The Chicago White Sox were one victory away from reaching the American League Championship Series for the first time since 2005, after coming from behind and defeating the Cleveland Guardians 4-3 in the second game of the Division Series.
Chicago trailed 2-1 until it rallied in the sixth inning, just after Cleveland pulled starter Gavin Williams from the game.
Williams had an outstanding performance and struck out 11 batters before leaving the game, but the White Sox took advantage of the Guardians’ relief to turn the score around.
Japan’s Munetaka Murakami had driven in Chicago’s first run with a single in the fourth inning, bringing Miguel Vargas to the plate.
The comeback was completed in the sixth inning. Braden Montgomery hit an RBI double off left-hander Erik Sabrowski and brought in Vargas and Randal Grichuk to put the White Sox up 3-2.
“I was prepared to attack and for his hardest shot. I gave myself the best opportunity to be successful,” Montgomery explained after the game.
Receiver Kyle Teel also highlighted Montgomery’s ability to show up in big moments.
Cleveland had one last chance to tie the game in the eighth inning. Jo Adell came very close to hitting a home run off Grant Taylor, but the shot ended up not becoming a tie.
Taylor, who had entered after Sean Burke worked 5.1 high-level innings, then pitched a perfect ninth inning to record his second save of the series. Burke took the win.
The White Sox remain undefeated in these playoffs and will now return to Chicago with the possibility of closing the series on Wednesday in front of their fans.
“They’ve been waiting 120 years, so maybe we can do it this year,” said Taylor, who highlighted the support of the team’s fans over the past few seasons.
Chicago needs one more victory to reach the American League Championship Series for the first time since 2005.
