Cleveland Guardians star Jose Ramirez ripped a two-run double into the right-center field gap to deliver a 4-3 walk-off victory in the bottom of the ninth Sunday as Cleveland took two out of three over the visiting St. Louis Cardinals.
Ryan Helsley walked Guardians Myles Straw and Steven Kwan on eight pitches in the ninth, putting the tying and winning runs on base. Four-time American League All-Star Ramirez delivered the telling blow, sending Kwan racing home from first for the win.
The Cardinals’ bullpen had been outstanding in the first two games of the series, allowing just three hits and one walk while striking out five in six scoreless innings. Helsley fell to 3-4 with his fourth blown save in 10 save situations this season.
The Guardians took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning when Kwan and Amed Rosario singled, and Josh Bell punched an RBI single into center field to drive in Kwan.
Cleveland rookie right-hander Hunter Gaddis kept the Cardinals off the scoreboard through four innings before St. Louis belted three home runs in the top of the fifth for a 3-1 lead.
Alec Burleson got the first homer, hooking a 361-foot drive inside the right-field foul pole. One out later, Andrew Knizner took Gaddis deep with a 379-foot shot that hung inside the opposite foul pole in left. Paul Goldschmidt, the reigning National League MVP, capped the barrage with a 413-foot no-doubter to left-center.
Gaddis allowed the three earned runs on five hits in 4 2/3 innings before Xzavion Curry (1-0) earned the win in relief by pitching three scoreless innings.
The Guardians pulled to within 3-2 in the fifth when Mike Zunino singled to center, moved to second on a Jordan Montgomery wild pitch and scored on Kwan’s sharp double to left. The score remained 3-2 until Ramirez delivered the game-winning double.
Cardinals left-hander Montgomery, winless since April 8, gave up just the two runs on seven hits, walking one and striking out three for a no-decision. Montgomery has gone nine consecutive starts without a victory, including three no-decisions.
–Field Level Media
