White Sox 4, Guardians 3: Chicago rallies late to go up 2-0 in the ALDS
Braden Montgomery's two-run double in the sixth turned a 2-1 deficit into a lead, and Grant Taylor held on as Chicago moved within a win of the ALCS.
The Chicago White Sox beat the Cleveland Guardians 4-3 on Monday in Game 2 of the American League Division Series, taking a 2-0 lead in the best-of-five series and moving one win from the ALCS. Game 3 is Wednesday at Rate Field in Chicago, MLB.com reported.
Cleveland strikes first
Cleveland scored twice in the first inning, which MLB.com noted was the first time the White Sox had trailed in the 2026 postseason. According to CBS Chicago, Steven Kwan singled and Jose Ramirez walked before Chase DeLauter's grounder moved them up. Chicago walked Jo Adell intentionally to load the bases, and Nathaniel Lowe's chopper drove in a run, with a throwing error allowing another to score.
The White Sox used Anthony Kay as an opener and brought in Sean Burke in the third inning for the bulk of the work, per CBS Chicago and Yahoo Sports. CBS Chicago reported Burke gave up one hit over 5 1/3 innings with six strikeouts, keeping Cleveland quiet from there. Gavin Williams, Cleveland's starter, struck out 11 in a little over five innings, per the same report.
The turning point
Chicago got on the board in the fourth when Kyle Teel singled to open the inning, Miguel Vargas walked and Munetaka Murakami singled Teel home, making it 2-1. The decisive frame was the sixth. CBS Chicago said Vargas singled to lead off, Randal Grichuk walked, and a wild pitch put the runners in scoring position. Braden Montgomery then hit a two-run double down the right-field line and Chase Meidroth followed with an RBI single, giving Chicago a 4-2 lead. MLB.com identified Montgomery's double as the game-winning hit.
Cleveland made it interesting in the eighth when Adell tripled in a run off Grant Taylor to cut the margin to 4-3, but Taylor got Lowe to fly out to end the inning and finished the game for his second straight save, per CBS Chicago.
What it means
Chicago needs one more win to reach its first ALCS since the 2005 World Series season, according to CBS Chicago. Cleveland faces elimination Wednesday. MLB.com lists Sean Newcomb as the White Sox starter and right-hander Daniel Espino as Cleveland's opener for Game 3, with first pitch Wednesday afternoon on TBS, truTV and HBO Max.