Guardians complete ALDS comeback over White Sox, strike out record 21 batters to set up date with Rays: news

Cleveland Guardians Complete Historic ALDS Comeback Over White Sox With Record 21 Strikeouts to Advance to ALCS

The Cleveland Guardians completed a reverse sweep in the American League Division Series (ALDS), defeating the Chicago White Sox 2-0 in a decisive Game 5. After dropping the first two games of the best-of-five matchup, Cleveland rallied to win three straight, becoming only the 11th team in Major League Baseball history to pull off the 0-2 comeback in a Division Series.

Cleveland’s pitching staff authored an all-time postseason performance by combining for an MLB postseason-record 21 strikeouts over nine innings.

Gavin Williams Leads Dominant Pitching Display

Right-hander Gavin Williams set the tone on the mound just two days after making a relief appearance in Game 4. Williams carried a no-hitter into the sixth inning, finishing with 5.2 scoreless frames, allowing only one hit, and striking out 12 batters. That mark tied Cleveland’s single-game franchise postseason strikeout record, previously set by Charles Nagy in the 1996 ALDS.

The Guardians’ bullpen sealed the victory with nine additional strikeouts over the final 3.1 innings:

• Erik Sabrowski entered in the sixth to escape a bases-loaded jam by striking out Munetaka Murakami.

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• Hunter Gaddis added four punchouts in middle relief.

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• Cade Smith recorded four strikeouts over the final 1.2 innings to secure the shutout and earn the save.

José Ramírez Provides Decisive Blast

All of the game’s offense came courtesy of perennial All-Star third baseman José Ramírez. In the bottom of the fourth inning, following a leadoff single by Steven Kwan, Ramírez golfed an off-target knuckle curve from White Sox starter Sean Burke 348 feet inside the right-field foul pole for a two-run home run. The blast gave Ramírez seven RBIs across the final three games of the series and provided all the run support Cleveland needed.

ALCS Matchup Set: Guardians vs. Rays

With the Game 5 victory, Cleveland secures its second ALCS berth in three seasons and continues its chase for its first World Series title since 1948. The Guardians will face the Tampa Bay Rays in the 2026 American League Championship Series, with Game 1 scheduled to open at Tampa Bay.