CHICAGO – Facing the threat of an early exit from the postseason, the Cleveland Guardians found their offensive rhythm just in time. Propelled by a historic performance featuring two massive two-out triples, Cleveland surged past the Chicago White Sox for a 9-3 victory on Wednesday, narrowing the deficit in their American League Division Series to 2-1.
The Guardians’ bats, which had been uncharacteristically quiet during the first two games of the series, finally came alive before a raucous crowd of 40,590 at Guaranteed Rate Field. Cleveland became the first major league team since the 2024 Los Angeles Dodgers to record two triples in a single postseason game, providing the spark necessary to extend the series.
Jo Adell, a mid-season acquisition from the Angels, ignited the rally in the third inning. With the bases loaded and two outs, Adell crushed a high fastball down the first-base line, clearing the bases to give Cleveland a 4-1 lead. It was a breakout moment for the outfielder, who had struggled to find consistency earlier in the series.
“We continued to pile on,” said Cleveland manager Stephen Vogt. “I think that’s been the difference of the first couple of games compared to today. We were able to get a couple of runs, but we finally added on.”
The insurance came in the eighth, when star third baseman José Ramírez delivered a booming triple of his own, driving home Travis Bazzana and Patrick Bailey to extend the lead to 7-3. Ramírez, who had been held without a hit in the first two games, was a force on both sides of the ball. In the fifth, his aggressive baserunning—doubling, stealing third, and scoring on a gritty headfirst slide—extended the lead to 5-2. He also provided the defensive highlight of the night, making a spectacular diving stop on a bases-loaded smash in the sixth to protect a narrow two-run lead.
While the offense surged, the pitching staff proved equally vital. Reliever Foster Griffin, appearing in his first game since September 23, was sensational. He set a franchise record for a reliever by striking out seven batters over 2 2/3 innings, effectively silencing the White Sox’s momentum. Chicago, meanwhile, struggled to maintain their offensive output, striking out 19 times and failing to capitalize on key opportunities with runners in scoring position.
Despite the loss, the White Sox remain in the driver’s seat with a 2-1 series lead. They will look to clinch their first home postseason series victory since 1906 when the teams return for Game 4 on Thursday.
“Today has nothing to do with tomorrow. Nothing,” said White Sox catcher Kyle Teel. “We come ready to go like we always do.”
Cleveland will look to force a decisive Game 5 as they hand the ball to rookie left-hander Parker Messick, while Chicago’s pitching plans for Thursday remain to be determined.
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