The Cleveland Guardians are not going quietly. Cleveland scored three times to take a 3-2 lead over the Chicago White Sox in the top of the fifth inning of ALDS Game 4 on Thursday night at Rate Field, fighting to keep its season alive.
The White Sox lead the best-of-five series 2-1 and are one win from their first home playoff-series clincher since the 1906 World Series at South Side Park. Rookie left-hander Hagen Smith opened for Chicago for the third time this postseason, while Cleveland countered with lefty Parker Messick.
Wednesday's 9-3 Guardians rout — four more runs than any other team had scored in the Division Series round — forced tonight's game after Chicago had taken a 2-0 series lead with a comeback win Monday.
If Cleveland holds on, the decisive Game 5 goes Saturday in Cleveland, with the winner advancing to face the top-seeded Rays in the ALCS starting Monday, October 12. In the National League, the championship series is set: the Brewers and Dodgers open the NLCS on Sunday, October 11.
