Jose Ramirez singled in pinch-runner Angel Martinez in the 10th inning for his eighth career walk-off, giving the Cleveland Guardians a 5-4 victory over the visiting Toronto Blue Jays on Wednesday night.
After Martinez replaced automatic runner Bo Naylor to begin the bottom of the inning, Cleveland loaded the bases on an intentional walk to Steven Kwan and a bunt single by David Fry.
Blue Jays reliever Mason Fluharty (3-2) subsequently allowed Ramirez’s sharp no-out single to left, giving the Guardians their fourth final at-bat win of the season.
Rookie and cancer survivor Nic Enright (1-0) worked a scoreless 10th for his first win in the majors, allowing Cleveland to even the three-game series at one victory apiece.
Blue Jays starter Max Scherzer, who was activated earlier in the day, pitched five innings and allowed three runs on six hits. The 40-year-old struck out four and walked three over 83 pitches in his first appearance since March 29.
Future Hall of Famer Scherzer had spent 75 games on the injured list with right thumb inflammation. The right-hander had a 2.08 ERA in two rehab outings for Triple-A Buffalo.
Toronto scored three times in the sixth off Guardians starter Gavin Williams to take a 4-3 lead. Ernie Clement’s sacrifice fly to short center tied it after George Springer delivered a two-run single.
The Guardians pulled ahead 3-1 in the fourth on Gabriel Arias’ two-run double to the wall, then evened it at 4-4 on Lane Thomas’ homer in the sixth off Nick Sandlin.
Thomas has homered in three straight home games, which is his season total.
Williams went 5 1/3 innings, giving up four runs, three earned, on five hits. The righty surrendered a solo homer to Vladimir Guerrero Jr., had two strikeouts and walked three.
Ramirez drove in his first run with a first-inning single. It was his 1,527th game, moving past Jim Hegan for fourth place in franchise history.
Six-time All-Star Ramirez has base hits in 39 of his 44 games since May 6, including a 39-game on-base streak from April 30-June 14.
–Field Level Media
