José Ramírez Homers, Guardians Force ALDS Game 5

José Ramírez is doing it again. His go-ahead two-run homer in the fifth inning sparked a 9-5 Guardians win over the White Sox on Thursday night at Rate Field, tying the ALDS at 2-2 and forcing a winner-take-all Game 5 on Saturday at Progressive Field, ESPN and MLB.com reported.

Cleveland dropped the first two games of this series at home. Now the Guardians get one game, back in their own building, for a spot in the ALCS. First pitch is set for 8 p.m. ET Saturday, per Heavy.

The swing

Ramírez turned on a 99.9 mph four-seamer from White Sox reliever Jordan Hicks and sent it out to right, landing in the Guardians bullpen, where the Cleveland arms went nuts. MLB.com noted it was the fastest pitch Ramírez has ever homered on.

It was his first postseason homer since 2024 and the fifth of his career. It was also his 43rd career postseason hit, tying Jim Thome for third in franchise history. The power has been hard to find this year after he broke a bone in his left hand on a swing June 13, and this was only his second homer since Sept. 1, a span of 26 games, per ESPN. Clearly October Ramírez did not get that memo. He also had two hits and two RBIs in the 9-3 Game 3 win.

The six-run sixth

Chicago grabbed a 4-3 lead back in the bottom of the fifth, after Patrick Bailey and Ramírez had homered in the top half. Cleveland answered by sending 10 batters to the plate in the sixth.

Reliever Grant Taylor did not get an out and was charged with four runs, per MLB.com. Bailey singled, Brayan Rocchio and Steven Kwan walked, and Ramírez beat out an infield single to make it 6-4. Chase DeLauter added a run-scoring single, and Jo Adell capped it with a two-run single to right.

Miguel Vargas hit his first postseason homer to open the ninth for Chicago, and Game 2 starter Gavin Williams came out of the bullpen for the first relief appearance of his career to get the final three outs.

Game 5 is set up

That relief outing is the wrinkle. Williams was lined up to start Game 5 on normal rest, and he made it clear he is ready either way.

"I'm good to go," Williams said, per MLB.com. "Whatever they need me to do, I'll do it. If I've got to start, I'll start."

The White Sox have announced Sean Burke as their Game 5 starter. Chicago has now failed twice to clinch a postseason series at home, something it has not done since the 1906 World Series.

"I think it's going to be crazy," Ramírez said through an interpreter. One game, Progressive Field rocking, and the hottest bat in the series in the Cleveland lineup. Cleveland fans would not want it any other way.