Jose Ramirez Reveals Promise He Made To Parker Messick In Game 4

Parker Messick did not have his best stuff on Thursday night, and nobody knew that better than the rookie himself. The Cleveland Guardians left hander walked four batters and lasted just 2 1/3 innings in Game 4 of the American League Division Series, leaving with his team trailing the White Sox 2-0 and its season hanging in the balance. Moments like that can weigh heavily on a young pitcher, especially one who has been so dependable all year. José Ramírez made sure Messick did not have to carry that weight for long. After Cleveland’s 9-5 win forced a decisive Game 5, the veteran third baseman revealed that he made his young teammate a promise before he delivered one of the biggest swings of the series.

“It’s very exciting. It’s a special moment when you have that type of energy from the guys. And I had a particular conversation with Messick before. I told him, ‘I’m going to get this turned around for you,’ and I was able to execute it. It was really special. It’s a great energy up there. It’s really special to share this with the guys,” Ramirez said

"It's a special moment when you have that type of energy from the guys. And I had a particular conversation with Messick before, I told him 'I'm going to get this turned around for you', and I was able to execute it."

(Via MLB Video) #Guardians José Ramírez on his home run in… pic.twitter.com/g78bKGrTvi

— Mason Horodyski (@MasonHorodyski) October 9, 2026

Ramírez said it was a very exciting moment and that there is something special about feeling that kind of energy from his teammates. He explained that he had a specific conversation with Messick earlier in the game, and he was proud that he was able to follow through. Ramírez added that sharing the moment with the rest of the guys in the dugout made it even more meaningful.

He followed through in a big way. Trailing 2-0 in the fifth inning, Patrick Bailey came off the bench to pinch hit for Austin Hedges and led off with a home run down the right field line to cut the deficit in half. Steven Kwan followed with a single, and the White Sox went to hard throwing reliever Jordan Hicks to face Ramírez. Ramírez jumped on a 100 mph fastball and drove it over the center field wall for a two run homer that gave Cleveland a 3-2 lead.

That swing did more than flip the scoreboard. It also took Messick off the hook for the loss, erasing the deficit the rookie left behind. Messick had walked Miguel Vargas and Munetaka Murakami back to back with the bases loaded in the third to force in Chicago’s first run, and a sacrifice fly after he exited made it 2-0. Thanks to Ramírez, that rough night will not go down as a losing effort in the record books.

The homer was the fifth of Ramírez’s postseason career, and it gave him 43 postseason hits, tying Jim Thome for third most in franchise history. The White Sox briefly regained the lead in the bottom of the fifth, but Cleveland answered with a six run sixth inning, and Ramírez drove in another run during the rally. He finished the night 2-5 with three RBIs.

The last two games have looked like a completely different Ramírez. He went hitless in the first two games of the series and hit just .198 in September while battling the lingering effects of the hamate surgery he underwent in June. Since the Guardians arrived in Chicago facing elimination, he has gone 4-9 with a double, a triple, a homer, four runs scored, five RBIs and a stolen base, while also making a game saving play at third base in Game 3.

Now the Guardians have one more game to win. Game 5 is set for Saturday at Progressive Field, with the winner advancing to face the Rays in the American League Championship Series. Ramírez said the atmosphere back home is going to be crazy. If he keeps swinging the bat like this, he might be the one making it that way.