CHICAGO - Jose Ramirez hit a grand slam and a three-run homer in his first two plate appearances after missing a month because of a broken hand, and the Cleveland Indians pounded the Chicago White Sox 11-0 on Tuesday night.
"I'm not 100 percent on my wrist, but still I feel a big improvement, and I'm ready to play," Ramirez said through a translator before the game.
"The idea is that he can hopefully play a lot," Indians manager Terry Francona said. "Pitchers have to respect who he is. It's one less position we have to pick and choose or kind of platoon or whatever we've been doing in a couple of positions."
The two-time All-Star hit .254 with 20 homers and 75 RBI in his first 126 games this season.
The switch-hitting Ramirez, 27, homered from both sides in this game for the fourth time in his career. He finished with a career-best seven RBI.
Ramirez broke a bone in his right hand Aug. 24 against Kansas City and had surgery two days later.
Roberto Perez and Oscar Mercado also went deep for the Indians, who won for the sixth time in seven games to remain a half-game back of Tampa Bay for the second AL wild card.
Mike Clevinger pitched seven innings of five-hit ball for Cleveland and struck out 10 while extending his scoreless streak to 18 innings.
