up at any point in the game, you make sure you're watching, but [especially] late in the game like that. That's a really good pitcher, and he just continues to do Hosey things.
“Such a special night for him and his family, becoming the franchise leader in multihomer games. Twenty-seven, that's ridiculous. Just really happy for Hosey.”
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Since he made his MLB debut on Sept. 1, 2013, Ramírez is tied with Juan Soto and George Springer for the eighth-most multihomer games in the Majors.
Aaron Judge (44) ranks first, followed by Manny Machado (41), Kyle Schwarber (34), Mookie Betts (31), Nelson Cruz (30), Mike Trout (28) and Giancarlo Stanton (28).
“I was making the joke, ‘He's our dad, taking care of us. He’s putting the team on his back, doing what he does,’” Steven Kwan said of Ramírez’s go-ahead homer. “It was cool seeing the multihomer record as well. I mean, 27 is crazy.”
Ramírez has continued to be the Guardians’ engine this season, but he actually entered Monday in a bit of a rut at the plate. He went 2-for-25 last week during Cleveland’s 5-1 road trip against the Mets and White Sox.
By the sound of it, he was in the lab in recent days, working on a unique solution to get on track.
“He told me yesterday he was working on his good luck, so I guess it worked out today for him,” Kwan said.
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Ramírez’s demeanor remained steady despite his down period, Vogt noted.
“There's maybe nights where he has more confidence, but it's never a lack of confidence,” Vogt said. “He's always got the Hosey swagger, the confidence. You can tell he wants to be in the moment.”
Ramírez’s two homers on Tuesday got him closer to his fourth career 30-homer season and his third 30-homer, 30-steal season. He has already swiped 33 bags this season.
“You think about the 30/30 season and the MVP votes that he gets,” Marlins manager Clayton McCullough said pregame. “He probably does a little bit, unfortunately, nation-wide, go underappreciated. But I think those within the game certainly recognize how good a player he is and how consistent he's been now for a long period of time.
“His reputation is great with his teammates and those around the league.”
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Ramírez made history on Tuesday, but he said the most important thing was that Cleveland won.
The Guardians entered the day with the best record in the AL (21-8) since July 7, a stretch that has directly followed their 10-game losing streak.
“It’s all about the energy,” Ramírez said of what’s changed since the skid. “Obviously we’ve cleaned up a little bit, some little mistakes, but you gotta keep playing.
“It's a long season. Those things are going to happen, the ups and downs. But it's just the energy the guys are showcasing day to day.”