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The Rays cut the deficit to 4-3 in the bottom of the frame. Now, a one-run deficit in the top of the ninth is a high-leverage spot, never more so than in a best-of-seven. Cash, whose bullpen is better rested than the U.S. House of Representatives, had used his best lefty and third-best righty. He had Kevin Kelly and Bryan Baker available. Instead, he called on Cole Sulser, well down the depth chart. It was an inexplicable choice given the importance of the situation. Sulser somehow allowed a hit to Angel Martinez, breaking Martinez’s 0-for-16 run, balked him to second, and then gave up Ramirez’s second nonsense hit in half an hour, fisted into left field for a key insurance run. Ramirez, beaten twice in two at-bats, found two singles that led to five runs and a 7-3 Guardians win.
The last two runs are worth highlighting. With first and second and two out and Jo Adell up, Ramirez broke for third on an 0-1 pitch, which Adell fouled off. Two pitches later, on 1-2, Ramirez went again. Junior Caminero moved to cover third, and Adell hit a ground ball right to where Caminero would have been. The attempted steal turned an out into a two-run double.
Guardians. The little ball with a big story to tell.
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