Guardians Stun White Sox 9-3, Force Decisive Game 4 Showdown
Jose Ramirez turned back the clock with a two-run eighth-inning triple and Jo Adell blew the game open with a bases-clearing shot, as Cleveland avoided an ALDS sweep — now Chicago gets one more shot Thursday at its first trip to the ALCS since 2005.
The Chicago White Sox came into Wednesday night at Rate Field needing one win to reach the ALCS for the first time since their 2005 World Series season. They left with their first playoff loss of the year, and a series that suddenly isn't over.
The Cleveland Guardians routed Chicago 9-3 in Game 3 of the American League Division Series in front of 40,590 fans, cutting the White Sox's series lead to 2-1 and setting up a win-or-go-home Game 4 on Thursday night back at Rate Field.
Adell and Ramirez take over
Jo Adell, acquired by Cleveland in an August trade with the Angels, ripped a bases-clearing triple with two outs in the third inning off left-hander Hagen Smith, turning a 1-0 Chicago lead into a 4-1 Cleveland advantage. Jose Ramirez, who'd gone a quiet 0-for-6 with two walks across the first two games of the series, came alive: he doubled and stole third in the fifth before scoring on a grounder, then delivered a two-run triple in the eighth that extended the lead to 7-3. It was the first time in franchise history the Guardians hit two triples in a single postseason game.
"HE CAN HURT YOU WITH THE BAT, THE LEGS, AND THE GLOVE. HE SHOWED ALL OF THAT TODAY."
That's Guardians manager Stephen Vogt on Ramirez's performance. Chicago's bullpen, which had carried the AL Central-winning White Sox through a surprising four straight playoff wins, finally cracked. Reliever Bryan Hudson walked the leadoff man and allowed two singles before Adell's triple put the game away. Cleveland's own relief corps was dominant in reverse: left-hander Foster Griffin struck out seven batters over 2⅔ innings, a franchise record for a reliever in a postseason game, as Cleveland's pitching staff held the West Side faithful quiet late. The White Sox struck out 19 times on the night and went just 2-for-11 with runners in scoring position, stranding chances in the fourth and again with the bases loaded in the sixth.
Chicago, which went 60-102 just last season before this stunning postseason turnaround, had hoped to clinch its first home playoff series since 1906 in front of a frenzied sellout crowd. Instead, both teams now set up for a decisive Game 4. Cleveland is expected to start rookie left-hander Parker Messick, who allowed two runs over 4⅓ innings in the series opener.
First pitch for Game 4 is set for Thursday evening at Rate Field, with the winner advancing to face either the Yankees or Rays in the ALCS.