Jose Ramirez Plays Hero as Guardians Win ALDS Game 5, Advance to ALCS

The Cleveland Guardians needed a miracle to win the ALDS after going down 0-2 to the Chicago White Sox after the first two games of the series. 

Cleveland's prayers were answered, and the Guardians came all the way back, won three games in a row, and their 2-0 victory over the White Sox in Game 5 officially sent them to the ALCS.

The tone of this victory started with what Gavin Williams was able to do on the mound. 

There was certainly some uncertainty about how Williams would look during Game 5 on Saturday evening after closing out the ninth inning of Game 4 on Thursday.

Despite the outside narrative, Williams came out strong with six strikeouts through the first three innings, with his fastball velocity clearly elevated, too.

The problem for the Guardians, though, was that the White Sox starter Sean Burke was just as sharp against Cleveland’s lineup as he’s been all year long. Burke was perfect through the first nine Guardians hitters he faced.

Even with the rain falling and potential delay looming during the first three innings, each team’s starting pitcher was cruising through the game.

That was until Jose Ramirez reminded everyone why he's one of the game's best players. With Steven Kwan standing on first base in the fourth inning, Ramirez went down and golfed a pitch just over the right-field wall.  

This wasn’t just any home run, though. Ramirez’s two-run blast was one of the most improbable long balls of his career.

Ramirez made contact with the ball when it was 0.874 feet off the ground, which is the lowest pitch he’s ever homered on in his career and the lowest pitch recorded in the playoffs since it started to be tracked in 2008.

More importantly, the homer gave Cleveland an early 2-0 lead.

Chicago’s first big scoring opportunity came in the top of the sixth inning thanks to a Colson Montgomery hit-by-pitch, a Kyle Teel single, and a Miguel Vargas. This bases-loaded jam also ended the night of Gavin Williams, as Erik Sabroski came in to face Munetaka Murakami with two outs.

All Williams could do from the dugout was look on, and he watched Sabroski punch out Murakami to end Chicago’s threat.

The next pitcher out of the bullpen for the Guardians was Hunter Gaddis. Even though the right-hander has been shaky at times throughout the ALDS, he logged four strikeouts before giving up a single to Sam Antonacci in the top of the eighth inning.

Vogt wasn't going to take any chances. With the season on the line, Cleveland's skipper once again asked Cade Smith 

Typically, the Guardians feel great about their chances with their closer on the mound. However, Cade has thrown 50 pitches over the last two games. To say he's been heavily used would be an understatement. 

Anything can happen in a playoff game, and even a two-run lead for the Guardians with one of the best pitchers in baseball on the mound didn't feel safe.

The Guardians had a chance to add to their lead in the top of the ninth with the bases loaded and no outs. However, Chase DeLauter and Jo Adell both grounded out to keep it a two-run game.

As it turns out, Cade didn't need those extra runs. He walked right back out for the ninth inning and struck out the side to seal the deal.

Cleveland now heads to St. Petersburg to take on the Tampa Bay Rays in Game 1 of the ALCS.