The Chicago White Sox are one win from the ALCS after another stunning postseason escape act, this time outlasting the Cleveland Guardians 4-3 on Monday to grab a 2-0 lead in the American League Division Series.
Braden Montgomery came through with the biggest swing of the night, lining a go-ahead two-run double that flipped the game in Chicago’s favor. Sean Burke did the heavy lifting on the mound, delivering 5⅓ strong innings in relief to help the White Sox keep control of the series.
Chicago can close out the matchup Wednesday at home, and a win would send the club to the ALCS for the first time since its 2005 World Series championship.
Cleveland struck first and did it fast, building a 2-0 lead in the opening inning. Steven Kwan opened with a single, José Ramírez drew a walk, and both runners eventually came around, with Ramírez scoring after an errant throw.
The White Sox answered in the fourth. Kyle Teel got Chicago’s first hit, and Munetaka Murakami followed by driving him in with a single to cut the deficit to 2-1.
Then came the sixth, where the game turned hard in Chicago’s direction.
Miguel Vargas singled to knock Guardians starter Gavin Williams out of the game. Williams had struck out 11.
Randal Grichuk later worked a walk, a wild pitch moved both runners up, and Montgomery jumped on a first-pitch fastball and hammered it down the right-field line for the two-run double. Chase Meidroth added an RBI single after that, pushing the White Sox ahead 4-2.
Burke was sharp after entering with one out in the third. He gave up just one hit, struck out six and at one point retired 13 straight batters. He also threw 53 of his 83 pitches for strikes.
Cleveland made one last push in the eighth. Chase DeLauter ended Burke’s outing with a single, and Jo Adell followed with an RBI triple to trim the margin. Grant Taylor then shut the door, escaping further trouble before finishing the game for his second straight save.
The result leaves Chicago on the doorstep of an ALCS trip after becoming the first team to reach the postseason after three straight 100-loss seasons. After a modern-era record 121 losses in 2024, the White Sox are suddenly one victory away from baseball’s final four.
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