Jose Ramirez stole home.
The Cleveland Guardians third baseman is no stranger to stealing bases, but in Thursday’s 4-3 loss against the Kansas City Royals, Ramirez stole home in a crucial spot 10th inning that, for a moment, gave the team the lead.
Ramirez started the top of the 10th inning on second base as the automatic runner and then advanced to third on Josh Naylor’s groundout.
After Josh Bell struck out, Andrés Giménez stepped in with left-hander Aroldis Chapman (4-2) working from the stretch.
Ramirez took five small steps toward the plate and burst toward home.
Ramirez noticed third baseman Maikel Garcia playing behind the base and told third base coach Mike Sarbaugh “I’m going to try to steal home.”
Sarbaugh told him to go for it.
“There were two outs, so I decided to take a chance,” Ramirez said.
Catcher Salvador Perez got the ball and attempted to tag Ramirez out, but the four-time All-Star managed to evade the mitt and slid his right hand on the plate safely.
Initially, home plate umpire Jeremy Riggs ruled Ramirez out, but after a second look, he was ruled safe.
“Just instincts. That’s why he’s a great player,” said Guardians bench coach DeMarlo Hale, who was managing in place of Terry Francona, who is still recovering from health issues. “He’s not afraid to play the game with his instincts.
Despite his absence, Francona likely wasn’t surprised that Ramirez went for home, as the four-time Silver Slugger has been known to be aggressive on the bases.
“Josie is amazing,” said Francona back in April. “I’ve never seen a great player who loves (to make plays like that). I worry so much when he’s on third because it doesn’t matter what I say a whole lot — he’s going. You worry about him getting hurt. But he just craves that.”
This steal of home was the first by a Cleveland player since June 15, 2019, when Leonys Martin pulled it off against the Detroit Tigers.
Ramirez was also only the eighth player in AL/NL history to steal home in extra innings, but the third to do it on the Royals’ home turf, Kauffman Stadium, joining George Brett and Jeff Cirillo.
The Royals rebounded in the bottom half of the inning thanks to pinch-hitter Freddy Fermin’s game-winning two-run double
Even with the win, the Royals reached the season’s midpoint at 23-58, the worst first-half record in team history.
Guardians are now in a first-place tie with the Minnesota Twins in the AL Central division.
— with AP