Hanley Ramirez’s season had been so strange, so inconsistent, that it had started to prompt questions about his postseason role. Scouts following the Red Sox in anticipation of a potential October matchup with Boston had started to wonder whether the enigmatic slugger might cede playoff playing time to Eduardo Nunez, who is trying to work back from a knee injury, or wounded teammates who might struggle to play in the field.
On Wednesday night, in the Red Sox’ 10-7 victory over the Blue Jays, Ramirez offered a majestic rebuttal. With the game tied, 4-4, in the bottom of the third inning, Ramirez blasted a 451-foot homer that seemingly waved to the Fenway Park left field light tower as it zoomed past it at a height of 136 feet and an exit velocity of 109 mph.