The White Sox are returning to Chicago one win from advancing to the American League Championship Series for the first time in 21 years.
asserted
Sox → return → years
Braden Montgomery lined a two-run double down the right-field line in the sixth inning for the go-ahead runs and Sean Burke allowed one hit in 5 1/3 innings of impressive relief as the White Sox rallied past the Cleveland Guardians 4-3 on Monday to take a 2-0 lead in their AL Division Series.
asserted
Sox → line → Series
Game 3 is Wednesday afternoon at Guaranteed Rate Field, where the White Sox have two chances to do something they haven’t done since 1906 — clinch a postseason series at home.
asserted
they → have → home
“They’ve been waiting 120 years, so maybe we can do it this year,” said Grant Taylor, who worked 1 1/3 innings and allowed one hit as he got his second straight save.
asserted
he → wait → save
“I think it’s going to be unbelievable.
asserted
it → think → ?
Those fans deserve it.
asserted
fans → deserve → it
They’ve been with us for three years of 100 losses and they’ve been with us a good bit this year giving us a lot of support as we’ve gone through this.
asserted
we → give → this
So being able to give them a postseason game is going to be pretty special.”
asserted
being → give → game
The surprising White Sox improved to 4-0 in these playoffs — all on the road — and are one win from reaching the ALCS for the first time since winning the World Series in 2005.
asserted
Sox → improve → 2005
Chicago became the first team to reach the postseason after three straight 100-loss seasons, including a post-1900 record 121 defeats in 2024.
asserted
Chicago → become → 2024
“Our club has been confident the entire year, regardless of the previous result,” manager Will Venable said.
asserted
Venable → say → result
“They come in ready to play and turn the page.
asserted
They → come → page
Now, we’re really excited to get playoff baseball to our fans.”
asserted
we → ’re → fans
Munetaka Murakami hit an RBI single in the fourth to get Chicago within 2-1.
asserted
Murakami → hit → 2
Chase Meidroth added an RBI single to extend the lead to 4-2.
asserted
Meidroth → add → 4
Gavin Williams struck out 11, tied for second-most by a Cleveland pitcher in a postseason game.
asserted
Williams → strike → game
But the offense failed to produce for the second straight game.
asserted
offense → fail → game
“We have had two-game stretches like this all year and we come right back.
asserted
we → come → this
I’ve got a lot of faith in this offense.
asserted
I → get → offense
I have a lot of faith in this team,” Cleveland manager Stephen Vogt said.
asserted
Vogt → have → team
“We’ve got our work cut out for us.
asserted
work → get → us
Like I said, this team plays its best with its back against the wall.”
asserted
team → say → wall
3-run sixth propels the White Sox
The White Sox went ahead with a three-run sixth.
Miguel Vargas led off with a base hit to chase Williams and advanced to second on a groundout.
asserted
Vargas → propel → groundout
Randal Grichuk drew a walk before a wild pitch by losing pitcher Erik Sabrowski with Tommy Pham at the plate advanced the runners to second and third.
asserted
pitch → draw → second
Pham flied out to shallow left before Montgomery jumped on a first-pitch fastball to drive in the go-ahead runs.
asserted
Montgomery → flie → runs
Montgomery celebrated at second base before scoring on Meidroth’s single to right.
“I was just ready for something to attack, and I was ready for his hardest stuff.
asserted
I → celebrate → stuff
I gave myself my best chance to succeed,” Montgomery said.
asserted
Montgomery → give → chance
“I can’t even describe how it felt.
asserted
it → describe → ?
It’s exhilarating.
asserted
It → ’ → ?
I was just taking it all in.”
asserted
I → take → it
Burke came on with one out in the third.
asserted
Burke → come → third
After Travis Bazzana walked with one out in the fourth, the right-hander retired 13 straight batters until DeLauter got a base hit to end Burke’s night.
asserted
DeLauter → walk → night
Burke struck out six and threw 83 pitches, including 53 strikes, to earn the win.
asserted
Burke → strike → win
“I was able to settle in and find my groove,” Burke said.
asserted
Burke → settle → groove
“I’ve had openers before, but not in this situation, so I talked with a lot of guys.
asserted
I → have → guys
It’s just normal baseball when you get into that game.”
asserted
you → ’ → game
Taylor entered and allowed an RBI triple to Adell before Nathaniel Lowe flied out to end the eighth.
asserted
Lowe → enter → eighth
Guardians get on the board quickly
asserted
Guardians → get → board
After getting shut out Saturday, the Guardians struck quickly with a pair of runs in the first.
asserted
Guardians → shut → first
Steven Kwan led off with a single and José Ramírez walked
asserted
Ramírez → lead → single
…and 8 more, not listed.
The Aporia
