CLEVELAND — The Guardians finally scored some runs Monday night, but not enough to even the series.
Cleveland fell to Chicago, 4-3, in Game 2 of the American League Division Series at Progressive Field, dropping into an 0-2 hole in the best-of-five series.
The White Sox have now won all four of their postseason games and head back to Chicago needing only one more victory to eliminate Cleveland.
The Guardians appeared ready to change the direction of the series almost immediately. Steven Kwan singled and José Ramírez walked to begin the bottom of the first before Chase DeLauter moved both runners into scoring position. After Jo Adell was intentionally walked, Nathaniel Lowe put the ball in play. Kwan scored on the groundout, and Ramírez followed him home when White Sox pitcher Sean Newcomb threw the ball away, giving Cleveland a 2-0 lead.
That early advantage gave Gavin Williams something to work with, and for most of the night he made it stand. Williams struck out 11 White Sox while allowing four hits and three walks, keeping Cleveland in control through five innings.
Chicago finally broke through in the fourth. Kyle Teel singled, Miguel Vargas walked, and Munetaka Murakami followed with an RBI single to right, cutting Cleveland’s lead to 2-1. Williams escaped further damage, then struck out the side in the fifth to keep the Guardians in front.
The game turned one inning later.
Vargas opened the sixth with a single, ending Williams’ night, and Erik Sabrowski entered from the bullpen. After retiring Murakami, Sabrowski walked Randal Grichuk and then threw a wild pitch that moved both runners into scoring position.
Tommy Pham flew out for the second out, but Braden Montgomery followed with the swing that changed the game. His two-run double to right scored Vargas and Grichuk, giving Chicago a 3-2 lead. Hunter Gaddis replaced Sabrowski, but Chase Meidroth immediately singled home Montgomery to make it 4-2.
Three runs in the sixth turned Cleveland’s early advantage into another deficit, and the Guardians’ offense struggled to answer. Cleveland went down in order in both the sixth and seventh innings as Chicago’s bullpen continued to keep the lineup quiet.
The Guardians finally found life with two outs in the eighth. DeLauter singled to left, and Adell followed with an RBI triple to cut the deficit to 4-3. Cleveland suddenly had the tying run 90 feet away, but Lowe flew out to left to end the threat.
That proved to be the Guardians’ final opportunity.
Cade Smith retired Chicago in order in the top of the ninth, but Cleveland could not produce one final rally. Angel Martínez grounded out, Travis Bazzana flew out to center, and Patrick Bailey followed with another flyout to end the game.
The loss was especially frustrating because Williams gave Cleveland exactly the kind of postseason start it needed. He missed bats all night, struck out the side in the fifth, and gave the Guardians a chance to even the series.
Instead, one rough inning from the bullpen and another quiet night from the offense left Cleveland facing elimination.
The Guardians managed only three runs after being shut out in Game 1, and while the offense showed more life Monday, it still failed to capitalize enough on the opportunities it created.
And now their backs are officially against the wall.
What’s Next
The series moves to Chicago for Game 3 on Wednesday at Rate Field. First pitch is scheduled for 4 p.m. ET, and the Guardians must win to extend their season.
