Jose Ramirez homers twice for Guardians, including game-winner against Marlins

CLEVELAND — The Miami Marlins must not have read Jose Ramirez's press clippings. Reliever Calvin Faucher challenged Ramirez with one out in the eighth, and the seven-time All-Star made him pay with a 346-foot home run into the right-field stands Tuesday for a 4-3 Guardians victory on a muggy night before 21,874 at Progressive Field. The Guardians have won 10 of their last 12 games and remain a half-game behind the New York Yanks for the American League last wild card spot. Ramirez recorded his 27th career multi-home run game, which is a franchise record. Jim Thome and Albert Belle had been tied with Ramirez. He also connected in the first inning and now has 25 homers on the season. Closer Cade Smith (5-4) earned the win with 1 1/3 innings of hitless relief. Left-hander Logan Allen left with a no-decision after pitching five innings and allowing four hits, three runs (2 earned) and walking two. He struck out five. "The main thing with Logan is he competes," manager Stephen Vogt said. "When Logan Allen's competing in the strike zone, he's got an opportunity to go deep into games. "When he's attacking, he gets quick outs. When he's missing the zone a little bit, that's where the pitch count can drive up, but Logan has really been super consistent for us over the last handful of starts and (I) really like the way he's pitching." Allen, an Altamonte Springs, Fla., native, was named the 2017 Florida Gatorade High School Player of the Year before pitching at Florida International University in Miami for three seasons. The 26-year-old made his major league debut against Miami on April 23, 2023, and is 1-0 lifetime against the Marlins. Allen has lowered his ERA from 5.73 in 2024 to 3.94 this season. It's the third-best improvement in the majors. Wildness by Allen and a defensive mishap allowed the Marlins to knot the score at 3 in the fifth. With two runners aboard, right fielder Dane Myers' single drove in Xavier Edwards for Miami's first run. Guardians left fielder Steven Kwan's throw to third skipped past Ramirez, which allowed shortstop Otto Lopez to score from third. Designated hitter Herberto Hernandez followed with a double into the left-field corner to drive in Myers and tie the score. Kwan made up for his errant throw when he gunned down Marlins first baseman Eric Wagaman at home plate for the third out of the sixth inning. Wagaman tried to score from second on a single by Agustin Ramirez. It was Kwan's 11th outfield assist of the season, which leads the majors. Right-hander Janson Junk, who also earned a no-decision, pitched five innings and surrendered six hits, three runs and didn't walk a batter. He fanned two. Ramirez and Kyle Manzardo clubbed back-to-back home runs in the first inning for a quick 2-0 lead. It was the seventh time this season the Guardians have hit back-to-back homers and the first time since July 11. Ramirez snapped an 0-for-12 skid with a 381-foot clout into the right-field bleachers. Manzardo followed with his 21st homer, a 386-foot shot into the left-center field seats. Shortstop Brayan Rocchio drove in Cleveland's third run in the second inning with a two-out, run-scoring single that plated Gabriel Arias, who had doubled. Rocchio has hit in 13 of his last 16 games and is batting .315 (17-for-54) with four doubles, one triple and eight RBIs since July 26. Contact Bob Finnan at rfinnan30@gmail.com.