Jose Ramirez Represents Guardians in All-Star Game
The MLB All-Star Game was held in Seattle, Washington today as Jose Ramirez, a five time all-star, represented the Cleveland Guardians in the contest.
Ramirez is having an excellent year as he leads the Guardians in multiple offensive categories including OPS (.870), slugging percentage (.506), on base percentage (.364), home runs (14), doubles (23), and base on balls (42).
In addition to Ramirez, Emmanuel Clase was also selected to the 2023 MLB All-Star Game, however, he decided not to participate due to family obligations.
Ramirez entered the all-star game in the top of the sixth as he replaced Texas Rangers third baseman, Josh Jung.
Ramirez caught an infield pop up off the bat of the Padres Juan Soto in the top of the seventh inning.
Ramirez then had a line drive double into the left field gap with two out in the bottom of the seventh inning, but did not score. For the game, Ramirez was 1-2 at the plate.
José Ramírez hitting a double just feels right.
Our sweet prince.#ForTheLand pic.twitter.com/stIvWVswEo
— Cleveland Guardians (@CleGuardians) July 12, 2023
American League Takes Early Lead on Former Guardians Home Run
The American League took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the second inning when former Cleveland Guardian, Yandy Diaz, from the Tampa Bay Rays hit a solo home run.
That Diaz homered in his first at bat in the all star game is not surprising as he has had 9 hits in his last 16 at bats coming into the game.
Diaz, who played for Cleveland during parts of the 2017 and 2018 season, was a 10th ranked prospect in the Guardians organization in 2017 along with Triston McKenzie (3rd ranked) Shane Bieber (16th ranked), and Aaron Civale (21st ranked).
Diaz is having a great year for the Rays as he is hitting .323 with 13 home runs and 43 RBI.
National League Evens Up Game
After Diaz gave the American League the lead, the National League tied up the game 1-1 in the top of the fourth when Luis Arraez from the Miami Marlins singled to right field to drive in J.D. Martinez from the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Arraez is having an incredible year at the plate as he is hitting .383 at the all-star break. It should be an exciting second half of the season for baseball fans as Arraez tries to become the first player in the MLB to hit .400 since Ted Williams in 1941.
MLB players that have come the closest to hitting .400 for a season since Williams were Tony Gwynn and George Brett.
Gwynn hit .394 in 1994 for the San Diego Padres and George Brett hit .390 for the Kansas City Royals in 1980.
American League All Stars Regain Lead in Bottom of 6th
The American League took a 2-1 lead in the bottom of the 6th inning.
Salvador Perez from the Kansas City Royals got on base with a single and then Brent Rooker from the Oakland A’s hit a line drive double.
Bo Bichette, the former Arizona State Sun Devils baseball player and current Toronto Blue Jay, then drove in Perez with a sacrifice fly to give the American League the lead, 2-1.
National League All-Stars Take 3-2 Lead on Elias Diaz 2-Run Home Run
The score remained 2-1 in favor of the American League until the top of the eighth when Nick Castellanos from the Philadelphia Phillies walked to lead off the inning.
Then on a 2-2 count, Elias Diaz from the Colorado Rockies hit a 360-foot two run home run to left field to give the National League a 3-2 lead.
The National League held the American League scoreless in the bottom of the eighth and ninth innings to get their first all-star victory since 2012.
Jose Ramirez and the American League first place Central Division leading Cleveland Guardians will now have two days off.
The Guardians return to action on Friday as they will face the first place American League West Division leading Texas Rangers at Global Life Field in Arlington, Texas.
Recent Comments