Zephers take lead on Bisons

He didn't dwell on it.

But there the memory sat in Ken Ramos' brain, somewhere between his sixth birthday and what he had for breakfast Thursday morning.

"It's something I kind of thought about in the back of my mind," the New Orleans Zephyrs outfielder said.

The concept shoved its way to a frontal lobe Thursday afternoon, when Ramos faced the Buffalo Bisons in Game 3 of the Triple-A World Series at Cashman Field. The Bisons are the top affiliate of the Cleveland Indians, Ramos' original employer.

Ramos hit a solo home run in the bottom of the eighth inning to help New Orleans beat Buffalo 3-2. The Zephyrs are now one victory away from winning the best-of-5 World Series. Game 4 is tonight at 8:30.

Ramos' homer was the first of back-to-back blasts as catcher Marc Ronan followed with the eventual game-winner. During the regular season, Ramos hit five homers; Ronan hit one.

"It's good to have the opportunity to do well against one of your former organizations," Ramos said. "Most guys don't get an opportunity to do something like that in one of these situations.

"What are the odds of me and Ronan hitting back-to-back homers in the eighth inning of the World Series? It's a moment we'll cherish."

Ramos entered the game hitting .100 for the postseason, but went 3-for-4 and fell a double shy of hitting for the cycle. He also recorded the final putout, leaving the Bisons' game-tying run stranded at second base.

But it was Ramos' two-out homer that changed the complexion of the game. It came on a first-pitch fastball from Bisons reliever Chris Nichting.

"I was just looking for a pitch to drive," Ramos said. "With two outs, I was waiting for a first-pitch fastball. I just wanted to get the bat head out as quick as I could. Once I hit it, I knew it was gone."

The left-handed Ramos once was considered a top prospect for Cleveland. He earned the Indians' Lou Boudreau Award as the organization's top position player in 1992, when he hit .339 with five homers and 42 RBIs for Double-A Canton-Akron.

He spent the 1993 season with Cleveland's old Triple-A club in Charlotte, hitting .292 with 11 triples, three home runs and 41 RBIs.

But that would be his last year in the Indians chain. He was traded to the Chicago White Sox for backup catcher Matt Merullo. Eight days later, the White Sox waived him and the Astros quickly snatched him.

He was dealt to the Minnesota Twins this year and briefly played for their top affiliate in Salt Lake. But the deal was voided in June and he was returned to New Orleans.

Despite his potential, Ramos never made it to the majors, not with Cleveland, Houston or anyone else.

That's why the 32-year-old Nebraska native is enjoying this World Series experience.

"This is one step below the big leagues," Ramos said, "but not everybody gets the chance to play five or six years in the big leagues. Not every team has the opportunity to be here, doing what we're doing.

"The guys who never get to the big leagues, or even the ones who do, will remember this for the rest of their lives."

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