Associated PressMultiple AuthorsOct 13, 2026, 11:49 PM ETOpen Extended ReactionsST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Jose Ramirez’s mental mistake and fielding error cost Cleveland in Game 2 of the American League Championship Series, a day after his bat helped boost the Guardians to an opening win.He left third base uncovered on Chandler Simpson’s fourth-inning infield chopper, then misplayed Ben Williamson’s grounder for an error that led to three unearned runs as the Tampa Bay Rays evened the best-of-seven series with a 3-1 win Tuesday night.”It’s a little bit faster here with the surface and I was playing parallel to the base,” Ramirez said through an interpreter. “The ball bounced right on the edge between the dirt and the turf, and that’s what made it a little more difficult for me. I tried to knock it down.”He added: “It’s frustrating.
I feel bad because I wasn’t able to make that play and after that the runs came in. I feel bad about that.”A seven-time All-Star who has finished among the top five in MVP voting six times, Ramirez had three hits and scored twice in Cleveland’s 7-3 win in the opener.Game 2 was scoreless with Victor Mesa Jr. on first and two outs in the fourth when Simpson beat out a high chopper to shortstop Brayan Rocchio.Ramirez, shifted toward second base on the left-handed hitter, took a few steps toward Simpson and watched the shortstop throw to first. Seeing third base uncovered, Mesa rounded second and sped to third standing up as Ramirez tried in vain to catch up.Four pitches later, Williamson hit a two-hopper that struck the edge of where the artificial turf meets the dirt near third. The ball skipped between Ramirez’s legs into left, allowing Mesa to score.”Jose kind of got stuck.
It looked like he just didn’t move his feet,” Guardians manager Stephen Vogt said. “Just kind of looked like he sat back a little bit with his feet set instead of moving his feet. So tough break right there and obviously they capitalized.”Liam Hicks pulled Parker Messick’s next pitch, a slider, into right-center for a two-run single and a 3-0 lead.”They’ve done that all year. When they smell blood, they take it and run,” Vogt said.
“We had some sloppy plays in the field that we need to clean up.”Ramirez homered in Games 4 and 5 of the division series as Cleveland overcame a 2-0 series deficit to advance. He was the first Cleveland player to homer in consecutive postseason games since Francisco Lindor in 2018.
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