CLEVELAND: The Indians have something magical going on at Progressive Field.
With the Indians trailing 2-1 in the eighth inning Sunday afternoon, Jose Ramirez belted a two-run home run to the Home Run Porch in left field to lift the Indians to a 3-2 win over the Toronto Blue Jays.
It was third game out of the last four with late-game heroics for the Indians. Ramirez also hit a game-tying home run in Friday’s game, which came just before Tyler Naquin’s inside-the-park walk-off home run.
“We won two out of three and I think we had the lead for, like, 10 minutes,” Indians manager Terry Francona joked.
For Ramirez, who’s racked up clutch hits all season, this was one of his biggest. And it came after the Indians trailed all day while struggling to handle Marcus Stroman, who allowed seven hits and a walk and struck out nine in 7⅓ strong innings.
The Blue Jays finally relented and went to reliever Brett Cecil (1-7, 5.13 ERA) in the eighth. After Jason Kipnis lined out to right field, Francisco Lindor reached on an infield single before Ramirez came away with the decisive blow.
“I thought he was going to take the first pitch because it’s a lefty he hasn’t hit all day,” Lindor said. “I saw his swing, [and] as soon as he hit that ball, I’m like, ‘Oh, wow.’ It’s unreal. It’s fun to watch him. It makes me happy, puts a smile on my face every time I know he’s going to be playing.”
Cody Allen entered in the ninth and, after walking two with two outs, shut the door for his 24th save of the season on his 29th pitch of the inning.
The Indians improved to 71-51 overall and 8-3 during their 11-game homestand.
Corey Kluber delivered another strong outing, allowing two runs on six hits and striking out eight in 6⅔ innings.
He left the game with the Blue Jays up 2-1, the bases loaded and two out in the seventh inning. Michael Clevinger (2-1, 5.12 ERA) entered into a tough situation, facing slugger Edwin Encarnacion and trying to keep it a one-run game.
Midway through the at-bat, Clevinger was called for a balk, which would have brought a run home. Indians manager Terry Francona came out to argue, as Encarnacion had raised his hand for time and been granted it before the balk call.
So Ryan Goins was ordered to go back to third base and, on the next pitch, Clevinger struck out Encarnacion, inciting a fist pump from catcher Roberto Perez.
With it still a one-run game, Clevinger kept the door open for Ramirez’s game-winning home run.
“It was awesome,” Kluber said of Clevinger’s performance. “That was a big spot in the game. Obviously he didn’t have anywhere to put ’em. He executed some awesome pitches right there.”
The Indians and Blue Jays finished a three-game series that included a lively crowd, mixed with fans from both teams. It could also be a potential playoff matchup, creating an electric atmosphere.
“I think it gives everybody [an idea of what a playoff atmosphere is like], myself included,” Francona said. “There’s no feeling that I can think of like that. Your heart is in your throat, but you like it. It’s agony, but it’s also awesome. That’s why we do this. Our young guys have never flinched, so I think that they look like they’re having the time of their life. They should.”
Lindor is ready for more.
“I’ve never played in the playoffs up here,” he said. “But if this is what the playoffs feels like, I ask the Lord to give me an opportunity to play in it every single year because it was pretty fun.”
Ryan Lewis can be reached at rlewis@thebeaconjournal.com. Read the Indians blog at www.ohio.com/indians. Follow him on Twitter at www.twitter.com/RyanLewisABJ and on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/RyanLewisABJ