Rays challenge José Ramírez go-ahead home run, a breakdown
What Happened
In Game 1 of the American League Wild Card series, the Cleveland Guardians host the Tampa Bay Rays at Progressive Field. The game is tied 0-0 in the bottom of the sixth inning when Cleveland third baseman José Ramírez steps to the plate against Rays pitcher Shane McClanahan. On a 1-0 pitch, Ramírez, the Guardians' best player, hits a go-ahead two-run home run over the right field fence, giving Cleveland a 2-0 lead. The Rays immediately challenge the call, believing Ramírez may not have properly touched second base on his way around the bases. Umpire Ted Barrett reviews the play, but ultimately confirms the home run, much to the Rays' frustration. As Ramírez rounds the bases, he gestures to the Rays' dugout, seemingly explaining his baserunning. The Rays' manager, Kevin Cash, argues the call, but the home run stands. The Guardians' fans erupt in celebration, with one fan in the stands high-fiving another. In the bottom of the eighth inning, the Guardians bring in their closer, Emmanuel Clase, who has been dominant all season. Clase quickly records two outs, including a strikeout, to preserve Cleveland's 2-0 lead. The game features a quick pace, with the average plate appearance lasting just 3.3 pitches. Both teams are aggressive at the plate, making for an exciting playoff atmosphere at Progressive Field. The Guardians' victory puts them one step closer to advancing in the postseason, while the Rays must regroup and try to even the series in Game 2. The drama and intensity of this American League Wild Card matchup sets the stage for what promises to be an exciting and closely contested series.
Full Transcript
Click timestamps to jump to that momentthe postseason kicked off yesterday and
this breakdown is brought to you by
SeatGeek go make sure you catch a game
you can see low scoring quick games like
this Guardians raise game the 1-0 pitch
by Bieber poked over the fence and the
Rays show signs of Life screaming and
yelling around the bases they were dead
practically all game even this was kind
of just like a dead man's home run Shane
Bieber mowed him down the outside but
one nothing in the sixth inning and home
runs win games in the postseason so
maybe the rays are Sitting Pretty
Outside fastball came in
and just poked it over now we're in the
bottom of the six see if the Rays can
have a shutdown inning here and keep the
lead mclanahan's up against Rosario and
versus righties he basically only throws
he was just started throwing a lot of
junk so you got the curveball the change
up another change up that he chases
outside and then curveball so he's just
going rotating him that's poked past the
first baseman they got something going
on the fans in Cleveland
cheering and now Jose Ramirez up the
best player on the team the guy you got
to get out and this is a ball but it's
called a strike change up outside so
what's he gonna go with next because
he's just been going change up curveball
change up curveball change up curveball
and Jose Ramirez is thinking yeah
maybe another change up maybe a
curveball probably not a fastball
curveball in the dirt didn't even really
think about it didn't have any thought
then change up smacks it almost to the
same exact area for a two-run home run
to give the Guardians the lead and now
they're going a little extra crazy there
and this security guard nice man with
the hood up and the white mustache grabs
the ball and says you there you get it
and throws it to the kid which is nice
good high five in the bottom of the
screen there solid contact
and Bam
Jose Ramirez scores they're excited and
he's just throwing junk and off speed
look at this bad flip oh never mind
doesn't care just the wild card not that
into it now the Rays
they're saying hey we didn't like that
that happened we'd rather still have the
lead can you go talk to all your friends
and see if there's any way we can call
this home run back and they go okay he
doesn't want us to call this a home run
what he really thinks is he thinks that
the runner
was running to Second and then tagged up
because he thought the ball might be
caught and then when he started running
again didn't touch second again so he
stopped short there I don't know if he
touched second there or not but say he
touches second there stops
back pedals then goes again he needs to
retouch and he does retouch you see that
it's very cute look with his left foot
just poop retouches because his right
foot misses so I'm guessing the Rays saw
that his they didn't see that cute
little touch they saw his right foot
missed there and he kind of does a
stumble and they're like hey he never
touched second they're like no it's a
home run like what are they talking
about hit it over the fence so Ted
Barrett he says I have to review call
stance that's a home run and now they're
screaming Spanish swears I mean I think
this is Vamo Mama guavo which is Spanish
for sucker I've been told by all by
Spanish speaking friends yeah
yeah
it's a 11 A.M start
great high five there two guys brothers
and glasses
and cash is like oh man
guess we'll lose now I don't know what
he's saying here but I think what Jose
Ramirez is saying look at his hands he's
saying look it's pretty easy curveball
curveball change up because that circle
is the change up sign curveball it's
like he's not throwing his fastball
variety so it's just curveball curveball
change up curveball curveball it's easy
sit on one of those and you'll win
and then they bring in their closer
Clause say he was the best closer in the
regular season in a in a landslide I
mean I did a whole thing on talking
baseball about how good this guy is he
throws 95 mile per hour sliders he gets
the strike out he gets a 99 mile per
hour cutter into a ground out for the
second half oh yeah let's go Cole that
guy's warmed up by all his hair slider
90 mile per hour slider 99 mile per hour
cutter oh my goodness that guy he looks
like he's been a fan for a long time O2
popped up
the average played appearance was 3.3
pitches in this game by both teams like
48 oh only one thing left to do when the
whole damn thing
I think like 48 of the at-bats in this
game were two pitches or less
crazy thanks to seek geek for sponsoring
the video if you want to bring a sign to
the game and see what fast playoff game
go seek use code John Boy you get 20 off
your first purchase