Jose Ramirez homered in his first three at-bats — and from both sides of the plate — to power the Cleveland Guardians to a 10-3 victory over the Boston Red Sox on Thursday night.

Ramirez connected for a solo shot in the first inning off Matt Dermody (0-1), belted a two-run shot — his 200th career homer — in the third and added another solo blast in the sixth inning, when the Guardians hit for the cycle, had eight straight hits and scored five times.

Ramirez came up a second time in the sixth bidding for a rare four-homer game but struck out swinging. The four-time All-Star third baseman had another chance in the eighth but grounded to third.

“My last two at-bats I was swinging away,” Ramírez admitted.

It was Ramirez’s first career three-homer game, and it was the seventh time in his career that he has hit a home run from both sides of the plate, according to ESPN Stats & Information.

“Everyone in [the clubhouse] would say the same thing, he’s the best player in the game,” said Cleveland starter Aaron Civale (2-1), who had his second straight solid start. “He plays the game the best way every single night.

“He might not be on paper the most talented. He might not be considered the best. But when he plays the game the way he plays it, he’s the best in the game.”

 

Ramirez also showed off his defensive prowess in the sixth by backhanding Justin Turner‘s hard shot and throwing off-balance across the diamond to get Boston’s third baseman while backpedaling in foul territory.

“If that was back in the day like Brooks Robinson, that play would be shown over and over and over,” Guardians manager Terry Francona said.

Will Brennan added a homer as the Guardians won the series and handed the Red Sox their fifth loss in six games. Boston is under .500 for the first time since April 28.

“It’s not the type of baseball we want to play,” manager Alex Cora said. “But here we are.”