Jose Ramirez smacks Indians out of 8-game losing streak on birthday

The Cleveland Indians were riding an 8-game losing streak that ended on Thursday thanks to Jose Ramirez, who also celebrated his birthday.

Jose Ramirez turned 28-years-old on Thursday, and as a birthday present to his team, smashed the Cleveland Indians out of their eight-game losing streak. Their longest since 2012, when Manny Acta managed the team through an 11-game losing streak. The streak this time around was noticeably worse, as the Indians weren’t just losing games for any one reason, with both the offense and pitching sputtered at the same times.

The losing streak all but cost the Indians a shot at winning the AL Central.

Ramirez shattered the streak with a career game. The Indians’ third basemen went 4 for 5, with two home runs, four RBI’s, and the runs scored. He wasn’t the only Indians player who had a big night, as Cesar Hernandez went 3 for 5, with three runs scored and one RBI. Franmil Reyes had two RBI’s, with Tyler Naquin and Francisco Lindor each adding another RBI themselves.

Of course, the snapping of a losing streak would coincide with Shane Beiber having another fantastic start. who went seven and 2/3, with 10 strikeouts. In the bottom of the 8th, Beiber did give up some runs, but when you have a 10 run lead, you can afford to make a mistake or two.

With the Indians finally snapping their losing streak, it came against the perfect team. The Tigers were one of the worst teams in the AL for the entire season and a team the Indians have destroyed all year.

With 10 games left in the regular season, the team has a chance to improve their playoff standing. They’re currently the 8th seed in the AL, but still have the rest of the Tigers series, as well as the Pittsburgh Pirates to close out the regular season. The Indians have a real chance to move up from their current seeding with how this schedule shook out.