CHICAGO — The Guardians were down two games to none when they arrived in Chicago. Two nights later, they are heading back to Cleveland with the series tied.
Cleveland beat the White Sox, 9-5, Thursday night at Rate Field, forcing a winner-take-all Game 5 in the American League Division Series. The Guardians scored six runs in the sixth inning, turning a 4-3 deficit into a 9-4 lead and completely changing a game that had looked shaky through the first half.
Chicago struck first, scoring twice in the third against Parker Messick. The rookie left-hander lasted only 2 1/3 innings, allowing two runs while striking out five.
Cleveland finally broke through in the fifth.
Patrick Bailey, who entered as a pinch-hitter, launched a solo home run to cut the deficit to 2-1. José Ramírez followed later in the inning with a two-run homer off Jordan Hicks, giving the Guardians their first lead of the night at 3-2.
Chicago answered immediately. The White Sox scored twice in the bottom of the fifth to retake a 4-3 lead, but Cleveland’s response in the sixth decided the game.
Angel Martínez was hit by a pitch and stole second before Travis Bazzana doubled him home to tie the game. From there, Chicago reliever Grant Taylor never recorded an out.
Bailey singled, Brayan Rocchio and Steven Kwan walked, and Ramírez, Chase DeLauter, and Jo Adell followed with singles as Cleveland sent 10 hitters to the plate. By the time the inning finally ended, six runs had scored and the Guardians had built a 9-4 lead.
Ramírez finished 2-for-5 with three RBIs, continuing a huge two-game stretch after doubling and tripling in Game 3. His fifth-inning home run came off a 99.9 mph fastball, the fastest pitch he has ever homered against.
Bailey also delivered twice after beginning the night on the bench, homering in the fifth and adding a single during the sixth-inning rally.
The Guardians used six pitchers after Messick exited, with Gavin Williams recording the final three outs after Cade Smith allowed a solo homer and a walk to begin the ninth.
Cleveland has now scored nine runs in consecutive postseason games for only the second time in franchise history. The Guardians became the 19th team to fall behind 2-0 in a best-of-five postseason series and win the next two to force a Game 5.
After losing the first two games at home, Cleveland now gets one more chance at what should be an electric Progressive Field.
What’s Next
The Guardians host the White Sox in a decisive Game 5 Saturday night at Progressive Field. First pitch is scheduled for 8 p.m. ET, with the winner advancing to face Tampa Bay in the American League Championship Series.
