CHICAGO -- One teammate called him a living legend afterward, and his manager called him "one of the best players in the game." In a season in which he was slowed by a hand injury, Cleveland Guardians star Jose Ramirez was a one-man wrecking crew Wednesday to help keep his team alive in Game 3 of the American League Division Series against the Chicago White Sox.
"He can hurt you with the bat, the legs, and the glove," manager Stephen Vogt said after the Guardians' 9-3 win brought them to a 2-1 deficit in the best-of-five series. "He showed all of that today."
Ramirez reached base three times Wednesday, going 2-for-5 with a two-run triple in the eighth. Earlier, he stole third base and came flying home to score on a hard-hit grounder with the infield in. He also made what at the time seemed like a series-saving play with the bases loaded. It all happened while the outcome of Game 3 was still in doubt, helping Cleveland avoid elimination with Game 4 on Thursday.
"It feels special," Ramirez said through the team interpreter. "You know the type of season I had, but it's important for us to win any game going forward, because for us it's do-or-die. So it feels really good. Feels good to help the team."
Ramirez had hamate surgery in June and simply hasn't swung the bat the way he usually does since then. His .368 slugging percentage during the regular season was his lowest since his first couple of partial years in the majors. But that all changed Wednesday, when the first ball Ramirez hit came off his bat at 107.9 mph. He walked in his next plate appearance before hitting a double in the fifth inning at 106.5 mph and following that with his eighth-inning triple.
In between, Ramirez snared a hard-hit ball by White Sox third baseman Miguel Vargas with two outs and the bases loaded in the bottom of the sixth, scurrying to his feet to throw him out to preserve the Guardians' 5-3 lead. It was the play of the game -- and it came as Chicago was mounting a comeback. A sold-out crowd at Rate Field was making noise for the home team until Ramirez silenced the fans.
"I felt it was a significant shift in momentum in the game when we were able to make that play," Ramirez said. "I felt like this is going to be our game."
Teammate Steven Kwan added: "When we get all excited for him, he tells everybody, 'Why are you surprised? This is what I do.'"
Kwan said the afternoon turned into a "quintessential" Ramirez game when he stole third base with one out in the fifth. Moments later, with the infield in, Chase DeLauter crushed a 105.9 mph ground ball right at White Sox second baseman Chase Meidroth, but Ramirez didn't hesitate running for home, making a perfect headfirst slide to beat the throw.
"When he got that stolen base at third, that made it a Jose Ramirez game," Kwan said.
Meidroth added: "He sets the tone for that team, and he's been an unbelievable player for them for however long he's played."
Ramirez led the way at the plate, in the field and on the bases, but the Guardians' work on the mound also helped them get back into the series Wednesday. Their pitchers struck out 19 Chicago hitters, including a record-tying 17 from their bullpen after opener Daniel Espino was pulled after recording only two outs.
The Guardians will turn to sensational rookie Parker Messick for Game 4. Meanwhile, the White Sox should have a rested and ready bullpen for Thursday after they played it conservatively while Cleveland closer Cade Smith threw two innings.
The advantage on the mound could go either way in Game 4. The only question is if the White Sox can stop a suddenly energized Guardians team and their all-world third baseman who again showed why he's one of the best in baseball.
"He's the best player on the field every time he steps out there," catcher Austin Hedges said. "That's our guy. When he goes, we go. It was cool to watch him show it off today."