ANAHEIM, Calif. — José Ramírez showcased his power at Angel Stadium on Friday night, hitting three home runs and leading the Cleveland Guardians to an 8-6 triumph over the Los Angeles Angels.
His stellar performance, which included three home runs, marked his second career game achieving such a feat. Alongside Ramírez’s heroics, Brayan Rocchio drove in three crucial runs to help end Cleveland’s three-game losing streak.
Ramírez’s display tied him for the Cleveland franchise record with 26 multi-homer games, a feat previously achieved by legends Albert Belle and Jim Thome. He began his power display with a solo shot in the first inning, followed by a two-run homer in the fifth, and capped it off with another solo blast in the ninth inning, thus replicating a performance he last achieved on June 8, 2023.
The evening at Angel Stadium saw Mike Trout hit a home run during his first at-bat in what was his first appearance on home turf in nearly a year. Despite Trout’s efforts, the Angels kicked off their 60th season at the stadium with a defeat, marking their fourth consecutive loss in home openers.
Logan O’Hoppe challenged All-Star closer Emmanuel Clase with an 11-pitch at-bat before sending a homer over the fence in the ninth inning. Jo Adell also contributed with his third run batted in of the game, shortly before Travis d’Arnaud grounded out, sealing the Angels’ fate.
The contest was marred by injuries on the Los Angeles side, with three players exiting the game. Luis Rengifo and Ryan Zeferjahn both faced hamstring issues, while Yoán Moncada was sidelined by thumb irritation.
Tim Herrin (1-0) managed to escape a bases-loaded scenario that he created in the first game of Cleveland’s concluding series of their nine-game road trip. On the other hand, José Soriano (1-1) allowed five runs while striking out nine batters.
Trout’s return to the lineup at home was punctuated by driving a 98-mph fastball out of the park, showcasing his undeniable talent despite his injury woes over the recent seasons.
In a third-inning rally assisted by Ramírez’s defensive misstep, Adell managed to drive in two runs. A key moment in the game came in the sixth inning when Cleveland leveraged three walks from different Angels pitchers to mount a comeback. Rocchio’s grounder, which slipped past Moncada, allowed Cleveland to seize a 6-4 lead.
Ramírez etched another milestone, tallying his 900th career run with his initial home run, becoming the seventh Cleveland player to achieve the milestone.
Looking forward, the Angels’ Jack Kochanowicz is set to face Guardians’ Tanner Bibee. The game promises excitement as Bibee, who hails from nearby Orange County, played college ball just six miles away at Cal State Fullerton.