Guardians Force ALDS Game 5 With 9-5 Victory Over White Sox
José Ramírez led the offensive charge with a home run and three RBIs, extending the series to a decisive Game 5.
The Cleveland Guardians kept their postseason alive by defeating the Chicago White Sox 9-5 on Thursday night, forcing a winner-take-all Game 5 in their American League Division Series. The Guardians rallied after falling behind early, ultimately scoring nine runs to overcome the White Sox.
Pinch-hitter Patrick Bailey hit a home run and Jo Adell added a two-run single to cap a significant six-run rally in the sixth inning for Cleveland. The Guardians are now looking to become the first team to overcome a 2-0 series deficit in a best-of-five playoff series since the 2017 New York Yankees.
Teams that have held a 2-0 lead in a best-of-five postseason series have historically gone on to win 83 out of 93 times. Game 5 is scheduled to take place back in Cleveland on Saturday night.
Chicago's bullpen, a notable strength during their regular season, showed signs of fatigue. Grant Taylor struggled in the sixth inning, allowing four runs and four hits without recording an out. This performance came after Miguel Vargas hit a late home run for the White Sox, who were attempting to clinch a postseason series at home for the first time since the 1906 World Series.
Game 2 starter Gavin Williams secured the final three outs for Cleveland in relief, his first career appearance in that role. Williams could potentially start Game 5 for the Guardians.
Cleveland initially trailed 2-0 before their fifth-inning comeback began. Bailey hit a pinch-hit home run, and Steven Kwan followed with a single that chased starter Erick Fedde. Jordan Hicks entered the game, and José Ramírez hit a two-run home run off a 99.9 mph fastball. This was Ramírez's first postseason home run since 2024 and his fifth overall. He also had a strong performance in Game 3, contributing two hits and two RBIs in Cleveland's 9-3 victory.
The White Sox responded with two runs in the bottom of the fifth. Sam Antonacci was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded, and Brenton Doyle followed with a sacrifice fly. However, the rally stalled when rookie Braden Montgomery struck out.
Antonacci has been hit by pitches frequently, including a franchise-record 29 times in the regular season. He became the first player in postseason history to be hit by a pitch with the bases loaded multiple times in his career, having also experienced this in Game 3.
Anthony Kay started the sixth inning for Chicago but was replaced by Taylor after Travis Bazzana's RBI double tied the game at 4. Bailey then provided a go-ahead single off Taylor, and Cleveland began to extend its lead. Walks to Brayan Rocchio and Kwan loaded the bases for Ramírez, who drove in a run with an infield single to make it 6-4. Chase DeLauter added another RBI single, and Adell concluded the offensive surge with a liner to right field that scored two runs.