Cleveland Leads White Sox 5-2 in Game 3 of ALDS at Rate Field
Cleveland erased an early deficit and led Chicago 5-2 after five innings in Game 3 of the American League Division Series at Rate Field. The White Sox entered…
Chicago had a chance to close out the series at home. The Guardians vs White Sox game swung toward Cleveland, which led 5-2 after five innings of Game 3 in the American League Division Series at Rate Field.
The White Sox began the game with a 2-0 lead in the series and needed one win to reach the American League Championship Series. Cleveland, meanwhile, faced elimination after losing the first two games at Progressive Field. The game was broadcast on TBS, truTV and HBO Max, according to MLB.com.
Chicago struck first. Daniel Espino, opening for Cleveland, issued a walk that came around to score; a single and a double also helped the White Sox take a 1-0 lead after the first inning, ESPN reported.
Cleveland answered and built a lead. Jo Adell hit a bases-clearing triple, and Steven Kwan later tied the game with a single, according to ESPN’s live coverage. José Ramírez added a double, stole third and scored on a grounder from Chase DeLauter as Cleveland moved ahead 5-2.
The rally changed the immediate stakes. Chicago had entered with a chance to clinch in front of its home crowd, while Cleveland needed a win to keep its season alive. The White Sox still had innings to respond, but the early advantage had shifted to the visitors.
Guardians vs White Sox: Cleveland’s pitching approach
MLB.com reported that Espino was set to work as an opener, with Joey Cantillo available behind him. Cleveland had used Cantillo effectively in relief in September: across three outings, he allowed four hits and four walks while striking out 17 over 15 scoreless innings.
The Guardians also had starters Tanner Bibee and Foster Griffin available, giving manager Stephen Vogt several options as the game unfolded. Griffin entered during the game and recorded seven strikeouts in 2 2/3 innings, according to Yahoo Sports’ live updates. Cleveland then brought in Shawn Armstrong to finish the fourth inning.
Chicago also used a bullpen game. Sean Newcomb served as the opener, and MLB.com reported he had a 2.61 ERA over nine games against Cleveland that season. The White Sox could draw on pitchers with different postseason experience as they tried to complete the series win.
There was little room for error. One more Cleveland loss would end its season; a Chicago victory would send the White Sox to the next round. That pressure shaped the teams’ pitching choices and made each run especially valuable.
Chicago’s home-clincher opportunity
The White Sox had taken two hard-fought wins at Progressive Field, removing Cleveland’s home-field advantage in the series. MLB.com said the Guardians had won the American League Central by one game over Chicago, despite losing the season series 7-6.
A win in Game 3 would give Chicago its first trip to the American League Championship Series since 2005, according to MLB.com. The team also had a chance to finish a home playoff clincher for the first time since 1906.
White Sox closer Grant Taylor, who saved both earlier victories, described the opportunity ahead of the game. “Being able to go into [Rate Field] with a possibility of winning the series on Wednesday, it’s going to be a lot of fun,” Taylor said.
Cleveland outfielder Steven Kwan said the team would not panic despite the 0-2 deficit. “There's no panic button. We're not trying to do too much,” he said, adding that the team needed to approach the game with focus.
At the end of five innings, Cleveland led 5-2.
Source: mlb.com
