Guardians' Jose Ramirez makes baseball history with dazzling steal of home
Cleveland Guardians third baseman Jose Ramirez recorded a straight steal of home plate Thursday against the Kansas City Royals, making impressive MLB history.
With the game tied 2-2 in the top of the 10th inning and Aroldis Chapman on the mound, Ramirez bolted for home, smoothly sliding away from catcher Salvador Perez's tag at the plate to give Cleveland the lead. Ramirez is only the eighth player ever to steal home in extra innings.
Along with his steal of home, Ramirez did all he could to get the Guardians in the win column, finishing the day 1-for-3 with a walk and an RBI. However, despite his heroics, the Royals walked off Ramirez and the Guardians in the bottom of the 10th, thanks to a pinch-hit Freddy Fermin double that knocked in the tying and winning runs.
Ramirez, an 11-year veteran, is having another solid campaign for Cleveland. The 30-year-old ranks 12th in the league in batting average (.298) and OPS (.892). Meanwhile, Ramirez leads the Guardians in home runs (13) and is second in RBI (52), trailing only Josh Naylor (58).
Despite the loss, Ramirez and the Guardians remain in the American League Central hunt. Once 3.5 games back nearly two weeks ago, Cleveland is tied for the division lead with the Minnesota Twins (40-42) at 39-41. However, that could change with a Twins victory over the Baltimore Orioles Thursday night.
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