White Sox Rally Past Guardians 4-3 to Take 2-0 ALDS Lead

Chicago Moves One Win Away From ALCS

The Chicago White Sox are heading home one win away from reaching the American League Championship Series for the first time in 21 years. Braden Montgomery delivered a go ahead two run double in the sixth inning, and Sean Burke provided 5 1/3 innings of dominant relief as the White Sox rallied past the Cleveland Guardians 4-3 on Monday in Game 2 of the American League Division Series.

The victory gave Chicago a 2-0 lead in the best-of-five series and improved the surprising White Sox to 4-0 this postseason, with all four victories coming on the road. Chicago can close out the series Wednesday afternoon at Guaranteed Rate Field. A series clinching victory at home would also give the White Sox their first postseason series win in Chicago since 1906.

Three Run Sixth Puts Chicago Ahead

Cleveland struck first, but Chicago’s offense finally broke through in the sixth inning. Miguel Vargas led off with a base hit and advanced to second on a groundout before Randal Grichuk drew a walk. A wild pitch from losing pitcher Erik Sabrowski with Tommy Pham at the plate moved both runners into scoring position.

After Pham flied out to shallow left, Montgomery jumped on a first-pitch fastball and lined a two-run double down the right field line to put the White Sox ahead. Montgomery celebrated at second before coming around to score when Chase Meidroth followed with an RBI single to right, giving Chicago a 4-2 advantage. Munetaka Murakami had earlier pulled the White Sox within 2-1 with an RBI single in the fourth, while Meidroth’s later hit provided an important insurance run.

Burke Silences Guardians’ Bats

Burke entered with one out in the third inning and completely changed the game for Chicago. The right-hander allowed just one hit over 5 1/3 innings while striking out six. After Travis Bazzana drew a walk with one out in the fourth, Burke retired 13 consecutive batters before Chase DeLauter singled to end his night.

Burke threw 83 pitches, including 53 strikes, and earned the victory while keeping Cleveland’s offense from generating any sustained momentum. Taylor took over and surrendered an RBI triple to Jo Adell in the eighth, cutting the White Sox lead to 4-3. Taylor then retired Nathaniel Lowe on a fly ball to end the inning.

Guardians Get on the Board Quickly

After being shut out in Game 1 on Saturday, Cleveland wasted little time getting its offense going Monday. Steven Kwan led off with a single and José Ramírez followed with a walk. DeLauter’s grounder off opener Anthony Kay moved both runners into scoring position.

Sean Newcomb then intentionally walked Adell to load the bases. Lowe followed with a high chopper that scored Kwan, and Newcomb’s errant throw past first base allowed Ramírez to score as well. The two-run first inning marked the first time in four postseason games that Chicago had trailed. Cleveland’s offense, however, struggled to build on that early advantage.

Cleveland’s Pitching Keeps It Close

Gavin Williams gave the Guardians a strong start, striking out 11 batters, tied for the second-most strikeouts by a Cleveland pitcher in a postseason game. Williams kept Chicago’s lineup under control until Vargas opened the sixth with a base hit, ending his outing and setting the stage for the White Sox rally.

Cleveland’s offense was unable to produce enough after taking the early lead, continuing a difficult stretch at the plate after the Guardians were shut out in Game 1. DeLauter recorded two hits, while Adell finished with the RBI triple in the eighth. But Cleveland could not find the tying run in the final inning.

White Sox One Win From ALCS

Chicago has already made history simply by reaching the postseason after three consecutive 100-loss seasons, including a post-1900 record 121 losses in 2024. Now, the White Sox are one victory away from an even bigger accomplishment. Chicago last reached the ALCS in 2005, when the franchise went on to win its first World Series since 1917.

After sweeping through the opening two games of this year’s ALDS on the road, the White Sox return home with two opportunities to finish the job. Game 3 is scheduled for Wednesday afternoon at Guaranteed Rate Field, where Chicago will try to complete the series and reach the ALCS for the first time in 21 years.