The Cleveland Guardians beat the Chicago White Sox 9-5 in Game 4 of the ALDS on Thursday at Rate Field. Cleveland scored six runs in the sixth inning to erase a one-run deficit and force a decisive Game 5. Jose Ramirez drove in three runs on a 2-for-5 night that included a go-ahead home run, while Jo Adell delivered a two-RBI single during the decisive rally.
Chicago led 4-3 before the Guardians sent 10 batters to the plate in the top of the sixth. Angel Martinez was hit by a pitch and stole second, then scored on a Travis Bazzana double that tied the game. Patrick Bailey, Ramirez, Chase DeLauter and Adell followed with run-scoring hits that turned a one-run deficit into a 9-4 cushion. Miguel Vargas led off the ninth with a solo home run for the White Sox, but Cleveland closed it out 9-5 according to CBS Sports.
How It Was Decided
Chicago took a 2-0 lead in the third inning on a Munetaka Murakami walk that scored a run and a Sam Antonacci sacrifice fly. The Guardians answered in the fifth when Bailey hit a solo homer to cut the deficit to 2-1, then Ramirez followed two batters later with a two-run shot off reliever Jordan Hicks to put Cleveland ahead 3-2.
The White Sox responded immediately in the bottom of the fifth. Murakami singled to load the bases, Antonacci was hit by a pitch to tie the game at 3, and Brenton Doyle lifted a sacrifice fly that put Chicago back in front 4-3 heading to the sixth.
That lead lasted one inning. Martinez reached on a hit by pitch and stole second before Bazzana doubled him home to tie the game at 4. Bailey singled home Bazzana for the lead, Ramirez singled in another run, DeLauter drove in a run with a single and Adell’s two-RBI single capped the six-run frame that put the game away at 9-4.
Top Performers From Both Teams
Ramirez finished 2-for-5 with a home run, three RBI and two runs scored, according to official game statistics. Nathaniel Lowe went 2-for-4 with a walk at the top of the order. Guardians starter Parker Messick allowed two runs over 2 1/3 innings before the bullpen combined to strike out seven over the final 6 2/3 innings, with Erik Sabrowski credited with the win after a scoreless inning of relief.
For Chicago, Vargas went 1-for-2 with a home run, an RBI, three walks and a stolen base. Antonacci drove in two runs, and Chase Meidroth scored twice. White Sox starter Erick Fedde worked 3 2/3 innings and allowed two earned runs, but the bullpen gave up seven runs in the sixth inning as Anthony Kay took the loss.
What They Said
Guardians manager Stephen Vogt was asked before the series about silencing a hostile road crowd compared to energizing a home one. “What do you like better? Do you like to make 50,000 people go crazy, or do you like to shut 50,000 people up?
They’re both very different feelings, but they’re equally as fun,” Vogt said.What do you like better? They’re both very different feelings, but they’re equally as fun,” Vogt said, according to MLB.com.
What The Win Means For The Series
Cleveland trailed 2-0 in the series after dropping the first two games at home before winning both games in Chicago to even the series at 2-2. The Guardians scored only three total runs in the first two games before erupting for nine runs in each of the last two.
Of the 18 previous teams that fell behind 2-0 in a best-of-five postseason series and rallied to win the next two games, 10 (56%) have gone on to win Game 5 and the series. Teams playing winner-take-all games at home have gone 70-68 all-time in postseason history, including 19-22 in Division Series play. The White Sox have not clinched a postseason series at home since the 1906 World Series.
Cleveland’s two home runs in Game 4 were its first of the postseason, a notable development for an offense that ranked among the worst in baseball during the regular season.s two home runs in Game 4 were its first of the postseason, a notable development for an offense that ranked among the worst in baseball during the regular season. The comeback followed a pattern for the Guardians, who also rallied from a three-run deficit in previous games this series after dropping the opener detailed in Game 3.https://totalapexsports.com/white-sox-vs-guardians-score/”>Game 1 recap.
What’s Next
Game 5 is Saturday in Cleveland, with the winner advancing to face the Tampa Bay Rays in the ALCS. Adell has been a key contributor since joining the Guardians midseason.
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