10/10/2026 10:00:00
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10/10 21:58 CDT Williams, Ramrez lead Guardians over White Sox 2-0 to cap
comeback in five-game AL Division Series
Williams, Ramrez lead Guardians over White Sox 2-0 to cap comeback in
five-game AL Division Series
By JOE REEDY
AP Sports Writer
CLEVELAND (AP) --- Gavin Williams struck out 12, Jos Ramrez homered on a
pitch just above home plate and the Cleveland Guardians beat the Chicago White
Sox 2-0 Saturday night to complete a comeback from an 0-2 deficit in their
best-of-five AL Division Series.
Cleveland opens the AL Championship Series at Tampa Bay on Monday night,
seeking its first World Series trip since 2016. The Guardians/Indians franchise
hasn't won the title since 1948, the longest drought among MLB teams.
Guardians pitchers struck out 21, the most in a nine-inning postseason game.
The White Sox got just three hits, putting only nine balls in play, and struck
out 75 times over the series.
Two days after getting the save in Game 4, Williams became just the third
pitcher in postseason history to get the last out of a game and start the
following game when his team faced elimination in both.
He didn't allow a hit until Kyle Teel looped a knuckle-curve into right field
with two outs in the sixth, two innings after Ramrez homered for the second
straight game, a two-run drive off Sean Burke.
After a walk loaded the bases, Erik Sabrowski relieved and struck out Munetaka
Murakami.
Williams' 12 strikeouts tied Cleveland's record for a postseason game. He got
22 swings and misses, and his 24 strikeouts over three games tied for
second-most in a best-of-five postseason series.
Hunter Gaddis followed Sabrowsk and got four outs. Cade Smith finished for his
first career five-out save, striking out the side in the ninth. He blew a
fastball by Tristan Peters for the final out, setting off a celebration at
Progressive Field.
Chicago, the first team to reach the playoffs after three straight 100-loss
seasons, has not won the World Series since 2004.
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