Guardians beat White Sox 9-3 in ALDS Game 3 to avoid elimination
In short
The Cleveland Guardians beat the Chicago White Sox 9-3 in Game 3 of the American League Division Series in Chicago on Wednesday, avoiding a series sweep. Jo Adell hit a three-run triple in the third inning for a 4-1 lead, and José Ramírez added a two-run triple in the eighth for a 7-3 lead. Game 4 is on Thursday.
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The Cleveland Guardians beat the Chicago White Sox 9-3 in Game 3 of the American League Division Series in Chicago on Wednesday, avoiding a series sweep. Jo Adell and José Ramírez each hit a two-out triple: Adell's three-run triple in the third inning gave Cleveland a 4-1 lead, and Ramírez's triple in the eighth drove in Travis Bazzana and Patrick Bailey for a 7-3 advantage. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 ]
The Guardians hit two triples in a postseason game for the first time in franchise history. The Boston Globe reported they were the first major league team to do so since the Dodgers in Game 1 of the 2024 World Series. "We continued to pile on," Cleveland manager Stephen Vogt said, adding that in Game 2 the team scored a couple of runs but was not able to add on. [ 1 , 3 ]
Adell, Ramírez, Bailey and Brayan Rocchio each had two of Cleveland's 11 hits, after the AL Central champions managed three runs and seven hits in the first two games combined, according to The Boston Globe. The White Sox struck out 19 times, went 2 for 11 with runners in scoring position, and their bullpen faltered, the Globe reported. [ 3 ]
Chicago took the lead in the first inning on Kyle Teel's RBI double off Daniel Espino. Reliever Foster Griffin then struck out seven in 2 2/3 innings, a franchise record for a reliever, allowing one run and two hits. In the third, Bazzana walked and scored on Steven Kwan's single against Bryan Hudson before Adell, facing left-hander Hagen Smith with the bases loaded, tripled. [ 1 , 3 ]
Newsweek reported that Adell also tripled in Game 2 and became the fourth player since 2000 to triple in consecutive postseason games. He joined Cleveland from the Los Angeles Angels at the trade deadline in exchange for prospect Jacob Cozart, Newsweek reported. [ 4 ]
A crowd of 40,590 attended Chicago's first home playoff game since 2021. The White Sox had won their first four postseason games after going 60-102 last year. Game 4 is on Thursday, with Parker Messick starting for Cleveland against a Chicago starter yet to be named. [ 3 ]
Why it matters
The win keeps Cleveland in the series after it scored just three runs in the first two games combined, The Boston Globe reported. It also ended a four-game winning start to the White Sox's postseason, which followed a 60-102 season last year, according to the Globe.
Key facts
- Cleveland beat Chicago 9-3 in Game 3 of the AL Division Series on Wednesday, Oct. 7, avoiding elimination. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 ]
- Jo Adell's two-out, three-run triple in the third inning gave Cleveland a 4-1 lead. [ 1 , 3 , 4 ]
- José Ramírez's triple in the eighth drove in Travis Bazzana and Patrick Bailey for a 7-3 lead. [ 1 , 3 ]
- The Guardians hit two triples in a postseason game for the first time in franchise history. [ 1 , 3 ]
- Reliever Foster Griffin struck out seven in 2 2/3 innings, a franchise record for a reliever, according to The Boston Globe. [ 3 ]
- White Sox hitters struck out 19 times and went 2 for 11 with runners in scoring position. [ 3 ]
- Game 4 is on Thursday, with Parker Messick starting for Cleveland. [ 3 ]
Confirmed by several sources
- Cleveland won Game 3 of the ALDS against the White Sox 9-3. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 ]
- The win allowed the Guardians to avoid elimination in the series. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- Adell's three-run triple in the third inning made the score 4-1. [ 1 , 3 , 4 ]
- Ramírez's triple in the eighth drove in Bazzana and Bailey for a 7-3 lead. [ 1 , 3 ]
- It was the first time the Guardians hit two triples in a postseason game. [ 1 , 3 ]
Still unclear
- Who will start Game 4 for Chicago. The Boston Globe reported the White Sox starter was still to be named.
- Adell became the fourth player since 2000 to triple in consecutive postseason games. Reported only by Newsweek.
- Griffin's seven strikeouts set a franchise record for a reliever. Reported only by The Boston Globe.