Cleveland beats White Sox 2-0 to complete series comeback and reach ALCS
In short
The Cleveland Guardians beat the Chicago White Sox 2-0 in the deciding game of their American League Division Series at Progressive Field on October 11, Korean time. Cleveland won three straight games after losing the first two, with José Ramírez's two-run homer providing the scoring and Gavin Williams pitching 5⅔ scoreless innings.
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The Cleveland Guardians defeated the Chicago White Sox 2-0 in the fifth and deciding game of their American League Division Series at Progressive Field in Cleveland on October 11, Korean time, Korean outlets reported. Cleveland completed a comeback from two games down by winning the final three games and secured a place in the American League Championship Series. [ 2 , 3 , 4 ]
José Ramírez broke a scoreless tie with a two-run home run to right field in the bottom of the fourth inning. Chosun Ilbo reported that Steven Kwan had reached base on a single before the homer. Yonhap said Cleveland starter Gavin Williams allowed one hit and two walks while striking out 12 across 5⅔ scoreless innings. The White Sox finished with 21 strikeouts, according to Yonhap and Chosun. [ 2 , 4 ]
Chosun reported that Chicago loaded the bases with two outs in the sixth inning but failed to score when Munetaka Murakami struck out after a Cleveland pitching change. The White Sox managed three hits in the game. Murakami and Andrew Benintendi each went hitless in four at-bats with four strikeouts. Cleveland also left the bases loaded in the eighth inning, and neither team scored again after Ramírez's home run. [ 4 ]
Cleveland had lost the first two games at home before winning games three and four on the road, Yonhap reported. Chosun gave the scores of those wins as 9-3 and 9-5. Yonhap said the Guardians will meet the Tampa Bay Rays in a best-of-seven championship series beginning October 13 at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, Florida. Cleveland last reached that stage in 2024, when it lost to the New York Yankees by four games to one, the agency said. [ 2 , 4 ]
Why it matters
Cleveland advances to the American League Championship Series for the first time since 2024. Yonhap reported that the Guardians will face the Tampa Bay Rays for a World Series place, with the series beginning October 13 at Tropicana Field.
Key facts
- Cleveland won the deciding game 2-0 at Progressive Field after losing the first two games of the series. [ 2 , 4 ]
- José Ramírez hit a two-run home run in the bottom of the fourth inning. [ 2 , 3 , 4 ]
- Gavin Williams pitched 5⅔ scoreless innings; Yonhap reported one hit, two walks and 12 strikeouts. [ 2 , 4 ]
- The White Sox struck out 21 times in the game. [ 2 , 4 ]
Confirmed by several sources
Still unclear
- Yonhap's abbreviation for the series differs from the other reports. Yonhap labels the division series ALCS in its opening paragraphs; Newsis and Chosun identify the game as part of the division series, and Chosun uses ALDS.
What local media are saying
Timeline, local time
- Yonhap reports Cleveland's deciding-game win on October 11, Korean time. [ 2 ]