Guardians Blank White Sox 2-0 in Game 5 to Complete Historic ALDS Comeback

The Cleveland Guardians completed one of the great comebacks in postseason history on Saturday night, blanking the Chicago White Sox 2-0 in a winner-take-all ALDS Game 5 at Progressive Field to reach the American League Championship Series. José Ramírez delivered the decisive blow, golfing a 78-mph knuckle curve from Sean Burke from below the zone for a two-run homer in the fourth inning. Gavin Williams tied a franchise postseason record with 12 strikeouts over 5 2/3 scoreless innings, and the bullpen finished the job as Tim Herrin's replacement arms Sabrowski and Gaddis bridged to Cade Smith, who nailed down a five-out save to complete a combined three-hitter. Chicago's bats never stood a chance. The White Sox struck out 21 times — a Major League record for a nine-inning postseason game — and finished the series with 75 strikeouts, also a record. Cleveland becomes just the 11th team ever, and the first since 2017, to win a best-of-five series after losing the first two games. It is the Guardians' second ALCS trip in three seasons, and they will face the Tampa Bay Rays with Game 1 set for Monday in Tampa.