Toronto Star
· collected 2026-10-08 · by Jay Cohen The Associated Press
In ALDS Game 3, José Ramírez helped the Cleveland Guardians avoid elimination with a strong performance against the Chicago White Sox, contributing two hits, scoring and driving in two runs. At age 34, Ramírez also made a crucial defensive play at third base in the sixth inning, preserving Cleveland’s lead. Despite a recent batting slump, Ramírez’s all-around game included strategic baserunning that extended the Guardians' advantage to 5-2. His performance was pivotal as the Guardians won 9-3, ending Chicago's hopes for a sweep.
Written locally by qwen2.5:14b on 2026-10-08,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
Story summary
The Chicago White Sox faced the Cleveland Guardians in Game 3 of their AL Division Series on October 7 at Guaranteed Rate Field. The Guardians won 9-3, preventing a series sweep and extending the playoff matchup to a fourth game. Cleveland's José Ramírez and Jo Adell each hit two-out triples, with Ramírez also contributing defensively by making a diving stop at third base. Both players helped turn around the team’s performance after they had managed just three runs in the first two games combined. The Guardians now need to win Game 4 on October 8 to avoid elimination and continue their unlikely postseason run.
Written for “White Sox Guardians ALDS” on 2026-10-08,
grounded in this article and the 6 other(s) covering the same event.
Ramírez broke out of his batting slump Wednesday, helping Cleveland avoid a sweep in its AL Division Series against the Chicago White Sox.
asserted
Cleveland → break → Sox
The seven-time All-Star had two hits, drove in two runs and scored twice during the Guardians’ 9-3 victory in Game 3.
asserted
Star → have → Game
“Josy, that’s why he’s one of the best players in the league,” Cleveland manager Stephen Vogt said.
asserted
Vogt → ’ → league
“He can hurt you with the bat, the legs and the glove.
asserted
He → hurt → bat
He showed all that today.”
asserted
He → show → that
The 34-year-old Ramírez also made a diving stop at third on Miguel Vargas’ bases-loaded smash in the sixth inning, preserving Cleveland’s 5-3 advantage.
asserted
Ramírez → make → advantage
“After that play, it was, OK, this is our game to win, and that’s what we were able to do,” Ramírez said through a translator.
asserted
Ramírez → win → translator
Ramírez was sidelined for five weeks after he broke a bone in his left hand on a swing against Detroit on June 13.
asserted
he → sideline → June
The switch-hitter had surgery before returning on July 22 against Minnesota.
asserted
hitter → have → Minnesota
But he hit just .229 with two homers and 20 RBIs in 53 games after the operation.
asserted
he → hit → operation
Then he went 0 for 6 with two walks in the first two games of the ALDS against the White Sox.
asserted
he → go → Sox
With the Guardians facing elimination, Ramírez delivered — just as he had so many times before.
asserted
he → face → elimination
“It feels special,” Ramírez said.
asserted
Ramírez → feel → ?
“You know the type of season I had, but it’s important for us to win any game going forward because for us it’s do or die.
asserted
it → know → us
So it feels really good. ...
asserted
it → feel → ?
But for us, it’s the same mindset going forward.”
asserted
it → ’ → us
The first sign Ramírez was headed for a big night occurred in the first inning, when he hit a 107.9 mph liner that was caught by a diving Randal Grichuk in left field.
asserted
that → head → field
“We always know he’s one swing away,” Vogt said.
asserted
Vogt → know → ?
“When he hit that first ball in the first inning ... great play by Grichuk.
asserted
he → hit → Grichuk
You knew he was here.”
asserted
he → know → ?
Ramírez walked and scored on Jo Adell’s three-run triple in the third, helping Cleveland take a 4-1 lead.
asserted
Cleveland → walk → lead
Playing in his 48th postseason game — all with Cleveland — Ramírez manufactured an insurance run for the Guardians in the fifth.
asserted
Ramírez → play → fifth
He doubled, stole third and scored on Chase DeLauter’s grounder to second, beating Kyle Teel’s tag with a headfirst slide.
asserted
He → double → slide
Ramírez’s savvy baserunning gave the Guardians a 5-2 advantage.
asserted
baserunning → give → advantage
“When he got that stolen base at third, that kind of made it a José Ramírez game,” Guardians outfielder Steven Kwan said.
asserted
Kwan → get → third
Ramírez popped up leading off the seventh, but he helped Cleveland put it away with a two-run triple with two outs in the eighth.
asserted
Cleveland → pop → eighth
Ramírez clapped his hands in excitement and threw an upper cut with his right arm as he stood on third after the important swing.
asserted
he → clap → swing
“Great game by Ramírez,” White Sox manager Will Venable said.
asserted
Venable → say → Ramírez
“Obviously, we know how special a player he is.”
asserted
he → know → ?
The Aporia
