The Chicago White Sox took a 2-0 lead in the American League Division Series with a 4-3 victory over the Cleveland Guardians on Monday in Cleveland. Braden Montgomery provided the decisive blow with a two-run double down the right-field line in the sixth inning, giving Chicago the go-ahead runs. Relief pitcher Sean Burke delivered an impressive performance, allowing just one hit over 5⅓ innings to help secure the win.
The White Sox improved to 4-0 in this year’s playoffs, all victories coming on the road, and now have a chance to clinch the series at Guaranteed Rate Field in Chicago for the first time since 1906. Grant Taylor contributed 1⅔ innings of relief, allowing one hit and earning his second consecutive save.
Chicago’s offense opened the scoring in the fourth inning when Kyle Teel singled up the middle, advanced to second on a walk by Miguel Vargas, and scored on an RBI single by Munetaka Murakami, cutting Cleveland’s lead to 2-1. The White Sox then took control in the sixth inning, with Vargas reaching base and advancing to second on a groundout, followed by a walk drawn by Randal Grichuk. After a wild pitch put runners on second and third, Montgomery’s two-run double extended the lead to 4-2.
The Guardians rallied partly in the eighth inning when Jo Adell hit an RBI triple, bringing the score to 4-3, but Cleveland’s offense was otherwise limited. Despite striking out 11 batters—tying the second-highest total for a Cleveland pitcher in the postseason—starter Gavin Williams and the Guardians’ lineup struggled to produce runs in consecutive games.
The White Sox’s rise has been notable given their recent history. Chicago became the first team to reach the postseason after enduring three straight 100-loss seasons, including a major league-record 121 losses in 2024. Manager Will Venable praised his team’s resilience and confidence throughout the year, emphasizing their readiness to compete. “Our club has been confident the entire year, regardless of the previous result,” Venable said. “They come in ready to play and turn the page. Now, we’re really excited to get playoff baseball to our fans.”
Cleveland manager Stephen Vogt acknowledged the challenges ahead but expressed faith in his team’s ability to respond. “We have had two-game stretches like this all year and we come right back,” Vogt said. “I’ve got a lot of faith in this offense. I have a lot of faith in this team. We’ve got our work cut out for us.”
The best-of-five series continues with Game 3 scheduled for Wednesday afternoon at Guaranteed Rate Field in Chicago. The White Sox will look to complete the series at home and advance to the American League Championship Series for the first time since winning the World Series in 2005.